If you live in a house that was built around 1970 or before, you’ll probably start seeing some telltale signs of its age. You can easily remedy these symptoms and prevent them from recurring, although some may be costly.

If you’re able to take out a home equity loan, some of these fixes are well worth the investment to keep your home in top shape. Other remedies are simple upgrades and replacements that are good do-it-yourself projects to save money.

Upgrade the wallpaper

If you walk into a room and start having 60s flashbacks, it’s time to change the wallpaper or apply a fresh coat of primer and paint to bring it current.

Many older homes have seriously outdated wallpaper or possibly 60s or 70s style murals painted on the walls. If you think you may sell your home in the future, you definitely want something fresh.

Get rid of the wood paneling

Unless you designed your home to have the look and feel of a rustic cabin, there is no need for the old wood paneling anywhere in your home. You can remedy this by replacing the wood paneling with shiplap. Shiplap will give your home a beautiful upgrade that will withstand the test of time.

Replace the Carpet

Even the most expensive carpet will age as the home ages, especially in heavily trafficked areas. If you or the previous owner had small kids or animals, the carpet no doubt took a beating over the years. If replacing the carpet isn’t in your budget, you may want to consider tearing the carpet out and refinish the wood flooring underneath.

You can also opt for faux or laminate wood flooring instead of refinishing the old original wood flooring in the house to bring your home up to date and hide its age.

Upgrade the Windows

Time for an upgrade. Or maybe your house doesn’t have any shutters at all. Adding or replacing old shutters with aluminum shutters will do wonders for the appearance of older homes.

You may need to replace the older windows too so the new shutters won’t look as though you’re trying to distract from the old windows.

These are just a few of the visible signs of an aging home that are relatively easy to fix. If you’re inspecting an older home with the intention of buying it, you also need to look into the home’s electrical, plumbing and heating systems and look for any signs of termite or flood damage.

If your home was well cared for, these simple fixes may be all you need to bring your home out of the dark ages.