New Year’s Resolution

Home Improvement Tips that Don’t Break the Bank

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is spiffing up your home a bit, we’ve got some great tips for you that will make a big difference without breaking the bank.

Of course, our being stone and tile restoration pros, our first tip is…

Larger home improvements, such as replacing natural stone flooring or countertops, can be terribly expensive. Often, homeowners notice that the appearance of natural stone has become diminished with scratches, chips, etching or other damage, and assume that floors and/or countertops must be replaced. However, a professional stone restoration contractor can make your floors and surfaces look brand new again for a fraction of the cost of replacement. Dull surfaces can be polished to look new, cracks and chips can be repaired, stained surfaces can be deep cleaned. Give us a call to discuss your needs or schedule a free estimate.

Here are some other great tips…

Get Rid of Clutter

To make room for post-holiday gifts, get rid of clutter. If you’ve been accumulating throughout the year (or longer), this may seem like a daunting task. Limit yourself to one room at a time. Check drawers, closets, and other storage areas for items that were not used in 2014. Chances are if you haven’t used them in a year, you won’t miss them. If you’re feeling motivated and thrifty, hold a yard sale, and sell valuable items on Craig’s List or EBay. If you’re feeling generous and want to keep things simple, drop items off at a local charity or schedule a free pickup.

Get Organized

With the clutter cleared away, getting organized will be much easier. Use the same approach to getting organized as you did for getting rid of clutter — that is, one room at a time. Group like items in drawers, closets, and storage areas. Use labels on storage containers so you can easily find what you’re looking for at a glance. For some people, simply having a place for everything is enough, but for hard-core organizers, we recommend Pinterest, an excellent website with thousands of specific tips and tricks for organizing everything from tools, electronics, and cleaning products to photos, documents, and collections.

Get a Clean, Fresh Start

Now that everything is in its place, cleaning and freshening up your home is the finishing touch. We recommend a top-to-bottom approach, from ceiling fans and air vents to windows, walls, and furniture, to floors and baseboards. As you clean, you may notice certain areas, especially high-traffic areas, need extra attention. Small improvements, such as a fresh coat of paint, replacing outlet covers, and purchasing new throw pillows or area rugs can give your home a “new” feeling. For example, having your tile floors professionally cleaned and color sealed is a great way to make your floors look like new again or even dramatically change the look with a new grout color ¾ without having to purchase and install new tile.

This is one of a series of articles written and published  on behalf of Stone and Tile PRO Partners.