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Enhancing your home's value is something that you will need to seriously consider, especially if you want to sell it in the near future.

Deciding on the right project is a combination of what is necessary and needed along with what will increase the value of your home. If you can strike a good balance you are well on your way to upgrading the value of your home with a few simple home improvement projects.

Here is a look at the most lucrative home improvement projects if you are trying to increase the value of your home.

Upgrade Appliances
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Replacing old appliances with energy-efficient models is one of the best moves you can make to upgrade your kitchen. Upgrading your kitchen appliances to new energy-efficient models does not have to break the bank.

You can buy good second-hand items for your kitchen that are energy-saving. Bear in mind that major appliances such as refrigerators and freezers can last for twenty-five years.

People often change these refrigerators not because they are no longer working but because they want to upgrade to newer models.

If you can get an energy-efficient model that is second-hand but looks great and works great, then you will save yourself some money and upgrade your kitchen at the same time.

Renovate Your Bathroom
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A bathroom renovation is a great way to improve the overall look of your home and add value to it. The renovation that you do can be moderate or elaborate depending on the style and your taste.

You can install new fixtures in your bathroom in order to give the room a whole new look. If the tiles are looking a bit worse for wear you can regrout them to make them look better.

You can also add mirrors to your bathroom in strategic places to make the room seem a bit bigger and to reflect light in the space.

Renovate Your Basement
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Your basement is one of the places that you should consider renovating in an order to enhance the value of your home. You can put a moisture barrier under house to prevent excess moisture if this is a problem or you can renovate your basement to make it livable.

A lot of people have basement apartments that they rent out for extra cash.

Enhance Your Home
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The ideas here can improve the value of your home in no time. All you have to do is pick out which projects are right for you and then decide on your budget.

Once you do this you should get started right away. If you have the skills to do it then doing a DIY project will save you a lot of money. However, you don't have the skills it is best to hire a professional so that you don't make costly mistakes

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Are you continuously spending money on your home without making any return? You could be living in a money pit. Below are a few signs that your home is costing you more than it’s worth.
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You keep having to make unexpected repairs
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Home repairs are one of the unavoidable costs of being a homeowner. However, you shouldn’t be constantly making repairs to the point that you’re getting yourself into debt.
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If you bought a fixer-upper or bought a very old home, it’s possible that you knew what you were getting yourself into. Unexpected repairs are the expenses that you should be worried about. This could include plumbing issues, electrical issues or cracks in walls. It’s possible that the home may have been poorly constructed and could be slowly falling apart (which means many more future repairs).
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The bills are too high
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Do you get shocked every time you receive an energy bill? Do you feel as if you’re paying way too much rent? This may be something you can negotiate with bill providers or your landlord. However, there could be cases where it is largely out of your control.
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For instance, an old uninsulated house is likely to lose heat more easily - you may have to weigh up whether it's worth investing in insulation or not. A property in a popular neighbourhood meanwhile may have high rental rates due to its location - you need to determine whether the location is worth the cost.
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Your home isn’t gaining value
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If you’re spending a lot of money and your home isn’t gaining any value, this is also something to worry about. You should be particularly worried if home prices in your area are depreciating - you could end up selling your home for less than you bought it if you leave it too long. This could be the case if a neighbourhood has become less attractive due to recent events or developments.
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Should you stay put or sell?
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You should consider whether the continuous costs are worth it. A historic home may need constant repairs, but it may be worth it if the home has lots of character and is in a beautiful location. Dream homes don’t come cheap.
Of course, it is important that your income is able to cover the costs of your home. If home repairs are getting you into debt and this debt is growing, it could be a good idea to get out fast. Even if your home is seemingly falling apart, there are solutions if you need to need to sell a house fast. The sooner you get out, the sooner you can protect your finances.
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It may be worth arranging a home inspection to determine what other costs may be around the corner. You may find that all the biggest repairs are behind you. Alternatively, there could be much bigger repairs to come. A professional surveyor will be able to tell you what the case is.
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You should also consider whether you can invest in any preventative measures. As mentioned already with high heating bills, you can solve this by investing in insulation. If you keep having to repair flood damage or vandalism, you may similarly be able to put in place measures such as flood defences or security cameras.

Although it has become a trend, the look of mixing metals and finishes is definitely a great way to add visual interest. I love the look of silver, brass, black - all mixed together or even mixing golds and silvers. Don’t be afraid to mix things up - gone are the days of matchy matchy!

​Check out these images for inspiration!

Pool time! It’s summer and it’s sure been warming up (at least, here in LA!) - so why not think about soaking up a little pool time!? Actually, the only pool time I’ve had recently is researching pools. A long time client recently asked me to help with some selections for her pool renovation. I took to Pinterest to research concepts before diving (pun) into the actual selections + materials. Check them out at the bottom of this post!

Last summer, I helped this client with her backyard and patio furnishings (left). On the right, is a concept board featuring three material and color scheme options for her pool coping, tile, & surfacing. It was fun to research ideas for pool selections!

Arches are classic, synonymous with historical architecture dating back to periods, such as the Roman times. While modernist, contemporary architecture lends itself typically to more straight lines - think the more boxy structures - sometimes it’s refreshing to consider the softness and flow that arches can contribute to interiors.

This arch between living and dining room creates a nice flow between the two spaces while still defining separation of rooms. The built in seating is a great idea too.

This tall archway separating a bedroom by curtains is very beautiful, love the softness it creates.

A living room with large double archways and accessories that play off them - such a chic vibe.

An arched out desk nook and built in cubbies.

Another great transition - a wide open archway from kitchen to dining.

A pretty living room with tall, narrow arches.

The echoes of repeated arches in a hallway.

​All images via Pinterest.

Photo: Unsplash
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More space to live
​In the last few decades there has been a trend towards larger rooms and fewer walls. The open living, dining and kitchen area has largely replaced the traditional layout of the living room and kitchen as the standard floor plan. More and more often, these rooms are also being merged in the course of renovating old buildings. More spacious living spaces can also be created by streamlining the floor plan by breaking up small rooms and niches. By doing this you're creating open-plan living.
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Only change the floor plan with specialist knowledge
​Tearing down walls or extended ceilings are interventions that can weaken the stable structure of a house. They must never be done without an architect or structural engineer. If a wall is removed, you must ensure it doesn’t interfere with another that could make the roof unstable. With load-bearing walls it must be a beam made of wood, steel or reinforced concrete. In addition, ceiling openings cannot be of any size. For example, if you have the wooden beams of an old ceiling they may be part of the integral structure.

Structural requirements for the floor plan change
​Depending on the construction time of a house, special challenges arise when you want to change the floor plan. Houses built before the Second World War are trickier to adapt. Dilapidated houses have the advantage that they are cheaper to buy. But renovation can be very expensive. So, when is it worth it? Renovation is always worthwhile if it is done properly and not just superficially. If it is just redesigned with a bit of paint and wallpaper, it is not a proper refit. If you’re flipping a home, you should be aware that it should be correctly done.

What advice can we give to people who come to you with the question. You can roughly answer this question according to a 3-point scheme. If you can answer two of the three questions with yes, a renovation is worthwhile.

• Is the building functional?
• Is the appearance such that it seems worth preserving?
• Is the building structure in good condition?

Many owners renovate without having expert advice. If you refit a home but leave old rotting windows, then there is likely to be issues with ventilation. Therefore either consider new window frames, or at least a proper ventilation system for the house, such as a HEPA filter. You must counteract all the issues in the home, to make it liveable and modern.