I’ve been thinking a lot about home value lately as we finish up some projects around our house. So many of you have asked which rooms actually make a difference when selling your home, and I thought I’d share what we’ve learned through our own renovations!
Let’s start with a little before and after of our kitchen from last year…
Wow, what a change, right? We spent about 6 weeks on this project, working nights and weekends. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Our realtor friend says we’ll get back almost 80% of what we put into it when we sell someday.
But more importantly, we use this space every single day, and it makes us happy each morning when we walk in!
Top 5 Rooms That Add Value to Your Home
When we bought our first home years ago, we had no clue where to put our money. We almost put a ton of cash into fancy landscaping before a friend in real estate stopped us! Turns out, what happens inside your walls matters way more than what’s outside them when it comes to home value.
According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, these five rooms can boost your home value the most. I’m gonna break down each one and share some of our own experiences too!
Bathrooms To Unwind Yourself
Bathrooms are tiny but mighty when it comes to home value. A midrange bathroom remodel returns about 70% of its cost when you sell, which is pretty awesome for such a small space!
We updated our main bathroom last year, and oh my goodness, what a difference. We went from a sad 1990s situation with those horrible strip lights above the mirror to something that feels like a mini spa.
The best part? We kept the same layout but swapped out the vanity, mirror, lighting, and gave everything a fresh coat of paint. The whole project cost us under $3,000 but made the bathroom feel brand new.
Little things that made a huge impact:
- A new shower head with different settings. Our 7-year-old now actually WANTS to take showers!
- Soft close drawers on the vanity. No more midnight slams that wake up the whole house!
- Built-in organizers for makeup and hair stuff. Everything has its place now, and the counters stay so much cleaner.
If you only have budget for one bathroom update, focus on the main bathroom that guests will use. That first impression matters so much!
Moreover, for homeowners in San Antonio, working with trusted companies like Zintex Remodeling Group of San Antonio, TX, makes the bathroom remodeling process much easier.
They focus on fast, quality upgrades that bring real results. Whether you want a full remodel or a tub-to-shower swap, their team can help make it happen without a lot of hassle.
So, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional if you’re unsure about the project.
Kitchen to Cook Yummy Meals
The kitchen really is the heart of the home, and it’s also the heart of your home value! Statistics show that a minor kitchen remodel can recoup about 75-80% of its cost at resale.
When we did our kitchen, we kept the cabinet boxes but replaced the doors and added new hardware. Such a money saver! New countertops made the biggest visual impact.
What buyers look for in kitchens:
- Counter space for meal prep. We added a small island and use it constantly!
- Updated appliances that work well. They don’t have to be top of the line, just modern and functional.
- Good lighting. We put in under-cabinet lights and wow, what a game change for cooking!
- Storage that makes sense. We added those pull-out shelves in lower cabinets and now we can actually find things!
One tip I wish someone had told me sooner: if you can’t afford to redo everything, just changing the backsplash can make your whole kitchen look updated. We did white subway tile with dark grout and it looks so clean and classic.
Bedroom To Relax
Your bedroom might not seem like it would matter much to buyers, but the primary bedroom is actually super important! People want to imagine themselves relaxing there.
Unlike kitchens and baths, bedroom updates usually don’t require major construction. We completely transformed ours with new paint, lighting, and by adding an adjustable bed. The whole project cost under $1,000 but made it feel like a totally different room.
What makes a bedroom valuable:
- Enough space for a queen or king bed plus nightstands. We rearranged our furniture to show off the room size better.
- Good closet storage. We added some simple IKEA organizers inside our closet and doubled our usable space!
- Calm, neutral colors. We went with a soft blue-gray that feels so peaceful at the end of a busy day.
- Proper lighting options. We added a dimmer to our overhead light and nice reading lamps on both sides of the bed.
I laugh now thinking about how our bedroom used to be the catch-all room that never got decorated because “nobody sees it but us.” Now it’s my favorite room in the house!
Also read: 10 Ways to Use a Multi-Purpose Murphy Bed in Any Room
Living Room to Welcome Guests
Living rooms sell homes because they’re where people picture themselves hanging out with family and friends. A welcoming living space can make buyers fall in love with your whole house.
We updated our living room last winter when we realized we were avoiding spending time there because it felt so awkward and uncomfortable. Now it’s where we gather every evening!
- A layout that makes conversation easy. We rearranged so people can actually talk to each other instead of just facing the TV.
- Enough seating for the whole family. Our new sectional fits everyone comfortably, even when the kids want to sprawl out!
- Good natural light. We swapped out heavy curtains for light filtering blinds and it made the room feel twice as big.
- Flexibility for different activities. We added a coffee table with storage where we keep board games, and now we have game nights at least once a week.
The cost of our living room update was mostly just the new sofa, but the impact on how we use our home has been huge. Sometimes it’s not about fancy renovations but just making spaces that work for your real life!
Home Office To Work Without Interruptions
With so many people working from home now, a dedicated office space has jumped way up on buyers’ priority lists! According to real estate experts, having a home office can boost your sale price by as much as 10%.
We carved out an office from an unused corner of our bonus room, and it’s been such a smart use of space. My husband no longer has to work at the kitchen table surrounded by cereal bowls and homework!
What makes a good home office:
- A door that closes (if possible) – peace and quiet for Zoom calls is very valuable
- Enough desk space for computers and paperwork – used a simple IKEA desk painted a fun blue color
- Storage for office supplies – IKEA Variera plastic bag holders work well for storing rolls of paper and files
- Good lighting for video calls – added a small desk lamp with adjustable brightness
If you don’t have a spare room, look for underused spaces in your home. We’ve seen awesome offices in converted closets, under stairs, or even in a corner of a bedroom. The key is creating separation so work doesn’t take over your whole home!
How To Prioritize with Smart Planning
So now you’re probably wondering which room to tackle first, right? Here’s how we figured it out for our home:
- We started with the room we use most. For us, that was the kitchen, since we cook almost every day.
- Next, we focused on what bugged us the most. Our primary bathroom shower was leaking a bit, so that moved up the priority list!
- Then we looked at what buyers in our area care about. Our realtor friend told us updated kitchens and bathrooms matter most in our neighborhood.
- Finally, we considered our budget and time. Some projects we could DIY on weekends, others needed professionals.
Before starting any project, we asked three questions:
- Will we enjoy this change while we still live here?
- Will future buyers care about this update?
- Does this fit our skills and budget right now?
- If we answered yes to all three, that project moved to the top of our list!
Bringing It All Together
After two years of slowly updating our home room by room, I’m amazed at what a difference it’s made in how we live here. Spaces that used to collect random junk are now rooms we use every day.
The best part is knowing we’re not just making our home nicer for ourselves, but we’re also making smart investments for when we eventually sell. According to our latest appraisal, our home value has gone up about 15% just from our targeted room updates!
I’d love to see your room transformations too! Which space in your home needs the most love right now? Drop me a comment below and let’s chat about it!
And remember, the perfect home isn’t about having the fanciest everything. It’s about creating spaces that work for your real life and bring you joy when you walk through the door. That’s what really matters in the end.
