Have You Bought a House in the Countryside? Here’s How to Make It Look New Again

A National Association of Realtors report stated that 9 million people moved from cities to different parts of the country since the pandemic began. This year, they are expecting the same number.

Of all the people who moved, the majority of them chose Maryland, South Carolina, and New Jersey as their new homes. These states have big cities of their own, but they still boast of their beautiful countryside.

According to Pew Research Center, people moved for a variety of reasons. Many of them, though, left because of the pandemic. The spread of the virus allowed remote work, so many could live where they wanted freedom. They haven’t tied to the big cities anymore.

As people move to the countryside, they started buying old homes. Now they are faced with new challenges. How does one make an old house look beautiful but stay functional at the same time?

In this article, you’ll know some tips and tricks to make your old home livable again. But first, you must understand what challenges you’re up against.

Challenges of an Old Home

Any house built before the 1920s is considered an antique, and so are those that are 50 years old or older. Many of them are still considered livable. But you have to make an extra effort to improve them to be that way. You should know you’ll be challenged by this project.

On the other hand, it’s also good to know that it’s not that difficult as you think. You can only determine that once you’ve inspected its crooks and crannies. That is your first goal. Before you transform your old house, bring along a trusted handyman or plumber who can look into it. If you know which areas need fixing, it’ll be easy to assess your next steps.

Meanwhile, let’s start with the general basics. Use this guide as a checklist of what you can improve in your old home to make it look new again.

Have a Plan

The secret to putting everything together is to make a plan first. This needs little explanation. Everything has to be planned, from the interiors to the exterior and from the color to the wood type.

To make a plan successful, organize it in a way that will start from the house’s frame. It’s easier to work your way from the inside out if you have proper planning in place. You can work one step at a time, following it. It also lessens mistakes that are almost always unavoidable when renovating a home.

Don’t forget, part of planning is setting up your budget, too. It will be easier to finish if you know how much you’ll need to work on something.

Fix the Plumbing and Electrical Wiring

It’s typical for any old house to have plumbing problems. Considering you have already inspected the house, you now know what plumbing issues it has. Contact a plumbing contractor who can help you fix those nasty, outdated pipes.

It’s also common for old houses to have faulty, outdated electrical wiring. It’s important to have them updated as well. Appliances today may not work on old house wiring.

Work on the Walls

Next, work on the walls and their color. Will you be installing insulation or keep it as it is? What type of wall material will you use? Repair broken walls, remove them or retain them. Do whatever’s in the plan for you. Remember, you can only paint them once they are in order.

You can move on to painting as soon as the walls are fixed. Take into consideration the type of paint you can only use. There are different types of paint for different types of materials.

Wallpapers are another option to add color to your walls. Or, you may opt to keep what’s already there. It’s entirely up to you.

Install Furniture and Appliances

Finally, you can decorate your house. Add furniture that can blend in with the new. One of the perks of buying an old house is the old furniture that comes with it. According to Houzz, making old furniture look new again is one of the best ways to decorate on a budget. If yours have one or two, upcycle it and add it to your home’s ensemble.

Now is also the time to add in your house appliances. Use up-to-date ones. They are more efficient and don’t require a lot of energy to have them work.

In and Out

As soon as the furniture and appliances are in place, make sure to conduct a deep cleaning of your home. This eliminates any dust, debris, clutter, and dirt left by all the construction and repairs.

When everything is in order on the inside, you can now work on the outside. It is much easier to work on it now, without thinking about issues inside the house.