Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

Want to increase the value of your home without burning a hole in your back pocket?

Ever wanted to know how you can invest small but gain big? And no, I am not talking about investing money in the share market or any high risk activity of that sort. The answer is simple: Renovate your kitchen or bathroom.

A kitchen or bathroom renovation is one of the most effective ways to increase the value of your home, gain you instant equity, and increase your resale price. While there is an initial outlay of costs, renovating your kitchen or bathroom will pay for itself over a few years, and if you ever decide to sell your home, this will be a great selling point.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

Renovating a kitchen is similar to renovating a bathroom, except on a larger scale. Start by choosing your cabinets and benchtops. These are the visual focal points of your kitchen.

For your benchtop, there are many surface options available. Laminate offers a large range of surface colours, patterns and finishes. Alternatively, if you are wanting a more luxurious surface there is the choice of Solid Acrylic Surfaces, Stone, Composite Stone or Marble.

Cupboard door options include selecting a decorative colour board. To complement the benchtop you could choose a contrasting colour. For a subtle blending appearance, select a colour similar to the benchtop. To create a different look, have a combination of both! Make a design statement with the door knobs or handles or for a very clean, minimalistic look don’t use any handles at all.

The next stage involves choosing sinks and faucets as well as energy efficient appliances. There are so many different styles to choose from it can get confusing. Stick with well known brands that carry warranties.

Your floor surface can change the whole feel of the room - do you want the natural beauty that only timber can provide or the cool, contemporary feel that tiles or concrete can offer? Look at the floors in your friends and families homes and take note of what makes you feel good about a room.

To inject charm or character into your kitchen, consider adding an island bench with bar stools. This can give you added storage underneath and additional serving space on top.

Bathroom Renovations

There are several options you can consider when renovating your bathroom, and the bathtub is usually a good place to start. You may choose to install a new tub, resurface your current tub or remove it all together and make a feature of the shower.

You can also update your existing bath and shower by putting in some modern fixtures and installing a water saving showerhead. This has the added benefit of saving you money on your water bill each month.

Next replace your vanities and basins. Check out your local home improvement store and kitchen cabinet makers. You can view built bathrooms and receive professional advice about products to best suit your needs and budget. Make sure that the cabinets have ample shelving, and the faucets match the fixtures in the bathroom. Always measure before you buy. Finish up the bathroom with some great looking flooring, lighting and accessorising with towel rails, toilet paper holders and shower shelves.

Some words of advice

Opting for colours and materials that are fairly neutral will maximise your homes resale price. Remember: you can always put your own stamp on the place through removable items such as curtains, furniture, ornaments and artwork.