10 Innovative Tips for Exterior and Interior Building Upgrades

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Get Smarter On Architecture and Design

Get the 3-minute weekly newsletter keeping 5K+ designers in the loop.

Enter your Email to Sign up

Side-bar-footer-forum

Renovating your home helps increase the value of your property as well as its look and feel. An inviting and attractive environment feels comfortable and relaxing. Some upgrades also improve the functionality of fixtures and rooms. Here are 10 innovative tips for exterior and interior building upgrades.

1. Do Not Forget the Floor

Most homeowners work on the walls and forget the floor when carrying out exterior and interior building upgrades. The floor enhances the look and feel of your interior spaces, while verandas can improve how the house looks from outside. If on a budget, consider adding rugs in various colors. You may also polish wood floors or add tiles to hard concrete floors to improve their looks.

2. Think of Exterior Wraps

An exterior wrap can upgrade the exterior of your home without spending a lot. Wraps give your home a uniform exterior look and reduce both glare and heat. This upgrade may also add value to your home, whether as a rental house or when reselling it. There are several types of wraps, ranging from woven polymeric to Keft, hybrid and liquid-applied wraps. Choose one that meets your aesthetic and functional needs.

3. Upgrade Your Front Door

The door has a huge impact on the appeal of your home from the outside. If the front door looks dirty and old, you may consider upgrading it to an appealing modern door. In other cases, a paint job and upgrading such hardware as latches is all you need to improve the look of the door. Just ensure your upgrades don't make the door less secure.

4. Consider Wall Graphics

Plain walls are sometimes boring. You can improve them with wall murals, graphics, and wallpapers. Wall graphics give you a free hand to install your preferred theme at home and print your aspirations on various walls. You can have a scene such as a forest or your dream backyard on a wall. However, do not overdo it; have graphics on one to two walls in a few of the rooms.

5. Maintain the Outdoors

Your house renovation is not complete without looking at the outdoors. Your plants, shrubs, trees, and lawns add to the look and feel of your property. Create an inviting look by trimming your trees and shrubs appropriately and mowing the grass regularly. You may add artificial features such as waterfalls, streams, and relief features such as sculptures to improve the appearance.

6. Illuminate The Interior Appropriately

A well illuminated room looks large and inviting. Lighting also helps bring out the beauty of the fixtures and centerpieces. When doing exterior and interior building upgrades, consider increasing natural light by adding more windows or changing the location of the same to an area that receives more light. In addition, increase your accent and functional lighting, highlighting your centerpieces to give your room a center of attraction.

7. Increase the Number of Outdoor Lights

Most people only install outdoor lighting for security purposes. However, innovative use of outdoor lighting can highlight the architectural features of your home. You can increase your outdoor lighting without increasing your energy bills by opting for energy-saving fixtures and using solar energy.

8. Consider Installing Window Boxes

Window boxes give your home an appealing, unique look. There is a wide choice of materials for outdoor boxes, ranging from wood to concrete and plastic. Pick one that best matches the outdoor style of your home and can withstand the harsh weather. It is also good to paint them to match or contrast with the outdoor wall color. You can use the boxes to plant flowers or even place artificial plants if you do not want the task of maintaining the potted plants.

9. Redo Your Driveway

The driveway is the first feature that meets your eyes when you enter your home. Therefore, ensure that it looks inviting and matches your outdoor look. Deal with potholes, unevenness, and spaces between blocks to give it a uniform look. If you wish to upgrade it, consider masonry, brick, asphalt, or stained concrete, among other building materials.

10. Work Your Garage

Your garage is part of your home and should be part of your exterior and interior building upgrades. On the inside, upgrade the floor by polishing it and giving the walls a new coat of paint. Then, upgrade the garage door by either painting it, changing it to a more contemporary model or changing various hardware.

The exterior and interior building upgrades not only make your home more attractive and pleasing, it also increases its value. Depending on the budget, you can do various upgrades to the fixtures and various parts of the house. Always strike a balance between the great looks and the cost of renovation. You rather do several small improvements rather than one or two major ones. Finally, use your creativity to re-imagine spaces in and around your home. After all, it is all about giving your home a personalized look and feel.

Image source: pinterest.com

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.