Is Your Home Aging You?

Problem: Bulky Leather Sofa

Brunetz, co-host of Style Network’s Clean House, helped us solve some common "aging" problems — our images reference his tips.

SOLUTION: Large, leather sofas take up too much space. “Replace all of the oversize furniture with a love seat or a club chair and ottoman,” he says.

Problem: Lace Curtain Overload

SOLUTION: A mark of grandma’s house, lace curtains in large doses can look overly precious. For a fast update, Brunetz suggests swapping them out for bamboo or wood blinds.

Problem: Serious Shag Carpet

SOLUTION: Shag carpet exploded in the ‘70s, but these days it’s a style bomb. “Replace the shag with natural cork flooring,” says Brunetz, author of Take the U Out of Clutter with Penguin Books. Or, if you have hardwood floors underneath, “sand and refinish them with a water-soluble stain.”

Problem: Rusty Bathroom Fixtures

SOLUTION: Rundown fixtures are the tell-tale sign of an aging bathroom; updating them is the easiest way to reinvigorate the space. “Replace all the bathroom fixtures so they match, in either brushed nickel, chrome or burnt copper,” suggests Brunetz.

Problem: Dreary Cement Patio

SOLUTION: A dreary cement patio space isn’t a lost cause. Spruce it up with colored concrete stain. “And add large potted fruit trees,” says Brunetz.

Problem: Chunky Dining Set

SOLUTION: Don’t ditch all of the dining room pieces! Instead, swap out the chairs and “replace side seating with benches," he says.