We all want to get the most bang for our buck, right? Especially when it comes to property. And good home design could add up to 19% more value to your home!
If you’re planning a move soon, or just want to invest in the right places, we have put together the ultimate guide to help you add value to your home.
So whether you’re looking for small and easy updates or more large scale projects, we have compiled our best design tips to make the offers fly in!
Receive expert advice on how to transform your space whilst adding value by booking a FREE design consultation:
Quick updates that add instant value to your home
1. Remove bulky and boxy furniture
Image credit: My Bespoke Room
Getting furniture that’s the wrong size for a room is one of the most common design mistakes we help clients fix.
It can be tempting to buy the biggest sofa you can than can technically fit but if the scale is wrong and it’s bulky, it will have a really negative impact.
If you want to add value to your home – spend some time decluttering and removing furniture and items aren’t needed. The less clutter you have, the more floor space will be seen making the room feel much more spacious – and who doesn’t want a spacious room?!
Read our guide dedicated to small spaces for more solutions to try.
2. Swap over dated light fittings
Image credit: My Bespoke Room & dasilvadesign
Plug in lights are a fantastic way of lighting up a dark corner and losing any dark shadows. This will really help to make the room feel even more spacious and what’s more – you don’t need an electrician and you can take them with you when you move!
Would you like an expert eye on your home? Book a FREE consultation today to get tailored advice.
3. A fresh lick of paint (and which colours to avoid!)
Image credit: My Bespoke Room
Now you’ll be well aware by now that we love a good bold colour at My Bespoke Room. We often try to challenge our clients to take bold choices with colour and pattern so that they have a home that they absolutely love and is completely unique to them. The great thing about paint though is also that it’s relatively easy to change. All you need is a free weekend (rare, I know), some dust sheets and a tin of emulsion!
So if you’re thinking about refreshing your home for potential buyers, consider something, fresh, light and neutral. It will help to create a blank canvas for them to picture themselves living there.
Even if you already have a neutral palette, we strongly recommend doing a touch up anyway to wipe out any scuff marks and fingerprints. You might no longer notice them, but trust us – they’re there!
“If you’re selling, avoid bright colours like red, orange yellow and purple. A lot of people can’t see past this and won’t imagine themselves living there.”
4. Lay down a rug
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
“A good rug can hide tired looking flooring and instantly warm up a space to make it more inviting.”
Flooring is another big selling point and something buyers will look out for. Replacing your flooring however is a big update that could cost a pretty penny. Instead, simply layer in a rug!
Rugs are an interior designer’s must-have as they serve so many wonderful purposes like warming up a space, absorbing sound, adding a pop of colour and also zoning a space in a room to give it a clear definition.
Another benefit relevant for this blog however that they also help to hide any scuff marks and typical ware and tear. They can also distract from what might be a dated floor choice (no judgement!)
Need help choosing where’s best to invest in your home? Book a FREE design consultation to make sure you’re spending in the right places:
5. Get a handle on it
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Another quick and easy tip from us to you is to simply replace your old handles on your kitchen cabinets or wardrobes. It’s amazing how these little details really do make a big impact and can make a home look far more luxurious.
Our friends over at Plank hardware wrote us a blog post all about how to upcycle items of furniture and make them look truly fabulous. Take a look for some inspiration!
6. Fill empty spaces on your walls
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Here’s another super quick home update that will honestly transform your space – hanging artwork. Look for those areas around your home where you have a blank space that’s looking a little lost and lonely. Pay particular attention to views between rooms. Is there a blank wall that you can see from your hallway that’s crying out a picture? This will really help to lead people through your home to keep exploring.
Abstract art works really well as a way to pull together an entire room scheme as you can pull colours from it and dot them around the room in soft furnishings and other little items. Avoid damaging the walls by using command strips to hang pictures instead of hammering in nails. You can also simply prop the artwork on a fireplace or piece of furniture to get a similar effect.
Mirrors also work wonders for filling wall space, but they have the added bonus of reflecting light around the room and giving an illusion of hidden depth.
“Mirrors trick the eye into thinking there’s space beyond.”
7. Bring nature in
Image credit: My Bespoke Room & dasilvadesign
Plants are just wonderful aren’t they? Whenever we do a photoshoot we bring along a bunch of plants with us as they instantly complete the look of a shot. In fact – I’ll give a fiver to anyone that can find an image in this post that doesn’t have a plant in!
This works for daily life too. They add a pop of colour and life to a space and help to fill any awkward looking empty spaces.
Solve your design dilemma today by booking a FREE consultation with one of our experts:
8. Keep a well groomed garden
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Ok, you like the house and then you wander into the garden but it’s so overgrown and out of control you struggle to see it’s potential, and actually, it’s size.
Having a garden that is well groomed, whether it’s been expertly landscaped or just kept in order, will help buyers see more of the garden, won’t leave them overwhelmed by the work that needs doing and actually, will make the garden feel larger.
9. Create a warm welcome
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
First impressions count – we all know this. It’s scientifically true. So, ensure a buyer’s first impression of your home is a good one. Paint the front door, add some greenery, and have a fun doormat.
At the very least, make sure the entrance is tidy and hazard free.
10. Tidy up
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Lastly, just ensure that your house is tidy – it makes so much difference! The majority people can’t see through the mess to see the potential of your property, so just make sure laundry in baskets, toys scattered around and work-spaces covered in letters doesn’t alter their impressions.
11. Call in the pros!
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
It can be really hard to see your home with fresh eyes and see what needs updating and improving. An interior designer like ours have years worth of experience and can spot creative ways to unlock a home’s potential. So book a FREE consultation to find out how we could help!
Big changes, big rewards
1. Loft or basement conversion
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Loft or basement conversions are guaranteed to add value to your home because you’re expanding the usable space!
Whether it’s adding an extra bedroom, more living space, another bathroom or a games and/or cinema room – it will inevitably be more attractive to the buyer and add heaps of value.
2. Fit bespoke furnishings
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Bespoke fixtures don’t come cheap, but can add a real value to your home. No one enjoys a cluttered household, and bespoke storage fittings can be the perfect solution.
Those awkward spaces in your home can become ample storage for items that don’t have a place to stay, furthermore bespoke furniture adds that touch of class and exclusivity to your home that makes it more appealing.
3. Convert your garage
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Same as above – another room, more value. This can simply change the garage into more living space, a home office or gym or another bedroom or you can go the extra mile and create a mini duplex like the image above!
If the garage is stand alone and the footprint is large enough to create another self-continued living space, then you can absolutely create a space that can be rented out.
4. Extend your kitchen
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Kitchen extensions are HUGE for adding value. Today, kitchens aren’t just for cooking, they’re sociable spaces and often considered the heart of the home. Extending the kitchen makes it a more enjoyable space to spend time cooking and, in turn, opens up your home to make it more accessible and a nicer place to be, alone or with others.
Need help designing your open plan space? Book your FREE design consultation to receive expert advice
5. Bathroom updates
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
A dated or tired bathroom can be a real turn off when it comes to buying a house. Having a newly renovated bathroom that is both on-trend and highly functional is a real win for adding value to a home.
6. Open up your home
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Whether you’re knocking down a wall, incorporating some glazed sliding doors or just re-thinking the layout of your rooms, opening up your home will immediately make it look more attractive to the buyer.
Sociable homes that ‘flow’ are real Rightmove winners.
7. Impressive glazing
Image credit: My Bespoke Room.
Who knew windows were going to be so iconic? Ok, kind of every person back in the day designing impressive glazed windows for churches and giant, grand windows in castles.
However, glazing design came to a bit of a standstill a short while ago and now people are evermore attracted to large statement windows or bi-fold doors. Having loads of natural light coming into your home will inevitably improve it’s reception.
Consider adding skylights or including some larger windows and/or bi-fold doors.
