When it comes to bathrooms, they are one of the most popular spaces to update in your home. A bathroom can be renovated within all budgets. They say renovating a bathroom is one of the most cost-effective ways to update your home. Here are some remodeling ideas for most any budget.

Maximize Natural Light

An open and bright space is always in style. Letting in the natural light will not only give you free lightning, it will also lower your electric bill. How do you do this in a bathroom without compromising privacy? A perfect way is to install a skylight or use tempered or stained glass in place of regular window panes.

Improve Bathroom Ventilation

Bathroom ventilation is very important as it will help reduce water vapor in the space. Proper ventilation will ensure the water goes away quickly after a hot shower. If water stays in the space for too long, it will cause water damage and mold issues. If your bathroom does not have one, install a bathroom exhaust fan. A bathroom exhaust fan will take care of excess moisture and import indoor air quality.

Swap Out Old Flooring

Depending on your budget great flooring for a bathroom can be marble in a high-end remodel or mosaic bathroom tiles in a more budget-friendly remodel. If you are redoing your floors, maybe add heated floors as a good way to stay warm on cold winter days. Be mindful that installing heated floors is not for DIY but should be installed by a professional.

Freshen Up Your Bathroom Walls

This is a simple yet dramatic way to give your bathroom a new look. A current way to create a striking look is by using geometric wall tiles, adding an oversized painted mural or using patterned wallpaper. Changing the bathroom wall color simply by repainting is another good option.

Incorporate Built-In Shelves

Including built-in storage in a bathroom is a no-brainer! Add things like a recessed medicine cabinet or built-in shower shelves. These will give a great option for storage in this small space.

Update Shower Walls & Floors

Tile has always been a popular choice for flooring and shower walls. To make a bathroom more modern, many are choosing to remove fiberglass shower enclosures. If you have a shower with a shower curtain, changing to a nice glass door is also a way to spruce up the space.

Include a Shower Bench

A custom built-in shower bench can give your walk-in shower an awesome focal point. This is a great way to make sure your bathroom has that luxury touch.

Put in Low-Flow Fixtures

These are a great way to make sure your bathroom is environmentally friendly. Installing a low-flow faucet, shower head, and toilet means you will use a lot less water than you would with traditional fixtures.

Repurpose a Dresser Into A Vanity

This is a good way to save money but looks like you spent a lot on a renovation. There are many DIY remodeling ideas online such as upcycling an old dresser to make a nice bathroom vanity. You can personalize the item with a certain color and your choice of hardware. For a bonus, create a double vanity for extra space.

All these tips are perfect to make your bathroom look and run efficiently. If you are worried about any effect it will have on the resale of your home, contact a local Realtor who can help you determine the best ways to create your dream bathroom.

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Hardwood floors are a beautiful touch to your home, but they can be high maintenance. If your wood floors look worn then refinishing them can give them a whole new fresh look. Hardwood floors can be refinished without the use of products with harmful toxins. If you are worried about harmful toxins, then follow these five tips to make sure you are keeping the process healthy for home.

1. Get Your Game Plan in Place

Whether you want to change the color of stain or just bring back the original look to your dull wood floors, you need to have a plan in place before you start the job. Start by researching products to make sure the ones that you want to use are not harmful. Many companies will list all the specifications of their products on their website for you to research.

You will also want to plan what style or color you will want to use for the new look. You want to research different refinishing companies and flooring pros before choosing the right one. Once you have done this, the pros can bring in samples and give you recommendations. Many company websites have a floor visualizer tool that can help you get a digital picture of what your design will look like in your space.

2. The Finish Makes All the Difference

Research wood floor finishes because many finishes will leave behind toxic fumes for your household to breathe in. Less expensive finishes such as Swedish finishes have a high level of volatile organic compounds. These organic compounds can have huge effects on your indoor air quality. These finishes are acid-cured finishes that have formaldehyde as an ingredient that can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Waterborne (water-based) finishes are an environmentally friendly solution for your hardwood floors.

“For me, focusing on eco-friendly products just makes sense from an environmental and health standpoint for myself and my family. Knowing I am making a good choice that benefits everyone feels good, especially because the results are just as good, if not better, from floors to paint to furniture,” says Krissy Peterson of K. Peterson Design.

3. The Right Contractor is Key

After your research, it is important to now find the right contractor for the job. When choosing a contractor, you need to hire a certified craftsmen who will  guide you through the process and deliver your game plan without shortcuts or compromises.

“The most important aspects of the refinishing process for me were minimal down time and a quality result and color. I have two you kids, so being out of our house was going to be hard. Selecting a company that I knew would do a quality job set us up for success right from the beginning,” says Peterson.

4. It’s Dustless or Bust

The dusty process of the job can also be harmful to your health. The dust particles will not only cover your furniture and electronic devices but can get in your lungs causing allergic reactions and asthma. Every job will have dust, but how you handle the dust is the important part. Make sure the contractor uses a tested dust-containment system. This system will cut down on the spread of dust in your home.

5. Keep an Eye on the Upkeep

There is still some upkeep once your floors are completed, remember to use only water-based products and cleaners. This will ensure that your home is safe for you and your pets. A light touch is all it takes to clean your hardwoods. Do not use mops or vacuums as they may cause damage. Also be sure to use cleaning products tailored to wood floors that will gently remove dusts, dirt and grime without harming the floors or leaving behind a dull residue.

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Looking for a new home can be exciting and fun, but it is nice to have a real estate agent who can help you along the way. One of the most exciting parts is visiting open houses. Your real estate agent can be a big asset when it comes to open houses.

An agent knows the right questions to ask during an open house and can help stay informed. You can see the house and see where you stand as a potential buyer. They can also help you weigh the pros and cons of the open house.

When you walk into a home and everything looks great, you still need to do your due diligence. Ask about any testing that has been done or any potential issues that the home has or might have. If the home was built before 1978, an agent will know what to look for including mold, asbestos, radon, lead paint and soil. Other questions you might find helpful are what’s the flood zoning, how old is the roof, furnace and major appliances, what are the average utility costs, and have there been any major renovations to the home? An agent can help you decide if it is worth putting in an offer on a home depending on the answers to the above questions.

A home might have great curb appeal and be your dream home inside, but if it is in a bad area, that is not good. A listing agent may not have specifics on an area but they can direct you to websites that have the answers. Agents can tell you about nearby parks, restaurants, and shopping.

Remember choosing a real estate agent is one of the most important steps. An agent can help you with the important questions to ask when at an open house.

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