25 Home Features That Might Be Worth Updating For A Fresher Look
Homeowners seeking to refresh their homes without full renovations may find that small updates can noticeably modernize their spaces. Small updates can make a big difference in how fresh and modern your space feels.
From quick weekend projects to more involved renovations, these home features offer plenty of opportunities to transform your living space with updated styles, colors, and materials.
This article is for informational purposes only. Home updates, costs, and practicality vary by property, location, and personal preferences. Consult professionals before starting renovation projects or making major design changes.
1. Front Door And Entryway
A freshly painted front door can create a welcoming first impression. This simple weekend project instantly boosts curb appeal and sets the tone for your entire home.
Consider upgrading door hardware with modern finishes like matte black or brushed brass. Adding new house numbers, a stylish doormat, and updated lighting creates a cohesive, inviting entrance.
2. Exterior Siding Or Paint
Faded, dated exterior colors can make even well-maintained homes look tired. A fresh coat of paint in contemporary neutrals or carefully chosen accent colors can significantly refresh your home’s appearance.
Modern options like fiber cement siding offer durability with less maintenance. Even partial updates, like adding stone veneer to the foundation or around entryways, can create dramatic before-and-after results.
3. Roofing Materials
Your roof occupies a huge visual space when viewing your home from the street. Replacing aging shingles with architectural or dimensional options adds texture and visual interest.
Modern metal roofing comes in various styles that mimic traditional materials while offering better durability. Some newer options even reflect sunlight to improve energy efficiency, potentially lowering cooling costs during summer months.
4. Windows And Window Frames
Outdated windows with aluminum frames or small panes can date your home instantly. Replacing them with energy-efficient models featuring clean lines refreshes both exterior and interior views.
Black window frames are currently popular in many modern designs, creating dramatic contrast against light walls. Beyond aesthetics, new windows often provide better insulation, potentially reducing energy bills and making your home more comfortable year-round.
5. Lighting Fixtures
Swapping dated chandeliers, pendants, and sconces might be a quick way to give your home a more updated feel. Current trends favor clean lines, mixed metals, and statement pieces that serve as functional art.
Don’t forget about the quality of light itself. LED options with adjustable color temperatures let you customize the mood of each space. Smart lighting systems add convenience while making your home feel thoroughly contemporary.
6. Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet updates deliver major impact without requiring a complete kitchen renovation. Painting existing cabinets in crisp white, soft gray, or even bold navy blue refreshes the look of your kitchen.
For a more subtle refresh, simply replacing outdated hardware makes a surprising difference. Removing upper cabinets in favor of open shelving creates an airier feel, though this works best for homeowners who appreciate thoughtful styling and organization.
7. Countertops
Laminate countertops from decades past can bring down the look of your entire kitchen. Modern quartz options offer marble-like appearances without the maintenance concerns, creating a more polished appearance.
Butcher block adds warmth to contemporary spaces, while concrete countertops offer industrial chic. Even budget-friendly options have improved dramatically, with laminate now available in convincing stone-look finishes that photograph beautifully.
8. Backsplashes
That fruit-motif tile border from the 1990s may look dated in today’s kitchens. Today’s backsplashes feature clean subway tiles, dramatic natural stone, or geometric patterns that create visual interest.
Extending the backsplash to ceiling height behind ranges creates a focal point. Peel-and-stick options have improved dramatically, offering renters and budget-conscious homeowners a temporary but stylish solution that can completely change the feel of a kitchen.
9. Flooring
Wall-to-wall carpet is less commonly chosen today in main living areas, replaced by hardwood, engineered wood, and luxury vinyl plank. These options create a cleaner look while improving allergy situations for many families.
Large-format tile continues gaining popularity in kitchens and bathrooms. For those keeping carpet in bedrooms, trading builder-grade beige for something with subtle pattern or texture adds interest while still maintaining a neutral backdrop.
10. Interior Doors And Hardware
Hollow-core doors with brass knobs often feel reminiscent of older builder-grade styles. Replacing them with solid options featuring clean lines immediately elevates hallways and rooms.
Matte black hardware offers contemporary contrast, while lever handles provide both modern styling and improved accessibility. For a budget update, painting existing doors in crisp white or dramatic black can refresh your space without the expense of full replacement.
11. Bathroom Vanities
Builder-grade bathroom cabinets with cultured marble tops date your space instantly. Floating vanities create a sense of spaciousness in smaller bathrooms while offering contemporary style.
Furniture-style vanities add character and warmth. Vessel sinks have evolved beyond the glass bowls of the early 2000s, now appearing in subtle organic shapes that complement natural stone countertops for a spa-like feel that elevates daily routines.
12. Shower And Tub Surrounds
Fiberglass shower inserts lack the custom look today’s homeowners crave. Large-format tiles with minimal grout lines create a cleaner, more luxurious appearance in shower surrounds.
Frameless glass doors replace shower curtains or dated frosted doors with heavy metal frames. For those keeping tubs, replacing a built-in with a freestanding soaker creates a focal point that help create a more relaxing and updated bathroom environment.
13. Mirrors And Medicine Cabinets
Those giant wall-to-wall mirrors with exposed bulbs tend to look dated compared to modern designs. Framed mirrors or sleek frameless options with integrated lighting create a more intentional look in bathrooms.
Modern medicine cabinets conceal storage while maintaining clean lines. For powder rooms, statement mirrors in unique shapes or materials create conversation pieces that elevate these small but important spaces where guests form impressions of your home.
14. Closet Systems
A single rod with a shelf above hardly maximizes storage potential. Custom or semi-custom closet systems with varied hanging heights, drawers, and shelving make everyday routines more efficient while looking dramatically better.
Even budget-friendly modular systems offer significant improvements over basic setups. Adding proper lighting inside closets, plus upgraded hardware like velvet-lined hangers and matching bins, helps turn cluttered spaces into more organized storage areas.
15. Fireplace Surrounds
Dated brick fireplaces painted in 1990s colors can dominate a room in all the wrong ways. Refacing with stone veneer, marble, or even wood creates a contemporary focal point that anchors your living space.
For brick fireplaces, simple white paint offers dramatic transformation with minimal investment. Replacing brass fireplace doors with clean-lined black options immediately updates the look, while a new mantel provides both style and display opportunities.
16. Stair Railings
Oak railings with ornate balusters often reflect popular styles from the 1990s. Modern options feature cleaner lines, often combining materials like metal and wood for contemporary contrast.
Painting existing wood railings can offer dramatic results on a budget. White spindles with dark handrails create timeless contrast, while all-black railings make a bold statement. For a major update, glass panels create openness while maintaining safety.
17. Baseboards And Trim
Skinny baseboards lack architectural presence. Upgrading to taller profiles with simple, clean lines adds instant character and visual weight to rooms.
Crown molding creates a finished look where walls meet ceilings. For maximum impact with minimal budget, consider adding picture frame molding to walls in dining rooms or entryways, creating the impression of custom paneling for the cost of some trim and paint.
18. Ceiling Finishes
Popcorn ceilings immediately date homes to specific decades. Removing this textured finish creates a smoother, more contemporary look that reflects light better and makes rooms feel larger.
Beadboard or shiplap ceiling treatments add character to otherwise plain spaces. For dining rooms or entryways, consider statement ceilings with decorative medallions, coffered details, or even wallpaper that draws the eye upward and creates unexpected visual interest.
19. Appliances
Mismatched appliances in varying shades of white, black, and stainless create visual chaos. Coordinating with matching finishes immediately elevates kitchen appearance.
Beyond standard stainless, consider matte black or panel-ready options that blend with cabinetry. Smart features like touchscreens and WiFi connectivity aren’t just convenient – they may suggest to potential buyers that the home includes current technology features.
20. Plumbing Fixtures
Chrome faucets with separate hot and cold handles look hopelessly outdated. Single-handle models in finishes like brushed nickel, matte black, or champagne bronze offer immediate style upgrades in kitchens and bathrooms.
Touchless options provide both contemporary convenience and improved hygiene. Even small updates like replacing basic showerheads with rainfall models or adding handheld options can make daily routines feel more comfortable or convenient.
21. Outdoor Decks And Patios
Weathered wood decks with basic railings lack the indoor-outdoor living appeal today’s homeowners want. Composite decking materials offer the look of wood without the maintenance, staying beautiful for years with minimal upkeep.
Cable railings or glass panels preserve views while meeting safety requirements. Adding defined zones for cooking, dining, and lounging with appropriate furniture helps create more functional outdoor living areas.
22. Fencing And Gates
Chain link fencing does little for privacy or aesthetics. Horizontal slat designs offer modern appeal while providing security and defining property lines with architectural interest.
Mixed material fencing combining wood with metal accents creates contemporary style. Even traditional privacy fences benefit from updated post caps, decorative panels, or integrated lighting that transforms them from purely functional elements into design features.
23. Garage Doors
Basic raised-panel garage doors miss opportunities for curb appeal. Carriage house styles with decorative hardware or contemporary doors with frosted glass panels can noticeably change the look of home exteriors.
Modern materials mimic wood without maintenance concerns. Adding windows to garage doors brings natural light into these spaces while creating architectural interest. Smart openers add convenience while potentially increasing home security through monitoring features.
24. Landscaping Elements
Overgrown foundation plantings from decades past may make homes appear less well-maintained. Contemporary landscaping favors architectural plants with interesting forms and varied textures over high-maintenance flowering varieties.
Defined bed edges with fresh mulch create immediate neatness. Consider removing dated features like railroad tie retaining walls in favor of stacked stone or concrete block systems that offer cleaner lines while performing the same function.
25. Window Treatments
Heavy drapes with valances or mini blinds often look older compared to current design trends. Simple, floor-length panels hung close to the ceiling create height and elegance without fussiness.
Woven wood shades add natural texture and warmth. For a minimal look that maximizes light, consider roller shades in subtle textures or smart blinds that can be programmed for privacy and light control throughout the day, combining convenience with clean lines.
