When you decide to start any type of home improvement project, you’re probably thinking of what the new carpet looks like in a particular room, but it is much more important to plan out what you have to do to accomplish that goal. You can start with these tips to help you begin and map out your home improvement journey.

Getting your ceilings to seem taller then they are is possible by employing two easy methods. You can paint stripes on your wall or add a tall floor lamp. This will make a optical illusion that makes the room seem bigger. Your eyes will then think the ceilings are higher in height than they really are.

Put a stop to your squeaky floor by using construction adhesive. You’ll have to work from the basement or in the crawlspace but the effort will be worth it. You will basically be gluing each floor joist to its neighbor by applying a glue line along each one with a caulking gun.

Boring, simple lampshades have no personality. Buy some cheap stencils at your local craft store, and using some acrylic paint or dye based ink pad, dab around the designs, transferring them to your lamp shade. You could literally create any design you can think of and give more personality to your home.

Maybe you don’t really have to replace your bedroom doors; they may simply need refinishing. Take the door off its frame, then sand it until you expose the wood. Get some oil-based paint and apply with a roller. To spruce things up, install new, fancy doorknobs.

Think about what you’re going to do before you do it. A concrete plan is essential if you want your project to be within your budget and completed on time. If you make changes during the project, you can increase the price and the time. Your contractors will appreciate and be ready to begin, if you know what you are looking for before the project starts.

When you buy furniture, avoid busy upholstery pieces, recliners, sofas, couches, and chairs. Purchasing geometric shape or floral print items will automatically determine your home decor. Instead, consider solid, neutral tones so that your decor is easy to change with the seasons, trends or your mood. You can use pillows and blankets to combine and create muted patterns.

It isn’t hard to connect PVC pipes to each other, you just need PVC primer and cement. Avoid costly leaks and damage by using the correct materials to join the two pieces together. Also, make sure there is no moisture on the pipes.

Set a home repair budget to use to make improvements and repairs around your home. Homeowners who allocate a specific amount of money for such projects will likely be better at maintaining their homes. If there is anything leftover at year’s end, it can be focused towards bigger and better projects the year after.

It’s simple to hide extra supplies in your floor or attic. You can put up your big pieces of molding or wood in these areas. All you have to do is put some furring strips on floor joists or your rafters.

You can keep bugs out of your home and save money on the costs of heating and cooling your home, by sealing off any cracks or other openings around the perimeter of your home. Simply apply caulk to baseboards, around and inside windows, and any other places. Once the caulk is dry, bugs have a much more difficult time getting inside, and the air doesn’t escape as easy.

Create a calming, relaxing feel by decorating with palette of analogous colors. Analogous colors bode well when next to one another such as green and yellow, blue and violet or orange and red. A room with this color scheme appears more relaxing and restful, so it is great for bedrooms and family rooms.

Do not forget about your porch when making home improvements. Anyone who drives up to your home is going to see the porch first. Clean up and add enhancements like flowers, patio furniture, light fixtures and wood varnish. This will pay off in real dollars, as a nice porch increases the value of a home.

A smart homeowner focuses on adding new fixtures to a home before obtaining new furniture. Pricy furniture and high-end artwork is going to go with you anyway once you move, so spending more on what’s staying is going to add more value to the actual home. In contrast, the market value of a home is greatly enhanced by quality fixtures that remain with the house after it’s sold.

Be certain to highlight the selling points of your house. Always draw attention a pretty view from windows and make the most of your house’s natural assets. No matter what your home’s best selling points are, enhance them. The buyer will love your home if you work hard at it.

Consider a new sink for your dated kitchen. You home will look better instantly when you add a new sink. New sinks come in a variety of fresh colors, giving you the opportunity to add a touch of color to your kitchen.

Anything Else

Don’t rush into your home improvement project without a plan! Before you even touch the paint can, take time to cover all furniture and surfaces in your work area. Paint splatters on furniture can cause lasting damage. To offer the best protection, cover all furniture with sheets or plastic.

Make sure you have the rewiring and plumbing handled in a home improvement venture before moving onto anything else. Repairs of this kind usually will have you tearing into the walls of your home, so you should do that before anything else. Once your walls are already open, it is much easier to tackle general maintenance to wiring or plumbing.

Installing multiple smoke alarms will reduce your insurance premiums. This cost difference is more noticeable in older homes because insurers know that modern homes are constructed with materials that are more resistant to fire. These smoke alarms could even save your life and your belongings if a fire starts.

Make sure that you paint when the air is dry. This tip is critical for having success in painting your home. On humid and wet afternoons, paint will dry slowly on walls and make your project take longer. If you only paint on days that are dry then it won’t take as long for the coats to dry.

Add some curb appeal by adding a couple coats of some high-gloss paint to the shutters and front door of your home. Consult a color wheel and choose a contrasting color for your home’s trim for the most dramatic effect.

A specific goal and accurate planning is required to complete your home remodeling project. Thinking about these aspects of home improvement will make sure that your project will turn out how you envision. If you plan carefully you will have a wonderful time with your projects.

When hiring a contractor, be sure to have in writing the exact costs of the home improvements. It should also have guarantees on what work will be completed on what timeline, and a payment plan.