With travel and entertainment at an all-time low last year, it’s no surprise that money that would have been spent on vacations and events shifted toward home improvement spend. Improvements around the home, according to Home Advisor’s latest annual State of Home Spending report, averaged $8300, up from just $745 in 2019.
Home Improvement Projects for your Outer Banks Home
According to the report, spending was targeted in a few different areas of the home, with the most logical being the outdoor deck or porch. Due to COVID, gathering outdoors became a safer, more comfortable place to gather with friends and family without compromising anyone’s health.
Fencing was another popular project, coming in at #2 on the list. With more time being spent around the home, privacy becomes more important.
Other popular projects include:
- New Roof
- Exterior Painting
- Kitchen Renovations
- Landscaping
- Flooring
- Interior Painting
- Bathroom Remodeling
It’s likely you’ve already hit a couple of these items on the list, and if not, you probably know someone who did.
Essential Bathroom Remodeling Projects to Try
We have worked on many bathroom remodeling projects over the last year and have seen some really cool ideas. Here are a few of our favorite upgrades that really make a bathroom more luxurious and comfortable (and why not?):
Textured Tile
Small, textured tile for the shower floor is not only a timeless favorite, it’s also a safety measure. The texture and grouting help provide the grip you need to keep from slipping and sliding when your feet are surrounded by shampoo and conditioner on a wet surface. Ceramic and porcelain tiles in a wide variety of shapes and colors give you lots of options.
Faucet Fixtures
Remodeling on a budget? No problem. A simple update of your sink and tub/shower fixtures can give your bathroom new life. There are a lot of options when it comes to design and finishes, and a simple switch from chrome to brushed nickel, for example, can give it a whole new look. While you’re at it, consider some water-saving features as well, like low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.
To Tub or Not to Tub?
If you already have at least one tub in the house, todays’ trends say you don’t have to have one in every full bath. At one point, real estate professionals insisted that a bath tub made the home more attractive to potential buyers, but today’s home owners are not exhibiting the same enthusiasm for bath tubs as they once were.
If you’re loving the home you’re in and you don’t take baths, then replacing it with a spacious shower is perfectly acceptable. This is most important in homes where the bathrooms are not very large.
If you have a spacious master bath, then a tub taking up space is probably not much of a concern. You could even install an outdoor shower to make Outer Banks summers less sandy.
Add Windows
Natural light is a friend in the bathroom. All too often bathroom lighting is a challenge, and the natural light coming in through the windows can really brighten up the space. Not only that, but the fresh air coming into the room can help ventilate after showers; drying out the room faster and eliminating instance of mold and mildew. Of course, a ventilation fan is a MUST for the bathroom – do your best to include this in your plans and your bathroom will be a happier place.
Water-Saving, Chair-Height Toilets
Eco-friendly toilets abound these days. Makers like Kohler offer a wide range of water-saving toilets that include a 1.28-gallon flush setting for significant water savings of up to 16,500 gallons per year. This is in comparison to a traditional 3.5-gallon toilet. The nicest feature about these toilets is that they are more powerful than you’d think. And when you add an elongated seat and chair-like height (about 16-1/2” from floor to seat) you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
Are you ready to get started? Contact us for more advice and recommendations on Outer Banks remodeling contractors and start working toward the bathroom of your dreams.
