Your home is your haven. It’s where you recharge after a long day at work. So you’ll want to remodel it to suit your taste and lifestyle. Maybe you find the idea of remodeling your house a little daunting because you don’t know where to start or what ideas will work in your space.
We’ve got you covered. This article looks at 10 inspiring ways to remodel your home to feel more contemporary. We also offer tips and unique ways to incorporate these ideas and trends into any home style so that it feels comfortable and reflects your personality.
A Home Renovation Company Can Update Your Flooring To Give Your Home A Contemporary Look
The floor is one of the largest continuous surfaces in a room. So if it is old and worn, it will have an outdated effect on the whole room, and you’ll want to replace it. According to Mariya Snisar, Head of Interior Design at Renowell, the flooring type can also significantly affect a room. She says that more people are avoiding placing wall-to-wall carpets in their homes for environmental and health reasons. “As more people try to incorporate environmentally-friendly materials into the home, we’re noticing that our clients prefer natural stone or wood floors because of their durability and aesthetic appeal, too,” says Mariya.
Natural wood and stone floors add texture to a home.
Use Bold Colors And Textures On Walls And Accessories
Painting your walls can give your home an instant update on a budget. But why stick to the traditional neutrals? With the plethora of colors available, you can add a dramatic effect to your space by making one wall a deep navy blue and displaying your artwork in gold frames arranged in a gallery-style configuration.
Add texture to your home renovation project by placing embossed or fabric wallpaper on your walls. Many kitchen wallpapers come in vibrant colors that add dimension and intrigue to a space. Some of these wallpapers have raised elements with inlays of gold or silver foil for added charm.
Wallpaper with an embossed texture that mimics the look of wood adds an interesting dimension to a room.
Paint Your Window Frames And Trims
We often underestimate the impact a fresh coat of paint can have on a simple window frame. Of course, you can go the traditional route of painting them white or light cream, but how about trying something different? For instance, painting them in a dark color like black, navy, copper, or pewter will give the windows a bold outline that enhances the entire room.
Upcycle And Reuse Items And Materials
Upcycled fashion has gained momentum in recent years as more people flock to traders’ markets and thrift stores, and home renovating and decorating are no exception. You’ll discover troves of treasures that can be used in your renovation project. Weathered step ladders can be used as impromptu shelving units, and overturned cement plant pots can be turned into unusual side tables with marble tops too.
Creative minds have devised ways to recycle unusual items like barrel rings and cake pans into gorgeous DIY light fixtures. You could also hang an old vintage bedframe from the ceiling in an outdoor patio area and drape fairy lights from its structure for extra whimsy.
Update Your Window Treatments
Modern home design trends are focusing on windows more, and we’ve seen window sizes increase as homeowners try to incorporate more of the outdoors into their internal spaces. This means that heavy drapes and chunky blinds are becoming less popular. You, too, can embrace the outdoors by hanging airy gossamer curtains that let more light and air into your home.
Some lightweight fabrics that will make wonderful gauzy curtains include:
- Voile
- Lace
- Chiffon
- Georgette
- Linen
When hanging curtains, it’s important to bring the rail up so that it’s about two inches away from the ceiling and to extend the rail width about 2-4 inches beyond the window edge. These new dimensions will open up the room more.
Change Your Light Fixtures And Switches
Light fixtures are like the room’s jewelry—you notice when it’s missing, and you certainly notice when it’s tarnished and tacky. Dome flush-mounted ceiling lights were huge in the late 80s and early 90s, but thankfully those austere designs are gone. We’re seeing more dramatic lights that attract your attention and draw the eyes upward.
If you want to update your lights, then stick to pendants with bold geometric shapes in metallic colors or ornate chandeliers. Natural materials like bamboo, cane, wicker, and wood always look good when complemented by other natural decor elements like stone floors or exposed brick too.
It also gives your home a modern look if you change your light switch plates and wall socket plates. The regular ivory-colored plates tend to discolor over time, making them look grubby and dirty.
Paint The Ceiling A Color
If you have high ceilings, then going bold and painting them a dark color like black, chestnut brown, or slate blue will give your room a dramatic feel. Bear in mind, you’ll want to make your walls a much lighter neutral color so that the room doesn’t feel claustrophobic.
Ceilings with exposed wooden rafters look amazing when painted in a color that’s the same warm hue as the wood. You can also bring out the wood’s luster by giving the rafters light sand and revarnish while you’re busy updating the ceiling.
Replace Kitchen Cabinet Doors And Handles
A kitchen is the most used room in a house, so remodeling is one of the best ways to quickly refresh your home’s aesthetic. But if a complete renovation is not in your budget right now, you can easily change out the doors for sleeker, more modern versions.
Doors with straight edges look outdated, so go for doors with a beveled edge or shaker-style doors for a more contemporary look.
Of course, you’ll also want to change the door handles and pulls. There are endless styles and finishes to choose from, but we recommend you match the color and finish to other appliances and fixtures like faucets for a more cohesive look. Matte black and nickel are currently the most popular handle finishes, with brass close behind.
Incorporate Unique Hidden Storage
Hidden storage adds mystery and excitement to a house. Who wouldn’t love a secret door in a bookcase? You can create all types of secret storage while you’re renovating your home. Under-stair storage is a great way to use wasted space to store out-of-season decor or clothing if necessary.
Other hidden storage ideas include creating a living room area on a platform with storage incorporated into the structure. The storage can be easily accessed via pull-out drawers or panels that lift up with hydraulic arms, for a fancier feel.
Update The Sanitary Ware In The Bathroom
Replacing outdated bathroom hardware with sleeker wall-mounted sanitary ware will instantly open up and refresh the space. Installing a large showerhead with variable settings will make a huge difference when remodeling. Similarly, replacing your old faucet with a swivel one and a large wide basin will also make the bathroom feel more modern.
Keep your hardware and fixtures neutral colors, and use towels, facecloths, and bath mats to add accent colors that you can easily change whenever you get bored.
Conclusion
Making minor changes when remodeling your house will allow you to try out some ideas as you alter your home to suit your lifestyle. As you progress to larger projects, you’ll discover your own take on contemporary styles and include those in your home. Some smaller contemporary home projects include painting or wallpapering your walls, painting the window frames and ceilings, recycling old items uniquely, and updating your window treatments. Larger projects include redoing your flooring, changing cabinet doors, changing light fixtures and switches, building hidden storage into your home, and installing new sanitary ware.
