Real hardwood floors. Marble imported from Italy. A custom mural by a local artist. These changes sound dreamy, don’t they? But if your budget tends to lean more towards “beer” and less towards “champagne”, upgrading your Tulsa home may mean leaning towards faux materials. Good news, though. Today’s manufacturers offer tons of options that look like the real thing without putting a major dent in your wallet.
Budget-Friendly Faux Materials for Your Tulsa Home
Hardwood Flooring Alternatives
Carpeting is so last century. Wood flooring is now in, especially in the main living areas of a Tulsa home. Authentic hardwood floors are extremely attractive. But they tend to also be very expensive. Some more budget-friendly faux materials that offer the same look include laminate and vinyl planks. They come in a variety of colors and widths to help you achieve that hardwood look but without the high cost. And many of these are easy enough to install yourself.
Add an Electric Fireplace
There is nothing as nice as sipping a warm drink while curled up in a blanket in front of a fire on a cold winter’s day. But the builder of your Tulsa home did not include one in their plans. Fortunately, an electric fireplace performs the same function at a much cheaper price point. Plus, all you need to install it is an electrical outlet. Your local home improvement store provides several options. But there are hundreds more to choose from online.
Some electric fireplaces come in their own cabinets. Some get mounted on a wall. For those, add a pretty stone veneer. This provides you with the great look of stone but at a fraction of the cost and effort to install.
Exterior Spruce Up
Stone and rock all offer a beautiful look for the exterior of your Tulsa home. But they can cost a pretty penny. Companies like LiteStone (at Lowes), Eldorado Stone, and GenStone create a stacked stone or rock look but from polyurethane materials. They could even be used to add character around your wall-mounted electric fireplace.
Peel-and-Stick Options
A touch of paint goes a long way to transform a room. But wallpaper seems to be making a comeback. Anyone who has ever tried to hang wallpaper knows what a hassle it can be. Well, worry no more. Create a pretty focal point in a room by using faux materials like peel-and-stick wallpaper. If it ends up going on crooked, peel it off and try again. It can also add interest to the inside of a built-in or between open shelving.
You can even find peel-and-stick backsplashes for an easy install. (These tend to be pricey, though. So, if you are thinking “budget”, this is more of a splurge.) They even make peel-and-stick marble tiles that you can use as a backsplash in your kitchen. This allows you to enjoy the look of marble without paying someone to install an entire slab of it.
Stenciling
Finally, even stenciling can be considered a faux material. You can get stencils that make your walls look like shiplap. Or they can make it look like you have a custom tile inlay on your kitchen wall. Customize your bathroom with a bit of paint and a stencil border on the floor. You might even use it to paint a durable “rug” out on the front porch. Stencils can even be used on your old patio furniture or to create a unique accent on throw pillows. And they can be used over and over again. The only skill needed is the ability to run a paintbrush over it.
If you want to add interest to your Tulsa home but cannot afford to spend a ton of money, consider utilizing faux materials. They look like the real deal but at a fraction of the price. And, for most of them, you can install them yourself. That saves you even more money. Plus, they help entice buyers when you decide to sell it. Contact me when you are ready to put your home on the market. I’d love to help you sell it.
Lori Cain, REALTOR®, Serving Midtown and the greater Tulsa, OK area. Call 918-852-5036.
