Surprisingly Simple Ways to Modernize Your Home
Many people love the clean lines and streamlined look and feel of a modern home. The idea of eliminating clunky furniture pieces for a look that is more elegant and aesthetically pleasing is tempting. However, far too many people fear that the process is one that is overly complicated. That is not the case. There are many simple changes you can make to your home that will modernize your home without driving you to the brink of madness in the process. These simple changes can help you enjoy the look and feel of your home much better without raising your blood pressure.
Upgrade Your Cabinet Hardware
Cabinet door handles and drawer pulls are small touches that can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your kitchen and bathroom when you’re working to modernize your home. Making the switch to something sleeker, simpler, and far less ornate can be the perfect change to update your home without breaking the bank or investing in major renovations. Additionally, if you have a little more money to devote to the process, consider painting your existing cabinets or giving the doors a modern update.
If you are handy with plumbing, you might also consider updating your plumbing fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom for a more modern look and improved functionality. The right fixtures can even help you conserve water without sacrificing water pressure in the process.
Clear out the Clutter
Visual clutter can quickly make a home feel overcrowded. This is something modern home designs work to avoid. You want your home to look uncrowded, unstuffed, and spacious. Removing visual clutter on shelves, walls, and furniture can make a huge difference. Skip the sofa piled with pillows in favor of a more minimalistic look, for instance. Additionally, get rid of clutter catchers in your home so you’re not tempted to create incidental clutter as part of your daily routine.
Pick Your Palette Wisely
Choose neutral colors that work throughout your home. Doing this allows one room to flow seamlessly into another, an important component in the modernization process. Keeping these colors consistent throughout the home makes it easy to decorate and provides a sense of balance for everyone.
Not everyone has the option of removing walls to create visual space within the home. That doesn’t mean you can’t use paint, lighting, and mirrors to lend the effect of more visual space. Darker colors absorb light, making rooms appear smaller while lighter colors reflect light, making them appear (and feel) larger. Remember this when choosing the colors for your home and limiting darker colors to accent features while using light colors for the bulk of your paint, flooring, and finishes.
Modernize Lighting and Ceiling Fans
Switch to modern ceiling fans for greater functionality, improved energy efficiency, and a sleek modern look for practically every room in your home. The same is true when it comes to modern lighting. Don’t forget to upgrade to smart lights when possible so you can control the lights in your home from your mobile phone or with your preferred Smart Home system.
Replace your outdated lighting fixtures and ceiling fans with something more modern. This simple task can help you improve energy efficiency, provided you also upgrade your bulbs to LED bulbs that last longer and put off less heat. Additionally, these small changes can improve lighting in your home allowing your rooms to appear far more spacious and modern without adding the costs of a major renovation to your budget.
Eliminate Carpet in Favor of Hard-Surface Flooring
If your budget allows, this is a tool for modernization that is hard to beat for visual impact. Get rid of carpeting in your home and choose hard surfaces for your floors instead. Even pre-finished laminate or plank tiles can be cost-effective alternatives to carpet that help your home look and feel far more modern in the process. The added benefit of hard-surface flooring is that it makes modern robotic vacuums easier to use allowing for far less effort expended keeping your floors clean and clear.
Switch Your Cover Plates for Outlets and Light Switches
Want to talk about a small, simple change that can have a dramatic effect? Consider switching the light switch and outlet cover plates throughout your home. The switch doesn’t cost a lot of money, doesn’t require a great deal of technical knowledge or skill, and can make a major difference in how modern your home appears to the casual observer (and from your own perspective).
It isn’t necessary to go out of your way or even spend a great deal of money to make your home look and feel like a thoroughly modern haven from the world. Simple changes, like those listed above, can make all the difference in the world.
