Renovate Your Home With What You Already Have
When working on remodeling our homes, we automatically think of buying new. Buying new hardwood floors, brand new kitchen cabinets, and even new furniture. While this may be ideal for a lot of people, most of them cannot afford it. Remodeling is already a pricey venture, so taking measures to cut back on costs is a great idea. This is why more home remodelers should consider salvaging old items and renovating them to complement the new decor.
Salvaging old items has many benefits. It is very environmentally friendly, as reusing items cuts back on the production of more new products and reduces the amount of trash going into a landfill. It’s also easy on your wallet; by reusing and remodeling old furniture, your costs are at a minimum, requiring you only spend money for paint and small hardware. So digging through the basement or Kansas City storage unit will help you realize the potential your old items have for your new home.
1. Old Dressers and Cabinets
There are a variety of ways you can fix up old dressers, armoires, and other cabinets. A lot of people throw out dressers when the runners are damaged or worn out. In reality, the hardware for new runners generally doesn’t run more than $10. And if it’s a really old dresser, it could use new ones anyway that would help it open and close much smoother than its original hardware.
For a dresser whose interior is beyond repair, it still doesn’t need to be disposed of. Disassemble the old drawers and turn the old spaces for them into shelves that can be used for books or DVD’s. Shorter dressers can be cleared out completely, leaving only the exterior, and turned into a fun little nook for a pet to enjoy.
As always, sandpaper and paint can spruce up any old piece of wood furniture to make it tie in with any room.
2. Old Couches and Chairs
There is never a good reason to get rid of an old couch or chair, unless it has been damaged to the point that it is unrecognizable. You can locate an upholstery company nearby to replace the cushions and fabric on the couch. Even if it has collected dust for years just sitting in storage, it can be refurbished and look as if you meant it to be a part of your living room.
If reupholstering a couch is a little out of your budget, instead try slip covers or even just a large throw from a local retailer. By simply covering up the old couch with new material, it can instantly tie any old piece of furniture into the room. It might even make it feel more comfortable.
3. Leftover tile and other small pieces
So after renovating the kitchen or bathroom, you may have leftover tile, mirrors, and other small fragments. Rather than getting rid of them, start a fun project the whole family can do. If your house has a rather bleak front porch, spice it up a bit. Using mortar or a similar material, lay down the old fragments into fun patterns and shapes. Break up the leftover tile with a hammer and lay that down as well. Have friends and family members come over and contribute a little bit to the project so it is a collaborative piece that saves you time. After all the pieces are down and the mortar has hardened, fill in the gaps with grout. Once it dries, you will have a unique piece right in front of your house that all your guests will see and enjoy.
Renovating a house can wear you out, but you should still have fun in the process. By salvaging old items and putting them to a new use, you are saving yourself money and bringing a whole new personality to your home.