Creative Ways to Modernize Your Home

If you have a traditional home and want to embrace a modern refresh, there are plenty of ways you can bring your house into the 21st century. As one of the biggest trends right now in interior design, modernizing your home is an excellent opportunity to give your space a much-needed facelift and finally incorporate the features you have been eyeing for so long. 

From muted color palettes to stone side tables from RJ Living, adding this contemporary touch to your property will boost the market value and make you feel like you are living somewhere completely new. 

Add Colour

Although modern style uses color sparingly, it still embraces bright and bold colors to highlight spaces and add an eye-catching statement. It is an instant mood booster and creates a refreshed and inviting room. 

Keep your main furniture and background walls neutral to allow for the most impact. Because you have a neutral palette to work with, you can easily change contrasting colors and accessories when you feel like something different. 

Remove Popcorn

Once the envy of homeowners everywhere, the infamous popcorn ceiling has become a staple in outdated homes and an eyesore to those who look for fresh and modern interiors. Thankfully it is a lot easier to remove than you may think, and once gone, it will instantly move your home 30 years into the future. 

Paint

An often underestimated tool, a fresh coat of paint works as an instant facelift to any room in the home. Covering old marks, scratches, and dings will make your home feel brand new and create a blank canvas to try something new. 

For the ultimate modern style, pair light, barely-there colors on the walls with natural wood accents around the room. 

Go Smart

Nothing screams modernity like technology, and switching your home to a smart system will drag you out of the past and firmly into the modern age. You can connect your wifi system, kitchen appliances, home security, and phone service to a central point easily controlled by your cell phone.Home security includes smart cameras that can detect motion and send alerts to your phone, smart locks that can be controlled remotely, and even smart smoke detectors that can alert you to potential fires even when you're not home. With the help of sydney electricals, you can easily install and integrate these smart home security features into your existing electrical system.

Furthermore, introducing smart devices like Amazon Echo or Apple’s Alexa will allow you to easily play music, set alarms, dim lights, and monitor security systems. 

Upgrade Hardware & Faucets

If you are looking for an easy and inexpensive place to start your modern revamp, consider upgrading hardware and faucets around the home. It is easy to accomplish on your own in one weekend but enough to make a noticeable difference to the overall look. 

If you feel like the DIY bug has bitten, consider painting kitchen cabinets and adding a backsplash behind the stove. 

Remove Clutter

A hallmark of the modern home is the absence of clutter. This doesn’t mean you have to throw away your earthly possessions but rather better utilize the space you have available for storage and discarding items you aren’t going to use again. 

There is a fine line between minimalism and a home looking bare, so look for pieces with clean, modern lines and open designs to replace large, bulky items. 

Replace Dated Light Features

Another simple DIY fix is replacing the old, dated light fixtures around your house with sleek, structured models. It effectively adds value to your home and makes it look and feel more modern. 

Switch Plates

One of the quickest ways to spot an older home, regardless of how many renovations you have tackled, is yellowed, cracked, and otherwise dated light switch and outlet covers. They easily stand out and immediately distract from the rest of the room. 

Spending a weekend switching out the old for the news is a simple, inexpensive fix that can have a significant impact in an older house. 

Swap Out Carpets

While carpet is still a fantastic choice for bedrooms and perhaps the lounge, having a home filled with wall-to-wall shag is incredibly outdated and has to go. In places like the bathroom and kitchen, it is unhygienic and a safety hazard and your home will feel brighter and cleaner without it. 

Stick to basic pre-finished vinyl flooring or plank tiles for an easy-to-clean option. If you have the money to spend, splurge for genuine wooden floors with a dark stain finish. 

Open-Plan Living 

While many modernizing DIY tips can be achieved with a little bit of planning and a weekend off, for those who have extra money to invest in a permanent change, turning your home into an open-plan living space will transform your home instantly. 

Gone are the days when we desired formal, separated living spaces. By removing a non-load-bearing wall, you open up a ton more space, create a flow between the main living areas and considerably boost the overall value of your property. 

Programmable Thermostat

If you want to save money with your home upgrades, install a programmable thermostat. It allows you to set and control the temperature in your home based on your personal needs and schedule, meaning you avoid using unnecessary electricity while you are out. Doing so allows you to save anywhere from five to 20% on your home energy bills.