A homeowner's guide to remodeling your home

If your budget allows you to spend some money on remodeling your home, you probably don't know where to start. You may have a lot of ideas but you're unsure if that would be the right step.

The following tips would probably change your home for the better the most, and you will still be able to stick to your budget.

This may be the most extreme change, the one that makes your home look like it has been through an enormous makeover. Changing the color of the facade would be the best approach - it's visible from the outside, and you can get to play with colors. If you like smooth elegance, go for grey, while vibrant colors will suit the playful types.

Of course, you can focus solely on the indoor walls. If you don't have the budget for repainting all the rooms, then pick those where you spend most of your time in, like the living room or the kitchen.

It would be great to have an area that allows you to breathe in fresh air but doesn't expose you to harsh sun or rain. Patios come in various designs and many of them are pretty easy to build. They are a lovely addition to both your house and the backyard and allow you to relax in the afternoon or the evening. If you plant climbers to frame the patio, you'll get yourself a cure, secluded area.

Maybe you think that a bathroom should be remodeled only when something is leaking but the truth is that tiles are what mostly affect the appearance of the bathroom. They can get broken or chipped or simply lose their initial glow over time. Replacing them would be a nice touch for the whole house, not just the bathroom. Experiment with colors and patterns - combining two types of tiles can look amazing.

If your ceiling is very high or you have large rooms looking like halls, then you have an opportunity to add another floor to your home. They can be divided horizontally to get another surface and increase the surface of the entire home. It can partially loom over the ground floor but make sure you add the windows, too and use external pvc parts for ensuring good insulation. The access can be by a wooden staircase or a ladder. Even a pole or a rope would be fun if you have kids. This may be a bigger investment than the others but it will increase your home's value and add comfort.

Many people see the basement as a damp, stuffy space where we keep stuff we don't actually need. It's a place few of us go to. Most houses have huge basements filled with unnecessary things that the owners will never use. If you are one of them, then consider giving another purpose to your basement. You can turn it into a recreational zone, a gym or a place for your yoga practice. It can even be a living space - perhaps a guest room or a playroom for your kids. A bit of cleaning and painting should do wonders. Once you decide what purpose you give to it, start with buying the necessary items and furnishing.

If your attic is only a place where you keep old boxes, then consider turning it into a pillow room. This may sound extravagant but if you like to be pampered, then try it out, especially because it isn't costly. Alternatively, you can have your reading spot up there - add a few shelves, a plant or two and a big comfy armchair or a pillow. That's all you need to have some privacy when you need it. Of course, it would require some cleaning and painting before it actually becomes a living space.

Once you decide to upgrade your home, take your time. If there isn't a room or a part of the house that requires immediate attention, spend some time thinking about what would make you happy. Let this remodeling be a way of pampering yourself.

Mike is an Australian business consulting specialist. He’s working with companies that outsource their IT maintenance. He often writes about technology, business and marketing and is a regular contributor on several sites.