Home improvement can be a huge task. Where do you start and what projects will give you the best return on your investment? This complete guide will talk you through everything you need to know when it comes to improving your condo, townhouse or detached home.

Table of Contents

General tidy – The Psychology of Clutter

There’s an interesting psychological characteristic of clutter. We tend to notice it more in other people’s condos than our own. In fact, we may not even realize a room in our condo feels cluttered and uncomfortable to visitors.

That’s why making each room look neat and spacious is so important when you’re selling your unit. Although the task may seem daunting at first, decluttering is relatively easy to do. The simplest technique is to box things.

You’re going to move anyway, so boxing makes sense. You can store boxes of items you’re keeping in your locker.

If you have a lot of boxes packed, renting short-term storage is an option. When decluttering, you’re bound to come across items you no longer need or want. You can create separate boxes for items to trash, donate, or sell online.

Deal with these right away, so they’re not included in your stored boxes. An uncluttered unit shows dramatically better to buyers. When they see a cluttered space — even if it’s neatly organized — it creates a reason not to buy. So, declutter your way to a faster sale at a higher price!

Making your Home Work Better

Anyone who’s had to adjust household living spaces since last spring knows the importance of addressing all the things that get in the way of working, studying or enjoying leisure activities at home.

Yet we often fail to realize how our busy schedules can be compromised by disorganization in our homes.

Fortunately, efficiency experts offer simple solutions that can go a long way towards improving productivity and freeing up leisure time. It starts with reducing clutter — not just in a workspace or family room, but throughout the home.

For example, consider the clothing, shoes and other unneeded items that haven’t been used in a year or more. By removing these items, you’ll create extra storage space in closets and cupboards for the things that get in the way of your day-to-day routines.

You’ll also be better able to envision how you might repurpose a room for new priorities, such as a study area, work from-home office or backdrop for conference calls. No matter how we use our homes, if we can create space for adjustment, we’ll be better prepared to meet changing needs.

Considering Walk-In Tubs

As more seniors choose to remain in the family home for as long as possible, walk-in tubs are becoming a very desirable and welcome accommodation. The clear benefit is in providing the comforts of a soothing bath or access to a bathtub shower while avoiding the risk of injury while getting in and out of a tub.

However, it’s important to understand and appreciate the drawbacks of these tubs as well. Installation safety and other factors aside, preference should be given to purchasing a tub that has easy access with a door that swings in.

A swing-in design reduces the risk of a major flood caused by a door latch that fails to close completely, as the water pressure would not permit a swing-in door to accidentally open when the tub is full.

As far as use and comfort, it is also important to note that a bather will need to get inside a walk-in tub when it is empty, in order to close the door before starting to fill it. This can be very uncomfortable for some bathers.

It can be even more uncomfortable afterwards, as a bather has to wait for the tub to drain before exiting. Strategic towel racks and a safe heating source nearby might be a useful way to deal with this unavoidable inconvenience.

Revisiting the Home Office

Recently, more and more households have had to make room for online workplaces, putting added demand on physical spaces dedicated to home-office use.

This can become a stressful situation, especially when — due to room restrictions or wi-fi signal limitations — more than one adult or student is required to use the same spot to engage in frequent video conferencing. Optimising the space is critical. As much as they need access to smart technology, users also need a workspace with a clean desktop or table.

Saving files in digital form as much as possible will help keep the work area clear, and make subsequent meetings less stressful. For a backdrop, a simple blank wall is fine. But, if you’re choosing a bookshelf, minimize visual clutter that may be too distracting or revealing.

If you need to block off background views due to other private family activities, consider a portable room divider or “dressing screen”. It’s a simple solution that protects privacy and serves as a psychological barrier to keep assignments out of view when the workday is done.

For those more technically inclined, many of the video-conferencing apps offer “virtual backgrounds” that can place your home office in an endless set of locations, from international sites to outer space vistas.

Deck & Balcony Resurfacing Options

If you have a raised deck, rooftop patio or walk-out balcony that is in disrepair or is no longer an appealing setting for outdoor relaxing and entertaining, you might feel the need to fully replace it.

However, depending on the surface, you may be able to consider a makeover, where your existing material is covered by a substrate (usually installed plywood sheathing) and coated with a waterproof membrane that is comfortable underfoot and available in a variety of colours and patterns.

These types of resurfacing options can be successfully applied to outdoor living spaces that are made from traditional wood decking with open slats between boards, or interlocking tiles that may not be impervious to water.

Aside from avoiding a complete replacement, added benefits include a surface that’s smooth, continuous and easy to clean, and also protects against water damage underneath.

However, professional installation is critical, because it’s important that the membrane is intact, and that there is a carefully graded slope to ensure that ponding does not take place during and after a rainstorm.

Moisture Absorbers

There are several products on the market that use natural substances to remove unwanted humidity from a room through a process called hygroscopy.

They offer condo owners a handy solution in areas where an electric-powered dehumidifier is not desirable or practical, such as in a confined space like a closet, crawlspace or storage area — or even a small bathroom that does not have an exhaust fan to remove damp air.

Employing measured quantities of calcium chloride or rock salt, they draw moisture from the air, which is then trapped in a container such as a pouch or reservoir that is easily removed and emptied.

It’s a convenient small-scale solution to persistent moisture accumulation, which, if left unattended, often leads to other problems such as mould, mildew and musty odours.

However, because most of these products are not intended for large rooms — and do not normally take up a great deal of space — the accumulated water in these containers needs to be emptied regularly. Also, it’s worth noting that the raw material will need to be replenished, which results in an ongoing cost.

New Colour Considerations

The spread of the global pandemic has meant that many of us have spent more time in our homes. This has inspired many of us to brighten up our surroundings.

Colour experts are well aware of the tendency to change the appearance of our living space as our needs evolve, and some suggest there will be predictable effects from this pandemic on our choice of decor.

In essence, it’s believed that the threat of compromised health and the sense of social isolation will contribute to a desire for comfort and reassurance from our surroundings. Consequently, it’s now expected that we’ll be more attracted to natural colours that offer comfort and sanctuary, such as soft hues and soothing shades of browns, greens and blues.

However, while such a palette selection might range from earthy beiges to ocean blues, experts caution against having one colour dominate a condo.

Colour should be used to support the noticeable trends toward delineating various areas in the condo for specific purposes and designating spaces for different uses over the course of a busy day

Trim Mouldings Add Dimension

One of the unique ways to transform the look of a room is to add trim mouldings, which can create a distinctive, elegant effect.

While usually characterized as a decorative extension of a room’s baseboards, door casing and window trim, mouldings also include chair rails, wainscotting, crown mouldings and other non-structural ornamentation.

Depending on the size and height of a room, they are often painted in a colour that is contrasting yet complementary to a room’s walls, ceiling or overall decor.

When choosing mouldings, it’s important to consider their proportion relative to the room’s dimensions. For example, crown mouldings can help lift the eye to create a sense of elevated height, but the opposite effect can occur if oversized trim is attached to a low ceiling, especially if a room has more than the typical four corners.

Similarly, a circular ceiling moulding or medallion can add a sense of elegance to a hanging fixture such as a chandelier, but it should also contribute to the room’s balance and proportion.

Sometimes wall moulding can accentuate a sense of intimacy in a smaller room by acting like a picture frame, drawing the eye towards a cozy chair or sofa. Ideally, take the time to experiment with temporarily positioned pieces, before investing in a permanent installation.

3D Wall Textures

While adding new colour is considered one of the easiest and least expensive ways to change the appearance of a room, adding a textured wall can have a significantly more dramatic effect.

As a rewarding do-it-yourself project, you can finish an existing wall with a 3D texture using one of many approaches.

For example, the number of available wallpaper options might surprise you, with so many preprinted and embossed surfaces to choose from. Alternatively, paint additives can create a stucco or glazed texture that can be applied with a trowelled or stipple effect.

If you’re willing to experiment, the internet offers an enormous range of D-I-Y treatments. For those less confident in their flare for applying an attractive finishing touch, pre-molded manufactured wall panels may be the best way to go.

Available with dramatic art motifs or in faux profiles from brick to wood to leather, they offer reliable outcomes because large sheets provide a fuller impression of results in advance.

In addition, some patterned sheets are interlocking, so you needn’t worry about blending seams between panels, although they might require the removal of baseboards or other trim.

Concerning Indoor Air Quality

Amongst the things we learned over the past year is to not take the air we breathe for granted. While we can’t control what’s out there, many homeowners have been paying more attention to their indoor air quality, or IAQ. As a result, there have been many questions about residential air filters, and how effective they might be.

Among the most reliable types are those that are defined as meeting the standard for “high-efficiency particulate air”, also known as HEPA. However, filtering is only half the challenge. Your HVAC system needs to send a certain volume of air through a HEPA filter to meet a clean air delivery rate, or CADR.

The bigger your home, the greater the fan capacity required to adequately circulate indoor air through your filters.

Furthermore, many homeowners choose additional and/or more focused air cleaning by installing “air purifiers” in specific rooms. Although they don’t really “purify”, they do clean the air to a particular standard, as long as they are designed to serve the room size with an effective CADR.

The bottom line is, you need to know which unit(s) will do the job, in terms of filtering out allergens like dust and dander, as well as bacteria and other contaminants

Uplifting Ceiling Ideas

There are many ways a ceiling can contribute to a room’s overall decor. Sometimes just a simple change from a traditional ceiling colour scheme to a dramatic contrasting palette can change the feel of the whole room.

While it’s generally accepted that lighter coloured ceilings tend to make rooms look bigger, choosing darker, warmer-colours can make the room feel cozier.

Consider other ways the “fifth wall” might change a room’s overall effect. For example, you could extend a darker wall colour onto a narrow strip around the ceiling’s perimeter to make the walls appear taller.

Or, add a pattern to a ceiling by painting, papering, or applying a textured plaster. Faux wood strips or crown moulding are other options to enhance the room, but be sure to research the appropriate size, colour and style for your condo.

Ceiling light fixtures also have a significant decorative effect not only based on style, but also in terms of location, how they hang, and the directions they cast light. You might consider recessed pot lighting for greater headroom.

Minimizing Mould and Mildew

Enclosed spaces and damp areas that lack ventilation can quickly become a haven for mould, mildew and other irritating or harmful allergens. Common locations for mould and mildew growth include laundry and storage areas, and areas near plumbing supply lines that run inside and behind cabinets.

That’s why it’s so important to have exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. If you discover such a breeding ground in your condo, it’s important that you deal with it immediately and thoroughly, before it grows out of control and gets to the point where it can be harmful to your health and damaging to your unit.

If mould spores attach and grow on drywall, the panel may need to be cut out and patched or replaced. This remediation is necessary but can be expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to finish seamlessly. However, if you discover mould on a hard surface such as a baseboard or solid flooring, vigorous scrubbing with a disinfectant will likely erase the problem.

It is much more difficult to remove the effects of mould from soft surfaces such as fabrics. You will likely need to dispose of these items.

Are Your Appliances Doing Extra Duty?

Nine months of pandemic disruption has strained many households as their demand for water, electrical and internet usage has increased, and their budgets and consumer spending limits have been compromised.

You may have noticed it during the peak season for air-conditioning, but you may not realize how much harder other appliances have also been working while under increased demand on your home’s infrastructure.

The following are some units that could wear out before their normal lifetime when used excessively and some tips on how to protect them.

Clothes Washer & Dryer: If you’re sending less out to dry cleaning, you’re probably doing more laundry at home. Ideally, try to stick to full loads and cold settings and wash at off-peak hours.

Dishwasher: If you’re eating more at home, you’re likely doing more dishes, so minimize the cycles and detergents by waiting for a full load.

Refrigerator/Freezer: The more a door is opened, the harder the appliance has to work. Decide what you want before opening the door, then remove all items at once and return them together.

Products for the Kitchen & Bathroom

Without question, the most popular home renovations include upgrades to kitchens and bathrooms. So, it makes sense to keep track of the many new products available for these rooms before budgeting and planning a project.

Here are just a few items you might take into consideration, as part of a modern upgrade:

  • A kitchen faucet that responds to verbal commands like a smart phone or home hub, allowing you to call for hands-free temperature settings and volume control.
  • A kitchen compactor that looks like an ordinary trash bin for scraps and refuse, but automatically compacts it to minimize trips to the curb and reduce landfill volume.
  • An “aromatherapeutic” showerhead that infuses essential oils into the waterflow and disseminates aromatic scents.
  • A bath faucet and showerhead combination that lets you set the temperature remotely by smartphone or program ahead like a thermostat, so it’s ready for you the moment you get out of bed!
  • For a less expensive upgrade, a decorative drain cover that catches hair for easy removal before it can clog pipes.
  • If money is no object, an “infinity” bathtub that overflows into a floor drain and a fully “touchless” toilet.

Weekend Projects that Increase the Value of your Home

If you’re planning on selling this fall, or even if you just want to make your condo more attractive and comfortable, there are several DIY-friendly projects that can be done in just a weekend or two.

These projects fall into four basic categories:

  • Painting
  • Updating
  • Fixing
  • Redecorating

For example, painting the living room is a doable weekend project. It’s amazing to see the impact a fresh coat of paint can make on a room. Another example is fixing overdue maintenance issues, such as a broken faucet, a malfunctioning light, or a dent in a wall.

You may need to hire a professional for some of these repairs. Still, getting them done will be beneficial, especially when you’re selling. Even minor updates can make a surprisingly big difference.

Consider the visual appeal of upgraded light switch plates, floor registers, and even cabinet knobs. So, take a look at your condo and consider the four main project categories.

Ask yourself, “What project can I plan this weekend that will make my condo more enjoyable for us — and more attractive to buyers?”

Then, get started!

Should You Get a Major Improvement Done Before Selling?

There’s no doubt about it. The more “move in” ready your condo is, the more attractive it will be to buyers.

That’s because buyers will be able to imagine living in the condo without having to make any major repairs or improvements — at least for the short term. But, does that mean you need to get every big issue dealt with before you sell?

Not necessarily. Say, for example, your flooring needs replacing soon. Sure, that may influence the interest-level some buyers have in your unit. Yet, condos sell every day with these kinds of issues.

What it comes down to is cost-versus-benefit.

Painting, for example, costs little (compared to other types of improvements), yet can make a big difference in how your condo appears. So, the benefit is high compared to the cost.

On the other hand, redoing your kitchen is an expensive undertaking. Although you’re likely to add value to your condo as a result of the renovation, you might not get your entire investment back when you sell.

So, consider each improvement your thinking of making based on its cost, how much more you’ll get for your condo, and how much more quickly you anticipate your unit will sell.