Millions of North American’s receiving a tax refund this year will be faced with the question “How should I spend the money?” While some may choose to splurge on a vacation or a fun purchase, a smart option for the extra money is to invest in home improvements.  According to a recent report by USA today, the average refund could be more than $3000 which could make a bit difference in your home.

By investing tax refund dollars into home improvements – whether it’s new lighting, new hardware, new flooring or new landscaping – the extra income can provide a little excitement, while also increasing a home’s value for resale.

Carpet One Floor & Home encourages customers to invest in creating a beautiful home. They also stress the importance of making smart decisions when you’re are working on any home project.

Carpet One Floor & Home’s suggestions for the best ways to invest your tax refund in your home are:

Find the right light. Give a room a bright, fresh new look with updated lighting fixtures.  In the bathroom, choose a light that fits both sides of the mirror evenly for a balanced spread of light, rather than a fixture that lights vanity mirrors from above and creates unflattering shadows. Different levels of light can be created by choosing from ceiling lights, lamps and task lighting.

Choose quality flooring for a solid foundation. Installing new flooring can give a dramatic change to a room.  It’s also a great investment in your home.  With new products like luxury vinyl tile, engineered stone, and super-soft carpet, there are many options that provide quality, performance and style. Checking the warranty available for a floor provides a good idea of the durability of a product. Carpet One Floor & Home provides an easy to understand warranty system to help customers make smart decision.

Plant an investment and watch it grow. Landscaping isn’t just about good looks—it can increase a home’s value, make it sell more quickly, and even reduce energy bills.  Invest in flowering trees and perennials that will give you the gift of color year after year. Fountains, yard art, or attractive benches are also great new additions for outdoor spaces. .

Build in organization. Maximize both the horizontal and vertical space in a room by adding a built-in shelving unit.  Consider a built-in bookshelf on either side of a doorway or along a blank wall to create a wrap-around cozy reading nook.

Focus on the Outdoors. A beautiful deck can be a natural extension of interior flooring and extend the living space of your home.  The design possibilities are endless when it comes to creating this functional yet visually appealing space.  Deck designs can range from a simple horizontal surface bordered by railings, to a more detailed design with built-in planters, barbecue station, trellises and even a recessed spa.

Give your stairs a step up. Constant foot traffic on stairs can wreck havoc on carpets, leaving them dull and dingy.  For entrance stairways that see a constant flow of feet, a new carpet runner can do wonders for the overall look and make for a more inviting welcome area.  When choosing new carpet runner for stairs, darker colors as well as patterns will help mask dust and dirt.  Generally shorter pile carpets show less wear and tear over time.  Look for carpets with superior warranties, like Relax, it’s…Lees carpets.  Consider adding stair rods on the landings of each step, which add a classic accent while keeping the runner secure.

Cook up a new look.  Update your kitchen with a new look.  Kitchen trends are looking a little softer in 2014. Warmer metals like brass and copper are being used in the place of stainless steel. And with that, warmer, natural flooring is the perfect compliment. A beautiful hardwood floor can make your kitchen feel cozier. For a natural stone look there is a new product available called engineered stone. Vero Stone, available at Carpet One Floor & Home, provides unbelievably realistic stone looks while providing added durability and a softer, warmer feel underfoot.

For more ideas on creating a beautiful home, visit Carpet One Floor & Home’s blog – Beautiful Design Made Simple – or download their free digital home décor magazine.

About Carpet One Floor & Home
Carpet One Floor & Home is North America’s leading floor covering retailer, with 1,000 independently owned and operated locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.  Carpet One Floor & Home stores are known for a broad selection of carpet, wood, laminate, ceramic, vinyl, and area rugs, including exclusive brands like Bigelow and Lees. They offer a unique customer experience with the exclusive SelectAFloor merchandising system that simplifies the shopping experience and The Beautiful GuaranteeTM, which guarantees that the customer will be 100% happy with their floor. Carpet One Floor & Home is also the home of the exclusive Healthier Living Installation system.