Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Given proper information, there really is nothing you can't do. This is especially true for home improvement projects. The following article will give you that helpful information that you can use to get started.

If you want to make some changes to your home, take the time to figure out how these changes will influence the value of your home and how much they will cost you. More individualized renovations do not have as much impact on home value to potential buyers.

Use these two steps to make your ceiling look higher. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. Adding this to your rooms will create an optical illusion for your eye to follow. Your eyes focus on the lines and make the ceilings look like they are higher.

You can easily make your ceiling look higher. Stripes painted on a wall or a tall lamp can make a huge difference. This can be a good way to enhance the look of your room. The eye focuses on the tall lines, causing the ceilings to seem higher.

If you have clear glass in your windows, your home could lose 20% of its heating and cooling. Cut that loss in half by applying a 2nd glaze to big windows. You'll see the difference in your heating and cooling bills right away. You will also notice greater comfort in your home.

Believe it or not, you can actually fix the bubbles in the old vinyl tiles in your floor. Simply slice it to let out the trapped air. The bubble will collapse in the short term. However, you will have to insert some new glue to set the fixed section onto the floor. In order to properly do this, you should use glue that comes already loaded inside a syringe.

If hanging pictures or paintings have caused holes in the wall, then utilize spackle and paint in order to eliminate them and freshen the look of your walls. Spackle is readily available at your local home improvement or hardware store. You won't need a lot, particularly if the holes are tiny. Use a pin to spackle the really small holes. After the spackle has dried, use something stiff, such as a credit card, to smooth the hole until your wall looks smooth. Roll or brush on paint. Suddenly, you'll have walls with no holes in them.

Gutters are often the culprit in drainage problems, especially if you have had a particularly rainy season. If you have a leak in your basement the first thing you should do is check your gutters, they could be clogged. Always clean your gutters of leaves and debris to prevent this.

Putting new fencing around the backyard is a great way to add value to a home. This will prevent your loved ones from getting into contact with stray or wild animals. If you have a dog, a fence is the best way to keep it on your property. You can design your fence the way you want it to look.

Let the neighbors know what to expect during your renovation. The noise, clutter and chaos from any construction area is always annoying. Neighbors will be thankful to know the schedule of any work being done.

You should use primer before you put glossy paint on the walls. Primer helps paint stick to the wall and it prevents peeling of the new paint. Priming is also a good idea if you are switching to a lighter color, reducing how many coats are needed.

Certain simple home improvements can save you much on your energy costs. Installing Energy Star qualified light bulbs will reduce your carbon emissions and use 75 percent less energy than your current incandescent bulbs. Adding insulation to a water heater helps save you money and cuts down on energy waste.

How long do you plan on staying in your home? If you do not plan on living there for very long,
description here it does not really make much sense to spend thousands of dollars on changes. While repairs still need immediate attention, other upgrades can probably wait for the next owner.

If you plan your project well you will get your home improvement investment back in increased home value. Selling your home will be easy when it looks great.