If you’re thinking of making improvements to your home, a kitchen or bath remodel is a surefire investment to increase your home’s value. Why? Because buyers are most interested in seeing updated, beautiful kitchens and baths! And in a hot housing market like Greater Boston, a kitchen or bath remodel often returns more than 100 percent of the cost.
Of course, getting started can be overwhelming. First, know what’s out, what’s in, and what’s likely to stay! Read on for the top trends dominating 2018, followed by tips and tricks to maximize your money:
1. COUNTERTOPS
Photo: @finding__lovelyStone countertops are in. In fact, they’re the top item to splurge on because everyone loves a clean kitchen. High-end developers and luxury homeowners go for Calacatta, a bright white marble with thick veins that range in color from gold to brown to beige to dark gray. It’s a gorgeous historic favorite sure to stay in style.
Tip: Love this look but not the price tag? Engineered quartz is eclipsing granite as the most popular material for countertops, according to Houzz. Quartz is cheaper but more durable than marble — perfect for wear and tear in a family kitchen.
2. HIGH-END APPLIANCES
Photo: @marieflaniganinteriorsWithout a doubt, new appliances reel in buyers in Greater Boston’s hot housing market. Who doesn’t want an induction stove, a warming drawer, a smart refrigerator, or a wine cooler? If you personally enjoy cooking and entertaining, high-end appliances are worth the splurge. Enjoy your chef-inspired kitchen now, and profit when it’s time to sell!
Tip: Be savvy. Keep in mind the best time to buy appliances. After a new release, you can often find the previous year’s high-end model for a fraction of the price!
3. DARKER TONES FOR CABINETS
Photo: @neptunehomeofficial
While white kitchens will always be popular, designers are moving away from minimalist toward realist design. Darker colors returned to kitchens this year — think navy, hunter green, walnut, and slate gray. Many designers are even opting for two-tone cabinets, where the upper cabinets are light and the bottom cabinets are dark.
Tip: Cabinets are not the place to pour thousands of dollars. Save that budget for tile flooring, backsplashes, counters, or appliances. Why? Because those updates help sell the house! It’s more likely that in nine years, the trendy cabinets you chose will look dated, and you’ll regret over-spending.
4. WALL COVERINGS
Photo: @deeelms
Wallpaper is back, and it’s not your mother’s ‘80s florals! Wallpaper is a fairly inexpensive way to freshen up any powder room with an accent wall. Designer wallpaper ranges from geometric and art deco to bright and large-scale florals to even an “ombre” effect!
Tip: Want to go bold? Go for it! Wall coverings are a place to express yourself, and they’re an easy fix when selling your home. We’d recommend Chasing Paper, a beautiful, well-designed removable(!) wallpaper that will stick to nearly any surface.
5. METAL FIXTURES
Photo: @kerrykirkphotoMetal fixtures are the simplest way to give your bathroom and kitchens a luxury look. Faucets, lighting fixtures, mirrors, and frames all look incredible in nickel and brass against bright white. This year, we’re loving the matte black that’s trending!
Tip: Fixtures are an easy way to stay on trend at minimal expense. For tubs, toilets, and bathroom sinks, stay classic with pure white! It will never look outdated.
COVELLE&CO Greater Boston Real Estate provides cutting edge strategies that offer a proven road map to suit any real estate needs. Contact us here or call 857.529.SOLD (7653).
