You have a beautiful century-old home. You chose it for the charm and history that came with it. You want a house that has withstood the test of time. You’re not interested in modernizing your home, but you do want to maintain its beauty. Consider four economical tips you can take to update your older home to realize its full potential.

Never Be Afraid to Add a Fresh Coat of Paint to Accents

Painting the exterior of your home is a daunting and expensive task. As a rule of thumb, you can wait about a decade before you need to take on such a big job. If you have vinyl siding, it won’t be a concern. Pressure washing can make it bright again. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up on paint altogether. Think about sprucing up your older home by freshening up your accents. Your shutters and your doors can draw the eye when you add a new coat of paint. Go with the colors you have always loved or consider something new.

Give Your Floors Attention

If your home has the original wood flooring, you won’t want to replace a work of art. However, your floors may look tired. You can bring out their beauty by sanding, staining, and adding a protective topcoat. Your floors can look like they did when your home was new. If you have carpeting, you can hire a professional cleaner or rent a steam cleaner to spruce them up.

Repair Instead of Replace

A century-old home is going to show signs of aging no matter how careful you are. You may have a chip in your counter or your claw foot tub may have nicks. Your beautiful floors could be scratched. Many people choose to replace damaged items in their homes. Consider onsite surface repair instead. Professionals can offer you guidance to save what you have and maintain the vintage look at an economical price.

Give Your Light Switches, Plates, and Outlets Attention

Light switches, plates, and outlets are often ignored. They tend to yellow over time, become stained, or don’t match the rest of your home. You can swap them out at your home improvement store without hurting your wallet.

You don’t have to sacrifice what made you fall in love with your century-old home when you update. Make simple changes that will bring out the best features of your house. If you do bring in something new, plenty of vintage options are available to keep that old time feeling.

Guest Post By:

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She enjoys Tennis and spending time with her family.