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Prior to working on your house, attend a few open houses near you. It can be a big help to see things actually installed in a home that is similar to yours, rather than viewing colors and hypothetical improvements inside a home improvement center. Model homes are usually equipped with all the latest ideas in interior design.  
  
If you don't want to refinish your old and weathered wooden floors, you can instead, give your home a cottage style boost. Buy some oil based paint and choose some affordable stencils. Use the stencils and paint to re-design your wooden floors. Add some cute designs in varying patterns, to give a full on-cottage look to your home.  
  
Before you start painting a room, it is best to know about how much paint you need. Measure the length of the walls in the room you plan to paint and add them together. Next, measure the height of the room. Multiply the height by the length. The square foot of the room is the answer you get. One gallon of paint will generally cover 350 square feet.  
  
Instead of wooden flooring or linoleum, use tiles in your kitchen area. Most tiles are easy to clean and more spill proof than any linoleum or wood flooring on the market. They define your kitchen space and keep that area separate from the rest of your dining room or living room.  
  
Do not forget your chimneys, downspouts and gutters. It is essential to make repairs if necessary. If you do not clean it regularly, your chimney might catch fire; your downspouts and gutters may clog and lead to some water damage if you don't pay attention.  
  
If Decorate Your Home new house is in the suburbs surrounded by a wooded area, think about installing a chain-link or wooden fence along your backyard. This will help keep the wild animals out of your yard and your garden if you have one.  
  
You can really spice things up with a uniquely made coffee table vs a pre-made standard one. An old trunk or chest look great in the center of a living room and provide storage, also. Place some accessories and books on the top and it will make your coffee table stand out. You could even add a small tablecloth and dainty tea cups to create a country look.  
  
Keep your home and family safe by properly installing a smoke detector in your home. Smoke detectors detect unsafe and hazardous smoke before you do. Stay on the safe side and purchase a new smoke detector. Make sure to check the batteries every month to ensure that it is working correctly when tragedy strikes.  
  
If you need to do a project around your house, but don't have the tools to do it, consider how often you will use the tools before buying. It may be more cost-effective to rent or borrow what you need instead of spending the money to purchase items that will be seldom used.  
  
Using an area rug not only protects your floor, but helps highlight a piece of furniture. Use a printed area rug to call attention to a piece of furniture such as a nice, sleek sofa or an ornate coffee table that you are proud of. Make sure that the size of your area rug is not overwhelming to the point of highlighting your whole room.  
  
When you reroof, be sure to use a light colored or white shingle or tile. Light colors tend to reflect the rays of the sun while darker colors will absorb the heat and cause higher energy usage. You will save a lot of money on energy bills by doing this.  
  
A good way to get ideas on home improvement can be to look around in a hardware store. Hardware stores will often have plans that can be used to get new ideas for improving ones home. They will also have the needed materials for whatever project one chooses to take on.  
  
An excellent method of making your front lawn more attractive is to use outdoor accent lighting that is facing downward. When positioned in the branches of a large tree, this type of lighting can simulate natural light, such as that of the moon or a hint of sunlight on a dark day. You can use these lights to draw attention to lawn furniture or Garden Time statues.  
  
If you do run into complications when trying to remodel a section of your house alone ask for help. There is no shame in asking for help when you come across an obstacle. A home that is properly remodeled looks better than a home that was remodeled poorly and not done properly.  
  
Before you begin your next home improvement project, think about how long you would like to stay in your home. If you are planning to move this year, you may have a different budget for improvements than if you were staying for awhile. You would also want to focus on areas in the home, like the kitchen and bathrooms, that buyers think are most important.  
  
If you do not already have one, add a second bathroom to your home. The main reason for this is so your family does not have to fight over one bathroom. Another reason for adding another bathroom is for resale value. Having two bathrooms makes a home more attractive for potential buyers.  
  
Begin Decorate Your Home home improvement projects in the kitchen, where owners can see up to a 500% return on their investment. To give the room a fresh, clean look, paint the cabinets white and replace the hardware. Also focus on the counters; stay away from tile and purchase granite or imitation stone.