Your property’s foundation is solid, it’s structurally sound, its bones are good. Count yourself lucky! Now, you can improve the look and feel of a home. This doesn’t always mean spending tens of thousands on wall demolition, ripping out the floors, or other large-scale renovations.
Today, we’re looking at some surface-level cosmetic fixes that make a huge difference. Whether you want an update, to attract buyers, or something more bespoke than builder, try a few of these ideas.
1. New countertops
The list kicks off with a functional element that has an extreme cosmetic impact. If you want to spend on one feature that improves the look of a kitchen or bathroom, make it a countertop. An engineered stone top will leave the biggest impression.
Paint the cabinets. Update the appliances when they’re on sale. New counters are the fastest high-ROI facelift.
2. A grander entryway
You already know the entryway is one’s first impression of a home, so begin making cosmetic upgrades here. Refurbish an old credenza, add a statement lighting fixture, or organize a drop zone for shoes and essentials. This is your most immediate opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the floorplan.
3. Imitating architectural details
Consider upcycling stock ceiling medallions, painting and adhering pieces of trim for molding and chair rails, and more. You can even bolt together multiple bookshelves and fill a wall with them to mimic built-ins.
The bottom line is that architectural features will always look more interesting (and expensive) than a blank expanse.
4. Floor-to-ceiling window treatments
The spaciousness of large windows and high ceilings. They have more appeal and aesthetic value than almost any other structural feature of a property. If you have neither, just buy drapes as though you do.
Install rods directly below the ceiling trim and let the length dip well below the windowsill. It instantly gives the impression of height.
5. Going deeper with stain
Replacing hardwood flooring is expensive. Full-scale refinishing isn’t cheap, either. If the damage is purely cosmetic, there’s a smarter way to conceal years of wear and tear. Go for a darker stain in a tone similar to what you have.
6. Mat your photos
Is your gallery wall looking slapped together? Does the art you incorporate into your design look like an afterthought? Matting pictures and artwork creates negative space between the subject and the frame. It looks cleaner, more professional, and attracts the eye where you want it.
7. Paint colors that are dramatic, yet sophisticated
The list cannot go on without acknowledging the most notorious, accessible, and customizable cosmetic fix of all time–paint. If there isn’t much else that can be done to a space, a few coats of paint can shift its whole identity.
Get a few pointers on choosing the right paint color for your room.
8. Sconces over lamps
There are a lot of great ways to elevate your home using light fixtures. Lamps are essentially task lighting. A pair of sconces, framing a focal point, casts light in more concentrated, intentional directions. They’re a much more design-centered choice that won’t take up floor or table surface.
9. All new hardware
Basic or builder-grade elements instantly take on a new personality with hardware. From handles to fixtures, the color, finish, and style of each piece have far more impact than many people assume.
Check out this home hardware breakdown and start making stylish swaps today.
10. Some timeless tile
Subway tile isn’t one of those “everything old is new again” design features. Its clean lines, smooth, glazed finish–and yes, historical significance–simply complement so many different styles.
It can bring a plain-looking or hyper-contemporary kitchen back to earth. It makes an old or budget bathroom look clean and fresh, but not devoid of character. Consider making it pop with dark grout.
11. Refurbishing interior doors
Homeowners tend to skip doors when improving or styling their homes. But as we already explored with entryway fixes, the door is an extension, a first look at what lies within.
To start, paint it a high-gloss accent color and update that hardware. No matter what, don’t let those scuffed bases and basic, jiggly knobs live with you.
12. High contrast
Many people seeking cosmetic fixes are just getting a case of the blahs every time they enter a room. Stand out without overthinking it by creating contrast. Black and white, for instance, can make tight spaces striking and unforgettable.
13. Dress up shelf backing
What are the backs of bookcases, glass front cupboards, and other visible shelves showing? If it’s a blank or dull space that doesn’t exactly speak to your style or make your belongings look at home, this is an area of cosmetic interest.
This is another great location for accent color paint, particularly in bold colors. You can also experiment with patterned wallpaper.
Bonus: Whether you are updating the open shelves in your kitchen or reorganizing functional shelves in your bathroom, there’s an art to styling open shelving.
Get your fix at The Designery
With all the repairs and updates we make to our homes, we have to admit that cosmetic fixes are fun! Choosing colors, finishes, styles, and materials to create themes and moods can be the most enjoyable part of design. And even though a lot of it is surface-level, it truly can improve your quality of life.
It’s so much easier to get exactly what you want when you work with a professional designer. They can introduce you to new concepts, take your vision to the next level, and access materials you won’t find at the home improvement store. Best of all, speaking to one is free when you book your consultation with The Designery.
