Naughty or Nice? Check Out Santa's Wish List for Your Home!

Whether or not you’ve found home ownership or renting to be naughty or nice this year, the holiday season is a great time to create a little wish list for your home. Throughout the year, you’ve certainly noticed a few problem areas or places where a little renovation could make a BIG difference.

You may not have time to grant these wishes before the end of the year, but you could pick up some supplies at some great discounts during the holiday season. The saying goes, “It is better to give than to receive;” but, giving your home these gifts actually could have you receiving quite the return on investment in the future!  

Here are a few great gift ideas for your home:

1. An Updated Kitchen

It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to sell your home or stay in it for years to come, almost everyone is impressed by a modern kitchen. Of course, this gift for your home can get pretty pricey, but it is also one that you can give in phases. Consider updating your appliances first, then go from there. Rumor has it that Santa’s received a lot of wishes for high-end appliances and stainless steel this year. Hardwood and tile flooring have also appeared on a lot of wish lists. Of course, new countertops and a backsplash can make a big difference, too.

2. Upgraded Bathrooms

Like kitchens, bathrooms are some of the most highly used areas in a home, so making sure they stay on Santa’s nice list is always a good idea. You don’t have to tear down the walls of your bathroom to make it look like new. In fact, buying inexpensive new fixtures can make a stark difference. But, once you start to see a difference, you may not be able to stop! A fresh coat of paint and ceramic flooring are beautiful gifts to add to your bathrooms, too.

3. New Doors

Whether your front door or garage door is the way that you typically leave and enter each day and night, giving them a face lift can be a great gift for a few reasons. Of course, new doors will be aesthetically pleasing; but, replacing a low-quality front door with a heavier door and threshold can actually end up putting more money in your pocket, since heavier doors act as a barrier against cold weather. Consider updating your garage door for the same reasons. You may need to call in a professional for the upgrades, unless Santa is feeling ultra-handy this year!

4. New Windows

Peer into the new year through freshly-installed new windows and 2014 already looks pretty good! Replacing the windows in your home may be an expensive upgrade, but it is also one that has proven to pay homeowners back. Again, new windows will give your home a fresh look , but they will also help with your heating bills. To make sure you’re not feeling a draft after installation, it might be a good idea to hire the professionals for this gift.

5. A Home Office

As much as you may say you are putting a home office on your “home’s” holiday wish list, it is OK to admit that you’ve been craving your own quiet space at home, too. If you’ve got a budget for it, go all out with custom cabinetry. If you’ve just been shopping around for a perfect piece to add to a spare bedroom, why not make that piece a small desk, so that you can have a nice, serene getaway in your own home? Guests may also appreciate the desk space during their visits.  

When it comes to home improvements and renovations, your home’s wish list may seem endless; but, starting small can make you feel like you’ve accomplished something big, which will make anyone’s spirits bright, during the holidays or any time of the year!