It can be very entertaining to take on a home improvement project with someone you love. Spend an entire weekend getting something great done. Consider the amount of money you’re going to save by taking on the project by yourself. These tips can help you make your project fun and easy.

You can make your ceiling seem higher than it actually is by using two simple methods. You can paint stripes on your wall or add a tall floor lamp. By putting this in a room, you will make an optical illusion in your home. As your eyes focus on the length of the lines, the ceiling will appear to be much higher than it actually is.

One thing that a lot of homes seem to be missing is plants. Adding some plants to your living environment can spruce up your home infusing it with some life. Plants are not only a great design element, but make your home decorations seem complete and add a touch of nature to your rooms.

Age your new wall paneling a few days before installing it. New paneling is typically stored at the warehouse in large tightly compressed piles. When the individual pieces are removed from those piles and exposed to room humidity they sometimes shrink. Providing an aging period of a few days in your home will keep you from suffering the consequences of the shrinkage.

Improvements to your home will not pay you back right away. Don’t make any upgrades or improvements to your home if you will be moving in less than three to five years. This is now the time frame that it takes in order to recoup the costs of the upgrades that you make.

You can make simple art for your wall by purchasing some solid colored picture frames and tearing out pictures from old children’s books. Illustrations from the likes of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz and so on are very popular. They make great old fashioned wall art, and add a touch of personality to your home.

Before you embark on a home improvement project, consider the impact on your home’s resale value. For example, converting your garage into a living room may make sense for your immediate needs, but many home buyers are turned off by this sort of addition. Even if you don’t plan on selling immediately, circumstances can change, and you may have to spend additional money getting your home back to the way it was.

Replacing an old roof can prove to be expensive for any homeowner. Get estimates from three different roofing companies and check references as well. There are many options for new roofing material, including lightweight tile and metal roofs, in addition to the more traditional wood shake and composite shingles. Have your contractor help you make a decision.

Now that you’ve got a thorough plan, you can begin your project confidently. It might be a lot of hard work, but when you work with someone else, it’ll be even more fun to see the results. It is sure to be rewarding to look at what you have accomplished and consider what you have saved.