Old homes have character, but they also have their fair share of warts – If you own an old home, you may be looking for ways to breathe some fresh life into it – so learn here How to Fix Up an Old House.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do just that.
Let’s explore a few options on How to Fix Up an Old House that yield the biggest results.
Table of Contents
Create a Clean Slate With Paint is first Step: How to Fix Up an Old House
Paint can solve a lot of your problems and help usher old rooms into the 21st century.
Old homes often have lots of wallpaper or intense paint colors.
And depending on the era in which your home was designed, it’s likely that every room has its own paint color.
We recommend creating a clean slate by painting everything white.
Trim, walls, baseboards, molding – everything.
Not only will this make your home look more modern, but it will also give you a blank canvas to work with.
You aren’t restricted with what furniture or décor you can use.
Instead, you have total freedom and flexibility.
And if you ever decide you want to infuse a little more color into a room, it’s easy to paint over white.
When selecting a white paint color, we recommend going with something that’s a little more on the warm side of the color spectrum.
Benjamin Moore White Dove and Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee are both great options – as are the other whites on this list.
Window Furnishings
Clean or Replace Carpet
Nothing screams “old” quite like worn out carpet from decades gone by.
While you might be able to clean the carpet if it’s still in decent shape, chances are it’ll still look old.
Carpet styles and colors have changed over the years.
Replacing old carpet, or even installing a hardwood alternative, is a good choice.
Update Hardware
Let’s talk about hardware.
While some antique/vintage hardware looks great, most looks totally dated in an otherwise modern space.
Swapping out old hardware for newer options is a great step in the right direction.
When we say hardware, we’re referring to all of the metal in your home.
This includes drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, faucets, door handles, switch plate covers, etc.
You want these elements to be cohesive.
Typically, switch plate covers get painted the same color as the wall.
However, everything else should use the same basic color palette (i.e. all brass or all silver).
Update the Fireplace
If you have an old house, it almost certainly has a fireplace.
The problem is that old fireplaces often need a lot of work in order to be safe and functional.
Plus, you might not be crazy about the idea of having to use a real wood burning fireplace.
Thankfully, there’s something you can do.
Fireplace inserts are ideal for homeowners who have traditional fireplaces but want something more modern and convenient (like a gas or electric model that can be turned on with the flip of a switch).
Fireplace inserts literally slide inside of the existing firebox and use the existing space.
Not only do they look good, but they give you a safe way to operate a fireplace without making significant repairs to the chimney.
Add New Light Fixtures
New light fixtures can make a huge difference.
If you currently have ugly “boob lights” in every hallway and bathroom, swapping them out for some fresh alternatives can really take your home’s look to a new level.
You should also think about replacing old pendant lights and dining room fixtures with newer options.
Even if you’re on a tight budget, this is one area where you definitely want to open up the wallet and spend.
Lighting makes a big difference.
Even if you do nothing else, a little painting combined with some new lighting can totally transform a space.
Give Your House a Refresh!
It may be time to refresh your old home and give it a more contemporary vibe.
Use this article as a starting point – a guide for inspiration and ideas.
You don’t have to do everything at once.
Pick one project at a time and start there.
Once you finish that project, move on to something else.
Nobody likes living in the middle of a construction zone.
Keep your projects focused on How to Fix Up an Old House you’ll get better results.
