A California Point of View

By Sarah Lynch

As the editor of California Home + Design Magazine, I have heard my share of home-improvement stories; sometimes they are renovation tales of woe, but many are about how simple changes to our living environment can positively affect our lives. Whether it’s a floor-to-ceiling overhaul or simply a new set of windows, refreshing your home is well worth the effort—particularly in a tough real estate market.

The difficult economy has made us wary of luxury purchases and major investments, but as the market begins to soften, it’s time to consider a few worthwhile expenses. It may not be the moment to go shopping for a dream home or embark on an extreme makeover, but now is the perfect time to freshen up your style or make a few key upgrades.

In an effort to save money, Americans have spent increasing amounts of time at home over the past year, and have held on to their existing homes rather than sell them in this tricky market. As a result, we’ve had a chance to take a long look at the rooms around us, making a mental list of the things that need fixing and the annoying imperfections. Updating a kitchen or bath is one of the best investments you can make, offering considerable returns in the value of your home and infinitely improving your everyday life. But if that seems too large a commitment, consider the impact of fresh coat of paint clean white walls or a new exterior color palette can be an easy update now and offers a great investment for resale value. Finally new flooring, whether it’s installed hardwood, carpeting or a vibrant area rug, will make your existing furnishings feel renewed.

Now that federal tax credits offer Incentives for eco-friendly home improvements—up to $1,500 on upgrades in existing homes—some of the smartest investments include swapping out old appliances for new Energy Star–rated products, or installing solar rooftop panels and highly insulating windows and doors. Not only will these improvements save you money in energy bills and tax rebates, but the extra effort to implement eco-friendly elements will impact the environment. If each of us does our part, the sum of the parts is bound to affect the whole.

Each summer, we put out our annual “Renovations” issue to offer inspiration and ideas for the readers of California Home + Design. In the past, we’ve focused on dramatic transformations and what we like to call “magical home makeovers,” but this year the issue is all about simple changes. Every house requires maintenance and it’s not hard to turn a necessary upgrade into a real improvement, all you need s a little inspiration and some quick solutions.