Home Remodeling Ideas to Bring Your House Up To Date

You might have fallen in love with the neighborhood and the bones of the house you purchased, but the interior design? Not so much. Maybe the home is on the older side and you’re looking forward to replacing the outdated tile in the bathroom. Perhaps you’re ready to say good-bye to the wood paneling in the basement.

Whatever it is, remodeling an old house is a rite of passage when it comes to owning a home. After all, unless you’re building your own house, there will most likely be something you want to change when you move into your new place. But remodeling an old house can also be stressful. It can be expensive and require complex planning in order to remodel successfully.

Whether you plan to DIY as much as possible or are placing your trust in a contractor for the renovations, it is highly likely that at some point during the remodel, you’re going to feel overwhelmed by costs, deadlines, or the design decisions that come with remodeling.

If you are trying to evaluate which home remodeling ideas will help you create a space you love, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of ideas that may help elevate your space and could potentially increase the value of your home when you’re ready to sell. We’ve also included a breakdown of common remodeling costs to help you make informed choices when it comes to remodeling your home.

Kitchen Renovations

There are countless projects you can take on when it comes to updating your kitchen. Maybe your appliances are out of date or don’t match. If that’s the case, it may be time to replace them. You might also want to replace your cabinets, install new counters, reposition the lighting, and reconfigure the space. All that can set you back a considerable amount of money, but renovating your kitchen could help boost your home’s resale value. .

If you buy energy efficient appliances, that could also translate into cost savings over the long-term. Save even more money by refurbishing your cabinets instead of completely replacing them. You can add new doors, paint the current cabinets, or simply add new hardware to get an updated look at a fraction of the price.
Estimated Cost: It can range from $12,500 to $34,000 .

Replace the Carpet

If you’re remodeling an old house, you’ll likely want to replace the carpet. While replacing old carpet or vinyl flooring with hardwood floors is a popular choice, the costs can add up quickly. If you find that traditional hardwood is too costly for your remodel budget, consider generally less expensive alternatives like bamboo, cork, or tile.

Estimated Cost: The national average is just under $4,500 , and it’s likely to cost $3 to $14 per square foot of hardwood flooring.

Update Your Bathrooms

Bathroom renovations might just be at the top of your home remodeling priorities. After all, old-fashioned bathrooms are often relentlessly colorful and can have a clunkier layout than more modern restrooms.

To save money when remodeling your bathroom, consider installing tile or bamboo flooring. Installing a water-saving toilet and low-flow faucets could also help you cut back on your water bill.

Estimated Cost: The average remodel hovers at $9,600 to $11,000 , but it can run anywhere from $2,500 to $23,000.

Don’t Forget the Outside

When you think of home remodeling ideas, you likely think of projects that will update your home’s interior. But your home’s exterior can make a big impact on its curb appeal, and your enjoyment of your outdoor space.

If your yard is a blank canvas, start with planting some flowers or other plants. If your yard could use some pruning, pull out those gardening shears. If you are interested in taking on a bigger project, like installing or refinishing a deck, consider consulting with a professional contractor. With a little landscaping, your backyard could soon be an oasis.

Estimated Cost: National average cost of installing landscaping for a mid-sized yard is $13,200.

Finish Your Basement

If your basement is drab and unfinished, now is the time to take advantage of that unused space and remodel. You could convert the space into your family’s game room or living room. Basement renovations can be expensive, when you add up costs like framing, electrical work, and finishing touches, remodeling a basement completely could end up costing thousands of dollars.

Depending on your family’s needs, consider the possibility of partially refinishing the basement. If your space allows, you could keep the ceiling exposed, or take advantage of paint to make the space feel homier.

Estimated Cost: Finishing a basement costs an average of $6,500 to $18,500 , while remodeling projects for basement improvements can run from $10,000 to $30,000.

Replace Your Roof

Replacing your roof might not seem like an exciting home upgrade, but if you’re remodeling an old home, making sure that your roof is functional is absolutely necessary. After all, you don’t want to spend time and money remodeling your home only to have a leaking roof lead to rot, mold, and water damage.

The cost of replacing your roof will vary based on a number of factors, including the size of your home and the type of shingles you select. You can expect to pay more for wood shake shingles, metal roofs, and slate roofs. On the bright side, your new roof should last between 20 to 30 years, so you likely won’t have to worry about replacing it anytime soon.

Estimated Cost: The average nationwide is around $20,000 for the most common type of residential roofing.

Replace Your Windows

Replacing your windows doesn’t sound like a glamorous renovation project, but come winter, you’ll probably be glad those new windows are keeping the cold out efficiently. New windows help you regulate your home’s temperature year-round, potentially saving you money on both heating and cooling costs. Generally speaking, windows only have to be replaced every 16 to 20 years.

Estimated Cost: The national average is $5,500, and depending on where you live you could pay around $2,600 to $7,600 .

Totaling Up Remodeling Costs

If you’re looking to overhaul your house and want to remodel your home with all of the suggestions on this list, your renovations could cost as much as $100,000. Even if you’re picking one or two projects to start with, you could end up facing a large bill. While you could schedule your renovation projects over time, it could be worth completing them simultaneously, since you already have the tradespeople coming to your home.

If you are ready to remodel and are exploring funding options for your renovations, you may wish to consider a personal loan. While home equity loans and lines of credit also could be a good source of funding if you have built equity in your home, a personal loan may be a great option for new homeowners. You may qualify for an unsecured personal loan regardless of the equity you have, meaning it wouldn’t be tied to any specific collateral.

With a home improvement loan, you may be able to borrow more, pay fewer fees, and access the money more quickly, since you won’t have to wait for a home appraisal or deal with the extra paperwork involved in a secured loan. Personal loans may also have relatively low interest rates, especially when compared to high-interest credit cards.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
PL18171