So, you have an old house (so do I!). You might have chosen it precisely because you love its age. However, you’re definitely not going to love everything about its age. Design sensibilities are different, meaning there will be both some aesthetic and practical choices that no longer work as they once did. Then there’s the very real risk that the home has aged in such a way that it’s not as habitable as it could be. So, how do you show it some love?

Put your face on

The aesthetic of an older home is always going to be one of the biggest selling points of it. However, as they age and fade, they lose some of that all-important curb appeal. A dash of paint or new varnish can instantly enliven an old front door or some classic window shutters. There’s a chance that some of the utilities might have been added in unseemly places like right in front of the home, adding some unnecessary interruptions to the home’s aesthetic. With these, a classy, low fence or some well-placed and colorful bushes can hide any of the blemishes close to the ground.

Rethink old, awkward spaces

Older home designers did not consider contemporary living. Planning difficulties and different priorities mean that older homes often have unused corners and nooks or rooms that just don’t fit into modern home life. Be open to the idea of knocking in walls to connect a smaller, ambiguously purposed room and add more space to another. You can also consider bespoke, fitted furniture as recommended at https://www.yahoo.com to make good use of those awkward spaces.

The health checkup

Even more important than how you use the home or how it looks is how safe it is to live there. Obviously, if the home hasn’t been touched in a long time, then checking for asbestos or any signs of lead paint come first. Beyond that, however, you need to make sure it’s fit to keep the home protected from the cold, the heat, and the rain. Finding and sealing air leaks becomes a priority. Don’t forget to get old roofs inspected by experts like http://www.texastarroofing.com. Many roofs have a lifespan in the area of 25-years, which yours might have gone beyond. Weather damage over the years could have knocked a tile loose or cracked them, leaving the home entirely open.

To the windows

Replacing a roof with a more contemporary finish isn’t going to bother a lot of people. When it comes to the windows, however, that’s a different story. Some people think that replacing those old windows is tantamount to committing a mortal sin. If you’re in that party, there are ways to improve them without replacing them entirely. For instance, you can add weatherstripping or low-emissive glass, adding new technology to old windows that provide better insulation and keep energy costs down.

With an old house, finding the right mix of preserving, improving, and updating is key. You don’t want to replace everything because that might very well take away the old-fashioned appeal but be aware when you have to sacrifice some aged aspects to make sure you can actually live there comfortably. 

What steps do you take to care for your home?