Tips from the experts
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Carter Oosterhouse is one of America's most recognized lifestyle experts. He's appeared on several popular home improvement series on HGTV, DIY and NBC
Carter's Tips
1. Choose quality, energy-efficient products for your home
– whether they're windows, electrical appliances or light fixtures. It's worth the investment in terms of the money and energy you'll be saving in the long run.
2. Make your home feel like your own
by mixing favorite family antiques with new decorative pieces, or adding splashes of color throughout your home.
3. Enhance your home’s curb appeal by trying simple changes like:
- Choosing matching metal for your light fixtures, mailbox and house numbers
- Adding pops of color with planters.
4. Bring out your home and yard's natural beauty
by adding eco-friendly elements and details that complement the surrounding landscape.
5. When renovating a historical home, research neighborhood or homeowner association guidelines
to be sure you’re selecting colors and details that are true to your home’s history and architecture.
Vicki Payne is a nationally recognized designer, home improvement, gardening and decorating expert. Each week, for over 15 years, millions of viewers both nationally and internationally have tuned in to watch her popular television show, For Your Home.
Vicki's Tips
1. Do your homework
Before you start talking to designers and contractors, look at plenty of finished projects on the web. There's no excuse for not knowing what you want your finished project to look like.
2. Avoid financial stress. Shop around and research the true cost of materials and labor, then do a "Business Plan"
If you're working with an older home, anticipate structural and code issues. Set the money aside and keep a tight rein on your spending.
3. Set a work calendar
Once your project starts, it should move along every day! There's no excuse for a project to sit unattended.
4. Instead of thinking about a project as a major undertaking, try breaking it up into doable phases that won't stress you or your budget
If you'd love a new kitchen but can't afford it, you can still get a running start on a new look by starting small.
5. Start with a color palette
Each room in your home should flow from space to space. That doesn't mean you can't use color, it just means that you need to think about the color tone and where the color will be used. That's what color selecting is all about