Don’t fall victim to a property that requires extensive repairs or is filled with tried and failed home improvements. Do not be discouraged because it is possible to improve your home in a timely and cost-efficient way. Make your house a loving home with these helpful tips.

The commercially available shades for your lamp tend to be mundane and lack creativity. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This helps add personality to your rooms and really enhances a plain lamp shade.

Electrical outlets can be covered with aluminum foil if you are painting walls. Using aluminum foil is much easier and will protect your outlet covers just as well. Cleanup is a snap! Just let all of the paint dry prior to removing the foil, then recycle it.

Dress up a few pillows for the master bedroom. Just take some old pieces of clothing with interesting patterns, cut and sew into a cool pillow cover. This adds a nice personal touch to any room, giving it an entirely new personality.

Use sandpaper when planning to stain or paint any wood surface, and then wipe using a damp rag. Using fine sandpaper to sand the item will provide it with a smoother finish. Using a damp cloth to wipe the surface helps get rid of dust and provide a smooth finish.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you owe it to yourself to buy only the best tools and supplies. It does involve a more expensive up-front cost, but you won’t spend as much money over time. High-quality equipment is built to last, and you will get many years of use from it. It can be expensive to buy tools; it is a hassle to replace them, as well.

Always use water resistant board for areas where heavy plumbing is present to avoid water damage or mold. Water resistant wall board, also referred to as “green board” to contractors, is better able to withstand wetness and humidity. Additionally, the material is treated with a special chemical that can inhibit the growth of mold, a common household allergen and toxin.

When you’re making major renovations in your bathroom, plan ahead and make the room handicap-accessible. You don’t need to renovate it all at once, but it can save you time and prepare everything for when you get older in the same place. The market value of your home will be significantly increased by improvements to the bathroom.

When it comes time to pick a contractor, shop around and make sure the estimates you receive are for the very same repairs. You need to present each potential contractor with the same detailed list of jobs that make up your overall project. If you make changes, and get different estimates, you won’t be comparing the same thing.

If you are looking for an easy way to give your home’s wall a face life, think about using paneling. Putting up new paneling is a simple way to transform your home, and if you aren’t happy with the results, you can always remodel again without causing much damage.

You want to be excited to come home to your dream home every day. You can make all manner of great changes simply by using these tips. Keep going, one project after another. If you have enough commitment, you can create your dream home.