You say your home is in need of a makeover, but you don't want to take out a loan? Well, join the club.
According to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, homeowner remodeling spending has seen slow growth in 2006. Meanwhile, home equity loans have become more expensive. Many homeowners have seen the monthly payments on those loans double over the past two years-a more dramatic rise than the price of gasoline.
So how do you give your home some character and personality without going into debt?
"Remodeling projects can cost tens of thousands of dollars," says Pat Simpson, home improvement expert and host of HGTV's "Before & After," "Fix It Up!" and "Room to Improve." "But you can do a little shopping at your favorite home center and give your house a makeover without spending a fortune."
Your own cedar closet
The average price of a master bedroom closet renovation is $3,500. But you can create a beautiful cedar closet using do-it-yourself, easy-to-install cedar panels or planks for $150 to $360 for a standard-size closet.
CedarSafe Natural Closet Liner planks and panels are made of 100 percent Aromatic Eastern Redcedar and line the walls of the closet. Both work well with standard or custom racking, shelving, storage drawers and cabinetry. A cedar closet not only looks and smells great, it repels and resists insects and mildew and it's safer than mothballs.
Creative kitchen ideas
According to Remodeling magazine, the average mid-range kitchen remodeling project costs nearly $44,000. If you'd like to give your kitchen a new look, Simpson says consider replacing the hardware on the doors and drawers. It's inexpensive and easy.
Lighting will easily enhance a kitchen's appearance, too. Remove the fluorescent fixtures and hang pendant lights over islands or eating counters.
A bathroom that pops
A mid-range bathroom remodeling project can cost $10,000. Simpson has a better idea: Install a new tile floor. In many cases, tile can be laid right over an existing floor. In addition, tile wainscoting and tile shower surrounds can really make a bathroom "pop." Also, try removing that stale, unattractive mirror that has no personality. Framed mirrors greatly add to the appearance. If you have counter space, a nice lamp works well, too.
Giving your home a makeover doesn't have to cost a fortune. In many cases, you can refresh your space for less than $500.
Author Bio:
Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. EPA and DOE. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov. Using energy efficiently at home can be as easy as changing a light bulb.
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