So, you are looking at that old home of yours and thinking it needs a bit of a makeover. Perhaps you have been watching just a bit too much HGTV these days. Or maybe you visited an old friend and realized just how shabby your own home looks in comparison to theirs.

How can you ever invite them over until you do something about it? Whatever your reason for wanting to make changes to your home, there are always a few obstacles to getting the look you want. From needing to add a solid and dependable adjustable steel column to your main bracing to finding a solution to a sloping back yard where nothing seems to grow, it is all a matter of creative thinking. Here are a few ideas to help you think creatively around those obstacles and end up with a redo you are proud to show off to friends and neighbors.

Kitchens and Baths – The Quick Fix

Yes, just about everyone hates the way their kitchen and bathroom look right now. If you have walked through a home improvement store recently then you know that there are so many ways to upgrade these two rooms that it can boggle the mind. But it can also empty the bank account pretty quickly. So how to get that fresher more up to date look without going into the poorhouse over it?

Paint is one great way. Taking down those tired looking old cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom and painting them a fresh new color can have a huge impact on the rooms. Add in some new handles to upgrade and modernize them and you have a whole new look for just the cost of a few gallons of paint and a bit of hardware.

Landscaping and Hardscaping

While it is true that your front yard is that all valuable first impression of your home, your backyard is also an important part of any landscaping upgrade. Something simple in front like adding big pots of annuals on either side of the front door, along with an attractive bed of colorful flowers along the front walkway, can make a house look a million times better.

In the back yard, you might want to first consider how your family uses it. If you have small children who love to play in the backyard, then put in some hardy grass that can take the punishment of little feet. If you are more likely to stage a barbeque, then why not take out that lawn and put in a patio? Let your use of the yard, and a quick check of places like Craigslist for second hand pavers, guide your decisions on this.

You can even go on YouTube and find step by step instructions on making patio furniture out of old shipping pallets. So, no need to actually spend big bucks on deck chairs and tables if you are feeling a bit creative and don’t mind haunting the back of the local grocery store for pallets. These are just a few of the ideas you can use to make that house look visit worthy and ready for the summer.