Your browser version is no longer supported, so you may experience issues while using this site.
Please upgrade to a current browser to enjoy the best experience.
Buying a home
Shaynna Blaze on how to add value to your home
02 July 2018
Once you’ve moved into your home, it can be tempting to start making changes and renovation plans straight away. Before you do this though, here are some tips from property and interiors expert Shaynna Blaze, Suncorp ambassador and host of Channel 9’s Buying Blind. Shaynna says that it’s important to spend some time living in your new home first so you can work out how you and your family actually use the space.
Shaynna Blaze on how to add value to your home
Hi, I'm Shaynna Blaze, host and designer on Buying Blind.
You've moved into your home, and you can't do everything, but there's always a few simple things you can do that will add to your lifestyle. When you first move into your home, stay in it for a little while before you make too many changes, and work out how you like to live in the space and what is actually missing, and invest the money in those areas.
Do you like indoor-outdoor living? It actually might be worth putting money into your lounge room and your outdoor living space, so money invested into big sliding doors or bi-fold doors might be a better investment than a stone bench top in your kitchen.
I think one of the most neglected spaces in your home is your entry and your hallways. Make sure it's inviting and it doesn't have to be expensive. It might be a case of a new coat of paint, a rug and some great artwork. Look at simple ways that makes your house, a home.
It's so important to look at how your family lives within the house, and spend the money in those areas to make you feel good. Mostly, it's the dining area, the lounge or the open-plan living. Look at the furniture; I think your furniture dates quickly and ages very quickly. It might be a case of getting the sofa recovered, new cushions or a big rug to rejuvenate the space. Just adding a few key pieces into your lounge space, like a beautiful occasional chair, or a lamp, or a big piece of artwork, can actually make the space feel brand new with just those few simple touches.
Window treatments can date a house very quickly. They can be expensive, but it's an investment into the look of your home, so it makes sense to just go room-by-room and update the window treatments, rather than trying to do it all at once.
Trends come and go very quickly these days, so it's important to build a very basic, classic colour palette to your home, and you can do that with your flooring, a coat of paint, and then you just build it on there with a pop cushion or a new rug or a throw on the couch, to make it feel relevant. But if you do a good colour base on your walls and your couches, you can get a new look every six months.
When you're looking at your flooring like your timber floors and your carpet, I always say 'take your time'; it doesn't matter if your house looks daggy for a while because it's costly. Work out the colours that work well in your house in daylight, in night time, and then build the base of your flooring that will last at least 10 years. It's not something you want to rush into.
Don't underestimate the value of lighting in your home, and it comes in so many ways. Beautiful overhead pendants draw a lot of light, but look at pendants that have a lot of texture to it so it puts patterns on the wall, or you might actually have lighting that sits behind a beautiful plant or it sits behind a couch, so it actually creates an ambience in the room, and if you've got an open fireplace it's the best sort of ambient light you can have.
Investing in your home is investing in your happiness, so take your time and get it right.
If you found this helpful, visit suncorp.com.au/homebuyingguide for more tips.
Take a room by room approach when planning renovations
Indoor/outdoor spaces
Installing sliding or bifold doors is a cost-effective way to open up indoor/outdoor spaces to make them more accessible.
Entryway and Hallways
To make these spaces more inviting, you could add a new coat of paint, a rug or even artwork.
Furniture
It tends to date quite quickly with new trends and styles launched every season. Buy pieces you like, not pieces that are just on-trend, as they will last you longer. A simple way to update the look of your home is to re-cover your sofa and update cushions, or just add a new feature, like a lamp or a rug.
Window treatments
These can be expensive, so instead of updating them all at once, go from room to room and make the investment – it’ll make a difference!
Colour palette
Try to adopt a neutral colour palette throughout your home. This will make it easier to update accessories and furniture to create a new look as your style and needs change.
Flooring
Updating flooring can be costly, so take your time and choose a material that you’ll like ten years down the track. Observe your home during the day to see how spaces change in the different types of light, as this will give you an idea of what colours will look and feel right.
Lighting
The lighting you choose can add some beautiful ambiance to your home. Consider installing textured pendant lights or positioning lamps behind plants or couches to really add to the feel of each space.
According to Shaynna, by taking the time and paying attention to how you live in your home and spending money in those areas, you’ll be able to make the most out of any interior.
Investing in your home is an investment in your happiness. It pays to take the time to find the furnishings, colours and additions that will really make your house feel like a home.
To learn more about the home buying process, visit the Suncorp Home Buying Guide.
Spend better. Style better.
Read more:
100% obligation-free advice
Our experienced team are happy to answer all your questions, no matter how big or small. We’ll reach out to you within 24 hours to chat through your home lending questions.
Talk to a home loan specialistReady to apply? Get started online
Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Information provided is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account any person's particular objectives, financial situation or needs. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision regarding this product. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.