Maintaining Your Home with the 10-Year Update Cycle
So is it time to make some changes? Let’s take a walk through your home and find out together.
The Kitchen
The kitchen has become the most important room in the house, and it’s not just for cooking. Guests can also linger around a kitchen island, and kids can do homework around the table.
Appliances are the first items in the kitchen that require maintenance, repair or replacement. New and upgraded appliances tend to be quieter, more efficient, and feature-rich, especially with the increasing popularity of smart home technology. That’s why it’s a good idea to replace them about every 10 years. If you’ve previously remodeled your kitchen and took great care to coordinate all your appliances, or if you’ve tucked them away behind a cabinet door, be sure to continue with those strategies.
Cabinet doors and door styles are trending toward more clean lines, light colors, and exotic woods. If you want to stay ahead of the trend curve, you may opt to upgrade your cabinets. In that case, it may be worthwhile to consider a new and efficient kitchen redesign.
Take a look at the floor, counter, and lighting. Over the past decade, there have been many changes to the materials used for counters, floors, and even lighting. Try to look at your kitchen objectively, and be sure to consider the new kitchen trends in 2020.
Has your lifestyle changed? Perhaps you use the kitchen a little differently than you did when it was new. For instance, do you need dedicated homework or project space, places to charge digital devices, and areas where you can socialize with your growing family and friends or neighbors? You may also want to consider the number of people who now use the kitchen. Kitchen renovation options include adding an island or using some of the space for a new home office so that you are not sitting at your kitchen table to work. These are reasons to call an experienced interior designer to discuss your options.
The Finishes
By finishes, I mean the materials that you have on your floors, walls, and ceilings. Walls should be refreshed and repainted about every 10 years, and even more often in heavily used rooms. Paint colors change, walls can get nicks and dents, and fresher colors keep the house current.
Word of caution: if you plan on redecorating and buying new furniture, research that first and decide on your selections so that you paint the color that will work best in each room.
Wood floors tend to get scratched, and the stain of the wood shifts over time. In general, darker wood stains are more popular these days, unless you are doing a ‘beach design’ with all light colors. To keep your wood floor looking its best, have it sanded, and consider re-staining it as well.
Certainly, if a carpet is worn or still has odors after a good cleaning, it needs an upgrade. When making your carpeting choices, keep in mind that area rugs are more popular these days than wall to wall carpet, but both are still available.
If you have other high-end finishes in your home, housekeeping service 'clean my space' shows you how to properly maintain them.
Furniture
Let’s look at four categories of furniture and when you should think about replacing them.
Sofas:
Consider shopping for a new sofa before the seats start sagging to the point of not supporting you, the fabric has become stained and worn, and the frame is breaking down or squeaking. On average, a typical sofa lasts between 7 and 15 years.
Dining Room Tables:
A dining room table can last for many years, as long as the surface has not become significantly scratched, dented, or burned due to wear and tear. To reduce or prevent damage, use placemats or tablecloths. It may be necessary to replace the table when the damage to the tabletop is unsightly or becomes difficult to repair.
Dining Room Chairs:
Chairs that are not upholstered can last for many years especially. However, over the years, leaning back too far can make a chair’s legs wobbly. Eventually, tightening the screws won’t fix this problem. Replace the chair instead.
Upholstered chairs may also need to be replaced if the upholstery is frayed or has holes or stains. You can also re-upholster sagging dining room chairs and add a filling to make them look and feel more like new.
Bedroom Furniture:
When you use a mattress every night, it is best to replace it every 10-15 years. You will enjoy better quality sleep, and you may even wish you’d replaced it sooner.
Do I Update, Replace, or Redesign?
It is a good idea to get the assistance of an experienced interior designer to help you decide if you can update, replace, or completely re-design your space. Curious? Schedule a discovery call with Dafna, principal designer of Interiors by Dafna Adler, to find out more.
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