Remodeling Projects that Add Big Value

Put Wasted Space To Work

Transform a plain wall into a storage and display showcase by adding stacks of open shelves or cutting out the drywall to create a recessed niche. Add a display shelf above the kitchen window and cup hooks below upper cabinets.

Add Function to an Awkward Space

Transform a basic bay or box window into a reading nook. Or furnish an empty corner of the living room with a game table and storage cabinet. These features add value to your home and, when it comes time to sell, will likely resonate with potential buyers.

Accentuate the Architecture

Use simple molding or trim to draw attention to existing features, such as a high ceiling, or an attractive view from a window. Beaded board paneling adds timeless appeal. Or dress up a ceiling-mounted light fixture with a medallion for a traditional, elegant look.

Add a Fireplace

"A fireplace adds ambience that can't be attained any other way," says Donna Freeman, real estate expert. It adds warmth and creates a focal point for the room. Dress up the firebox with a tasteful surround and a classic wood mantel. If you opt for a gas unit, upgrade to one with the most realistic-looking logs.

Install a Bay Window

"Changing a standard window to a bow or bay window makes a room feel larger, creates a focal point, and also lets in more light than a regular window," says Linda Lenore, design expert. To call attention to the new window and add function to the room, consider adding a built-in window seat with a bench that opens for storage. The seat will be a cozy reading spot for you and an architectural point of interest for future buyers.

Replace Your Windows

You don't have to put up with drafty rooms. Trade in older, energy-squandering windows for new high performance units that swing in for easy cleaning. Energy Star windows can cut your fuel bills by as much as $340 per year over drafty, single-pane units.

Refinish Wood Floors

"Refurbishing hardwood floors will enhance the look and the value of your home," John A. MacDonald of Keller Williams Real Estate in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Just be ready for a few days of dust. If your floors are worn or stained, replacing them may be the better option. Consider splurging on wide-plank hardware floors in your foyer and living room, then scaling it back in the bedrooms.

Install New Lighting

You'll be amazed by how well-placed pools of warm light can make your home inviting and user-friendly. Even inexperienced remodelers can easily install simple plug-in puck lights under kitchen cabinets, inside built-in hutches, or bookcases.

Maximize storage

Upgrade your closets by installing rods on two levels for hanging shirts and pants and adding pullout bins for socks and undergarments. Increase storage in your kitchen cabinets by installing a spice rack or a lazy Susan in a corner cabinet.

Upgrade Your Foyer and Staircase

The entryway is the first thing visitors will see when they enter your home, so make sure it welcomes them in style. If you can't change the whole space, concentrate on high-impact items. Splurge on the entry flooring, or focus on improving the staircase. Sand and re-stain treads, paint risers, and replace railings and newels. Check building codes regarding railing height and spindle spacing.

Polish Up the Laundry Room

Create an attractive, functional laundry room for the main level, an upper level, or the basement. Replace old appliances with units that offer the latest energy-and fabric-saving features. Also, equip your laundry room with long stretches of counter space for folding clean clothes, tuck-away bins for sorting dirty laundry, and cabinets to keep detergents stowed out of sight, and a built-in ironing board.

Find a Spot for Dining

Add a small table at the end of a work island or fit a bench and a table inside an existing window bay to create a cozy dining alternative to a breakfast bar where diners look at their food instead of one another.

Upgrade Kitchen Countertops

Durable granite is one of the most sought after upgrades and "still by far, the most requested countertop material," says interior designer and space planner Mary Fisher Knott of Mary Fisher Designs in Scottsdale, Arizona. If granite is beyond your budget, however, consider laminate countertops that offer the look of natural stone at a fraction of the price. Add a beveled edge to these laminate countertops for an even more authentic stone look.

Add an Island

For many homeowners, an island work space is a kitchen must-have. For easy traffic flow, be sure to allow at least 39 inches of space all the way around it, says interior designer and space planner Mary Fisher Knott of Mary Fisher Designs in Scottsdale, Arizona. Need a budget-friendly island? "Use a sofa table topped with tile, or place two painted chests back-to-back and top with butcher block," Knott adds.

Replace old appliances

If your appliances are more than 10 years old, consider buying new ones that use less energy. Energy Star appliances are not only good for the environment; they are good for your pocketbook, too. The appliances cost a little more up front, but the money you save on energy bills in the long run more than makes up for the initial price difference. Similarly, energy-efficient water heaters and furnaces pay back the extra cost after a few years of service and will continue to save you money for years to come.

Create a Pantry

A shallow pantry can be squeezed into just about any kitchen. "Hire a carpenter to frame the space between two studs and finish with cabinet doors," Knott says. "It's great for storing spices, soft drinks, or canned pet food. You can also adapt this idea for all those jars and bottles in the bathroom." If you have room for it, adding a walk-in pantry will pay off even more.

Change the Backsplash

Add personality to your kitchen with a new backsplash. For a budget update with impact, choose inexpensive ceramic field tiles and add sparkle with knockout decorative pieces in glass or metal, or install a checkerboard pattern of several hues.

Add a Bath

"Properly executed, a powder room, second, or even a third bathroom is an advantage. But if it's too small, doesn't fit into the flow of the house, or seems like an add-on, you do yourself a disservice," says Designer Shannon Freeman. Also make sure the room includes an exhaust fan -- something home buyers rank high on their list of desires -- and a window that will bring in plenty of natural light.

Change Your Showerhead

A new showerhead can dramatically improve your morning routine. Consider installing a pan-style model that simulates a refreshing rain shower.

Install a Second Sink

As any growing family or working couple will tell you, a second sink in a bathroom adds immeasurable value. If there's room to install two sinks within 30 inches of each other, the two can share drainage and supply lines, which decreases costs.

Upgrade Bath Materials

Change the faucets and fixtures on the sink, tub, and shower to stylish models in popular finishes like satin or brushed nickel. "Then upgrade your cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, and mirror to complete the fresh look." Knott says.

Add a Porch

Front porches are back in business, especially if there's room for a bench or a chair to welcome guests to the front of the home. Be sure to check building codes for setback requirements. Also, if you plan to entertain there, make sure your porch has at least 12 X 24 feet of space.

Replace Siding

The most affordable option is vinyl siding. Once a bland material that paled in comparison to real wood, it's now available in a wide variety of colors and styles, including scalloped and square-cut shingles. If your vinyl siding is in good condition but looks worn or faded, consider sprucing it up with a product that cleans and restores its original color and sheen.

Freshen your Landscaping

Quality landscaping enhances the style of your home and makes the exterior more attractive. "Cut back overgrown bushes and fill in those bare spots," says Stacey Moncrieff, editor in chief of Realtor magazine. "A neat, well-maintained landscape instantly increases your home's curb appeal and suggests that your interiors are equally well-maintained."