Whether you’re a work-from-home veteran or just started, consider these basic home office remodeling tips to make the most out of your space.

Locating the Ideal Space for Your Home Office

The primary goal is to find a space that has few household distractions. Of course, a separate room is ideal for a home office. The ability to close a door at the end of the workday is best. It maximizes privacy and serenity, and lends the feeling of leaving work at the end of the day, which has positive psychological effects – it allows you to disconnect.

If your home and budget permit, you might consider adding a separate entrance to your home office from the outside to really capitalize on the feeling of going to and from the office. This is obviously a task that you probably wouldn’t want to undertake on your own and will most likely require you to hire a contractor to do the job.

Not everyone has the luxury of having a separate space, so some of you need to think more creatively if you’re short on space. There are many ways to distinguish and optimize your home office space even if you don’t have an extra room, a consultation with an interior designer will help you to get on the right track.

Boost Your Productivity with Color

Color can help you virtually separate your office space and has other benefits as well. Color and its brightness are a matter of personal preference. Now that this home office space is all yours, it’s time to personalize it to optimize performance. So, consider color carefully when you select paint and accents.

Interestingly, most experts agree that blue is the best color for productivity. It calms your mind, which helps you concentrate and stay focused.

 These colors can also help give you a boost.

• Yellow energizes, enhances creativity and mood.
• Green is balancing and creates calm.
• White is ideal for a smaller space as it makes it feel larger and brighter.

And you creative types may want to do something a little different with your walls. Perhaps a chalkboard wall or section will take that ingenious mind of yours to the next level.

The Proper Lighting Will Make You Shine

Lighting can improve productivity and make you feel better according to this WorkDesign Magazine article and other studies.

When it comes to lighting for your home office, you can’t beat mother nature – natural lighting is best. It increases alertness and helps optimize brain function. Who doesn’t want that when they’re working? It also improves physical and mental health.

Therefore, finding a space with windows, allowing natural lighting to come in, is optimal. Being close to a window that opens to the outdoors also allows you to get some fresh air throughout the day, which also enhances your wellbeing. Another benefit of a window in your home office space is that it offers a view, which can help you de-stress during the workday.

If you don’t have a space with natural lighting, you can add energy efficient lamps and directional lighting. Budget and structure permitting, you can add a window and/or a skylight.

Choose Your Desk, Chair and other furnishings for Comfort, Style and Functionality

Whether you choose modern, minimalist furniture or go the traditional route, make sure you fulfill storage needs. The goal is to have a clean, uncluttered work environment.

• Desk – Your desk should be large enough so that you can spread out when working on multiple projects simultaneously or as needed in the normal course of your workday. You don’t have to break the bank for a desk. There are many good, economical options available.
• Chair – Your office chair is an item on which you don’t want to penny pinch, but you can find some deals too. Consider how many hours you spend sitting at your desk during your workday. Healthy posture is critical to your comfort; an ergonomic chair promotes health and productivity. Your office chair should be sturdy; have good lumbar support;  a long back with a headrest and height adjustment. A mesh back will keep you cooler during those long days. You can find a good, economical one at ikea.
• Office desks and chairs have come a long way. Adjustable standing desks are a great option for those who prefer not to sit at their desk all day. Stability balls are another seating option that is becoming more prevalent. They enhance posture, balance and core strength and can be used periodically throughout the day to break the monotony of sitting in an office chair for extended periods of time.
• Storage – Choose a storage system for files, equipment and other items that flows with your home office decor and helps create a clutter-free work environment.

Get the Right Tools for Your Trade

Don’t overlook the basics when setting up your home office.

• You don’t want to wait forever to upload or download large files. Make sure that you have a fast, reliable internet connection.
• It’s critical to have backup for your power and your data. Get a backup power source and external hard drive so that your files are backed up periodically. If you don’t want to purchase a hard drive, you can also backup data in the cloud with services such as Google Drive and iCloud.
• An additional monitor is great for multitasking and allows you to see the full scope of projects you’re working on.
• A scanner and printer are a must. You can find all-in-one machines that include scanner, printer and fax; does anyone use a fax anymore? Some professionals still do and need them.
• Remember that not everything is electronic. You will always need tangible notes. Always include the basics like pen and paper. Physical office supplies make the space feel more like an office and less like a home.

Include Final Touches that Make it Your Own

Including some aspects of home design in your home office will help you think more creatively, make you more productive, reduce stress and reduce feelings of loneliness.

• Adding a sound system with music of your choice can make you more productive.
• House plants bring nature indoors and also help you think more creatively.
• Artwork and /or framed quotes should inspire you.
• Essential oil diffusers are being used more in offices to reduce stress.
• Lastly, add finishes that you like, for example, gold finishes in your chair and/or desk accessories for that glam touch – have fun with this and make it your own!

Now that you have these practical tips, go ahead and start making your home office space the ideal place for you to excel in your job. Besides, don’t you want a really cool space that impresses your coworkers during all those Zoom meetings?

Whether you own a fixer-upper you bought as a young couple, or the home where you raised your family, investing some time and energy into smart home projects can help you sell your home quickly without compromising on selling price.

Creating a Great First Impression

When selling a home, never underestimate the power of a first impression. From the moment potential buyers arrive at the house, you want them to have a positive feeling toward your home. Make sure your flower beds are weeded, and your trees and hedges don’t look overgrown or unruly. Replace your house numbers, selecting modern, easy-to-read numbers so potential buyers can immediately identify your home. Change the light bulb by the front door, and make sure it lights up the entire entryway.

Add a New Fence

Home buyers concerned about the safety of their family and pets, consider outdoor fencing a desirable property feature. When calculating the potential cost of installing a fence, you’ll need to take into account the size of your property, what kind of lumber you’re using (averages $7 to $15 per foot), and labor costs ($10 – $30 per foot). And if you want to add a gate to your fence, you should expect to pay an additional $200 – $600.

Don’t Forget the Door

Boost your curb appeal without spending a lot of time on painting, and focus on the front door. Painting the front door is an inexpensive project that can create a great first impression, and help you sell your home faster. When selecting the perfect color for the front door, carefully consider the style of your home, your home’s exterior color, and the style of the neighborhood. Make sure the color will make the front door pop without clashing with the exterior color or making it seem out of place in the neighborhood. Popular door colors you can select include white, blue, green, red, or brown.

Spruce Up the Kitchen

A home project involving the kitchen will likely be the most expensive project you’ll undertake, but modernizing your kitchen can increase the value of your home, and could make all the difference in securing a quick sale. Consider resurfacing the countertops, updating the sink and faucet (upscale faucets will cost you $200 – $600), or replacing the flooring to give the kitchen a whole new look.

Replace the Baseboards

Over the years, your baseboards have received a lot of wear and tear, and they may be scuffed and scraped in a few well-worn areas. Replacing the baseboards is a quick and cost-effective way to give your home an update. When the baseboards are removed, make sure you patch any hold or dents in the wall, then sand and repaint the baseboards, or replace the baseboards altogether to impress buyers with beautiful, clean lines between your wall and floor.

Fill Nail Holes in the Walls

If you’ve been in your current home for a while, you’ve probably rearranged the art and photos you have hanging on the walls, leaving behind a few nail holes here and there. You hardly notice these holes, but a potential buyer will be scrutinizing every wall. Filling the nail holes can make your home seem brand new, and this small home project will only take you one afternoon.

Organize the Garage

Is your garage full of boxes, Christmas decorations, and old sports equipment no one uses anymore? Consider that stuff a hindrance to a quick sale. You can sell your home faster by spending some time organizing the garage. Sell, donate, or toss anything you’re not planning to take with you when you move, and organize what’s left. Install some shelving, place a corkboard to hang tools, and add pegs or an overhead rack for any oversized storage. Buyers will be impressed by all the storage space, and you’ll have added an element that can expedite the sale.

Some homes can be on the market for months, but if you don’t want to wait that long, choose a few home projects to focus on, such as increasing curb appeal, sprucing up the kitchen, and organizing your garage and you’ll be able to sell your home quickly, helping you move on to your next adventure.

Most of these projects are quick and cost-effective fixes that will help you sell your house quickly, but if you’re looking for a bigger return on your investment, check out our list of Top 7 Home Renovations for the Money.

1. Roof Upgrades

If you’re remodeling your roof, try installing a wraparound soffit and some polyiso insulation to cut energy bills, improve air quality, and ultimately, increase property value. Soffit is a ventilated cover that goes around the entire length of your home below the roof where it hangs over the edges of your walls. It keeps the inside of your roof from overheating, thus improving energy efficiency in the summer.

Polyiso insulation is installed beneath everything else on the exterior of your roof. It provides extra protection against air and moisture intrusion as well as helping prevent your home from losing heat through the top of your house in the winter.

2. Slash your HVAC Expenses

By fixing all the leaks in your HVAC system, you can use it less frequently and still achieve the same effect. Going through a company that can come in, identify and fix all the leaks in your ducts is the only way to make sure your HVAC system is completely airtight. Duct cleaning companies will normally use a computerized pressure system to achieve this, and can also typically provide you with a before and after of how much energy you were losing vs how much you’ll be saving once they’re done.

3. Concrete Wall Upgrades

Insulated concrete forms are the best energy-efficient option for new construction. If you’re adding an extension or building a pool or guesthouse in the backyard, ICFs are, hands down, best choice. ICFs are hollow concrete blocks that are linked together to form a comprehensive wall system that is airtight and much more energy-efficient than the average wooden wall framed home.

When builders want to build the most energy efficient buildings possible nowadays, they use ICFs to form the wall systems. ICFs are sound-resistant, fire-resistant, extremely durable, and safe in even the most extreme weather.

4. ENERGY STAR Rated Windows

Your windows can cost you quite a bit if they aren’t ENERGY STAR rated. A regular window which is poorly insulated will let warm air escape in the winter while letting cool air out during the summer. Such drafts will cost you because you’ll be forced to keep your heating and cooling system on more frequently, and for longer periods of time. Depending on your climate, an ENERGY STAR rated set of windows will help prevent this.

5. Energy-Efficient Lights

Switching out old bulbs for LED lights and adding dimmer switches to your home is a great, cheap way to cut energy costs. This is probably the first place you’ll want to start if you’re serious about cutting your energy costs. Dimmers allow you to adjust the lighting so that your bulbs aren’t burning as bright as possible whenever they’re on. Currently, the best LED bulbs cut electricity costs by 85% when compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.

Cutting Energy Costs in a Modern Home Design is Simple

In today’s day and age, cutting energy costs through remodeling has never been easier. Whether you use energy-efficient lights, house wraps, polyiso insulation, ICFs, soffit, or HVAC repair, you’re sure to reap the benefits at the end of the month.

Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.

Last-Minute Showings

One of the most stressful parts of selling a home is the last-minute showing. Someone calls, you have 10 minutes to an hour before a potential buyer is coming to the house, you are disheveled, the kids are playing and have toys everywhere, the sink is full of dishes, the washing machine is running, and you still need to clean. While this may seem like the worst-case scenario, you can do several things to make tidying up easy and ensure that you have the home ready to show off:

• Keep baskets handy to throw in laundry, paper, toys, and clothes.
• Make it a rule to make beds in the morning and fold all blankets after each use.
• Set up a designated space for all people who enter your home to place shoes and bags.
• Put the dishes in the dishwasher after each use.
• Create a checklist for small tasks.

Letting the Light Shine

The perfect lighting in a home achieves that warm and bright atmosphere buyers are looking for.  It’s important not to overlook the importance that natural and artificial lights bring to the space.  Open all blinds and curtains. Turn on all lights, including lamps and overhead lights. Add some mirrors, which will help give the illusion of open spaces. Make it a game for your kids to spot dark areas in your home and add lamps or wall sconces in those areas. To make sure the lights are on prior to a showing, assign everyone one room that they are responsible for.

Tidying Up

The most important thing you can do to help sell your home is to get rid of the clutter. Too much stuff will prevent potential buyers from being able to picture the house as their home. To prep your home for showings, have each family member sort their belongings into four piles:

1. What they need for the short term
2. What can be stored
3. What can be donated
4. What can be trashed

For the items you’ll be storing, try to find storage out of the house, such as at a friend’s or relative’s house or a storage unit. Get the whole family involved in this task, and in the end, reward the whole family with a fun dinner or family-fun activity like bowling or mini golf.

Appealing to the Senses

To sell your home, you must appeal to the senses of the buyer. You can help entice their visual senses by focusing on lighting, de-cluttering, and cleaning. While you may have adapted to noises in your home, potential buyers have not. So, it’s important to get rid of creaky floorboards, leaky faucets, or loud appliances.

Eliminate offensive odors caused by pets, plants, standing water, and musty basements, then add in pleasant smells, such as cinnamon, freshly baked cookies, lavender, pine, or fresh linen. Again, make this a time for your family to bond, and get everyone involved by seeing what everyone’s different senses picks up.

Being a busy parent is a job in and of itself, so the thought of selling your house may cause stress. You’re not alone, and many potential buyers will likely be in the same boat. Your home cannot always be picture perfect, but there are steps you can take to make it sale-ready. Involve your whole family every step of the way as you set a plan for last-minute showings, bring light into your home, tidy up every room, and make sure to appeal to all the potential buyer’s senses. In no time, this season of your life will have passed and you will be in a new home.

Learn how to save on home remodeling with proper planning and these problems won’t stand a chance. Without a plan, chances of getting stranded or lost in the wilderness of home remodeling will soar.

One problem that many homeowners looking to remodel their homes often face is high budget costs. It’s not uncommon for renovation budgets to spiral out of control, especially without proper planning.

In 2016, homeowners aged 55 years and over spent an average of $73,100 on renovations, according to this report.  Now, that’s a tidy sum of money!

Fortunately, there are ways that can ensure you keep more cash in your pocket. Dave from State Property Management, a property management company in Orlando, shared some of them with us:

1.  USE LESS EXPENSIVE MATERIAL THAT LOOKS RICH

You can give your home a luxury look without spending huge sums of money. For example, instead of solid wood cupboards in the kitchen and bath, select painted lower cost particleboard cupboards.

For your flooring, instead of solid hardwood flooring, select engineered wood. Or, rather than buy an expensive carpet, select a carpet in the middle-price range, then add an underpad for more cushioning.

2.  REPAINT AND REPURPOSE

Who says that remodeling or renovating requires everything to be new?

To keep your remodeling budget under control, you want to save every penny you can. While it is tempting to replace old items with brand new ones, repurposing them can save you plenty of cash.

Repainting and repurposing is a good option especially for things that are outdated but still in good quality and condition.

This works best for things like bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinetry.

3.  AVOID COSTLY DESIGN CHANGES

Major design changes can quickly spiral the cost of your home remodeling project. So, avoid them as much as you can. Moving the gas lines, electrical, and/or the plumbing can quickly lead to additional costs due to the additional supplies and labor.

For instance, if your kitchen has a functional layout that is in sync with the workflow of the stove, fridge, and sink, don’t change it. By doing this, you’ll avoid the added cost of rerouting plumbing lines.

4.  BUY USED BUILDING AND RENOVATION MATERIALS

Many people have heard about used furniture and appliances, but few know that used building and renovation materials also exist.

You can find gently used flooring, windows, lumber, and other materials online. Habitat.org should get you started in this regard. You might find good prices on interior doors, windows, vanities, toilets, sinks, and kitchen and bath cabinetry.

Usually, contractors will donate the leftover supplies on subdivisions or custom jobs. As such, the materials will often be of high quality.

Aside from Habitat.org, you could also look online at sites like Greendemolitions.com. Here, you stand a chance of buying items at half the price of retail. Generally, you’ll find items like kitchen and bath cabinetry.

But, bear in mind that determining the quality of items you buy online can be a bit harder.

5.  REPURPOSE YOUR OLD FURNITURE INTO NEW BUILT-INS

Here, creativity is vital. In addition, the more creative you are, the more savings you’ll get. You can repurpose your old kitchen into new built-ins to be used in various rooms around your home.

For instance, you can create a built-in family breakfast area by using the solid pine base of a round kitchen to anchor an extension on your kitchen counter. You could also refinish and repurpose an old desk into a front hall table for your entryway.

6.  SHOP FOR THE RETURNED PAINT

A lick of paint, if it’s the right paint, can do wonders. It’s an inexpensive way to revitalize your home’s look. But your costs may add up quickly, especially with paint prices ranging between $17 and $105 per gallon.

To save some money, consider purchasing “mistint” – the returned paint. This is the paint that a buyer bought but had second thoughts on. Or, one where there was an error in mixing.

However, bear in mind that returned paint or mistints come in limited quantities. As such, it may not be suitable for large spaces.

7.  HIRE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

First up, outsource any big jobs. From a financial and legal perspective, hiring a professional makes the most sense. This is especially true if the work involves structural, electrical and plumbing work.

In addition, you’ll avoid any unexpected and unnecessary outgoings caused by DIY catastrophes.

Before you lock anyone in, it pays to do your research. Check up their certifications and professional experience. Do they measure up? Next, get several quotes per work to assist you to weigh up timeline and cost options.  

 If you are on a tight budget, these cost-cutting tips will help you stay one step ahead and still ensure a good ROI on your investment. Not all home remodels have to be expensive just like not all have to be dramatic.

1. Clear the Clutter

You’ll be surprised what a big difference you’ll see just by throwing out what you don’t use.  Or you may just find that some items just don’t belong in that space.  Once you are done with this process you’ll probably notice your backyard space looks just a little bigger too.

2. Container Gardening

The idea of using container gardening creates an all year round colorful design. Dress up your garden with gorgeous potted plants.

3. Add a Swing

Think swings are just for kids? Think again. A swing will not only add a beautiful touch to your patio but it will add health benefits as well. Swinging is good for your mental health, balance, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and it helps to burn calories. So have that glass of wine and swing away.

4. Paint the Fence

Add curb appeal to your backyard by painting the fence. Shades of blues look beautiful all year round.

5. A Bird Feeder

Adding a bird feeder to your backyard has a lot more benefits than just feeding birds, it’s relaxing.  Choose a bird feeder that best fits your style and remember the food you purchase is the birds you’ll attract.

6. Lights

Don’t forget that lighting is the magic to the show. Adding string lights or a simple chandelier will add the last sparkle your backyard needs to welcome your guests and start the show.