In Central Florida, Volusia County’s homes for sale and especially DeLand, Florida are some of the most popular and sought-after in the area.
And while there are a number of shiny new homes and new construction communities, the county is also full of charming and unique older homes. In fact, there are homes currently on the market in Volusia County that were built in the early 1900’s, and some even earlier than that.
These homes are full of desirable character that often cannot be duplicated in today’s new homes. But sometimes, an older home could use a little revamp to make it feel fresh and vibrant.
From easy style and decor tips to paint colors and remodeling options, here are 10 ways to make any home look 10 years younger (or more!).
1. Paint it New
One of the easiest ways to give your home a facelift is to give it a fresh coat of paint, both inside and out.
Inside, light colors including greys and tans are great options to help give rooms a welcoming feel and neutral palette, making decor possibilities endless.
Outside, any shade of grey from light to charcoal looks beautiful on a home’s exterior. Pewter greens, the tan family, and variations of dark or greyed blues are also great options. For the front door, choose a color contrasting and complementing the rest of the homes exterior. For example, a navy blue door would be the perfect compliment to a light gray or neutral tan home, and dark brown doors look perfect against muted blues.
Other than a fresh coat of paint, there are other simple touches you can do to create a curb appeal that brings your home into the current century. Also, being sure the home, driveway, garage, and any walking paths are clean of dirt, mud, or mold is an easy way to immediately update the entire look and feel of the home’s exterior.
Adding new landscaping such as flowering plants` and bright green shrubbery will not only invitingly welcome you and your guests home, it will make the space look fresh and new instantly.
Light & Bright - two words to keep in mind when trying to keep a house looking up-to-date!
Bringing light and white pieces into a room is the easiest way to make a clean and neutral atmosphere, allowing you to be creative with accents you bring into the space.
Try white curtains against a dark grey couch with white throw pillows. To keep things light, be sure not to block windows or decorate with dark curtains - you’ll want to allow as much natural lighting as possible to flow into the space. If windows are lacking, bring tasteful lighting fixtures in to create a bright and airy atmosphere.
Decluttering the kitchen and living spaces makes any room or entire home look younger. We’ve all seen a living room filled wall to wall with furniture, book shelves, and knick knacks - nothing ages a home more than this look.
Stick with simplicity. Keep the essentials and make each piece of furniture purposeful to keep a room looking youthful and inviting.
Heavy, bulky furniture clutters a space and gives off an ‘older’ look. Fluffy and floppy couches, several plain pieces, and a room full of large, dark mahogany furniture are to be avoided.
Opt for sleek pieces that make it easy to maneuver through the room - going back to keeping it simple. Let your furniture complete and compliment the room, not take it over!
Decor, decor, decor. Simple decor and accent pieces make a world of difference in the entire feel of a room.
Decorate with an accent mirror to open up and modernize a room. Add eye catching art pieces, colorful coffee table books, and cozy couch throws to easily freshen up a living area. Mix and match textures such as metals, wool, furs, and wood for a tasteful contrast when it comes to decor pieces - keeping an area exciting.
Stained, matted, or shaggy carpeting is the tell-tale sign of an aged home. Replace the carpets with hardwood floors, stylish tile, or in the bedrooms, a light colored carpet.
No time to replace the flooring? Add large area rugs to rooms that need a floor revamp! Be sure to stick with simple patterns and avoid rugs that will darken a space.
The easiest way to update a kitchen is to, again, lighten and brighten. Replace dark wood cabinets with light grey, tan, or white ones. Make the countertops a sleek, smooth surface - white granite, marble, or light wood are popular styles today.
Keep decor simple in the kitchen, and keep counters clear of clutter for a simplistic, modern feel. Add some fun and flare with an accent backsplash - white brick or dark charcoal tile always tie a kitchen together beautifully. Wood floors continuing from a living space all the way into the kitchen is another popular and stylish design choice.
Lighting up a home is key to making it feel newer. But the look of your lighting fixtures is just as important as the lighting itself. Outside, choose stylish outdoor sconces to place directly onto your house. Outdoor, industrial-style chandeliers are an easy way to modernise porch areas, and hanging string lights make for magical and fresh looking outdoor spaces.
Inside, floor lamps in living and bedrooms make for a beautiful, modern touch. In fact, lighting fixtures can easily be a room’s unique statement piece, or a chic and effortless cherry on top of a simplistic room. In the kitchen, use unique hanging lights above a center island to tie the room together, or modern track lighting to make even an older kitchen look brand new.
Bright green plants are the easiest pop of color you can find! Placed against whites and neutral colors, they make a room look clean, fresh, and as 21st century as you can get.