There’s nothing more worthwhile to invest in than your home, but planning home upgrades and improvement projects can be an incredible challenge if you’re not prepared. It’s important for homeowners to balance improvements that benefit their quality of life with what effect those improvements will have on their home’s future value. While you shouldn’t expect a positive return on investment for every project you take on, you don’t want to overspend on a renovation, especially when it will affect your ability to make a profit on your home if you choose to sell down the road. If you’re considering doing some home improvement, read on for four simple upgrade tips and ideas to get you started.

1. Don’t neglect home maintenance.

While investing in new things is exciting, keeping your home well-maintained is just as important. For example, your HVAC system should be inspected and have its filter changed once a year, and it should be replaced entirely every 10-15 years. Without proper maintenance, it won’t operate at peak efficiency, and you may find that your energy bills increase significantly as a result of that.

Cracks and crevices in your windows and doors can also let in drafts that make it more difficult to regulate temperature, which will also drive up your energy consumption. Having your gutters cleaned annually can prevent all kinds of water damage and structural damage to your home. Taking care of preventive maintenance could save you a lot of money down the line.

2. Upgrade the rooms where you spend the most time.

While it can be tempting to spend a lot of money on a fancy dining room or finishing a basement, it makes the most sense to focus on the rooms you use the most. Bathrooms and kitchens are a good place to start. Your toilet, sink, and shower should all be high priorities when it comes to keeping up to date with current technology.

A new shower door is a smart way to change the look of your bathroom without doing a complete overhaul. You can look for a buying guide for frameless shower screens if you want to give your bathroom a cleaner, more modern feel. You could also put in a tile wall, which will add some texture, or replace the shower glass in your current shower door. If you don’t have one, you could even look into installing a tub. Whenever you’re upgrading, be sure to look for durability and use a contractor who you trust.

3. Eco-friendly home design is the future.

Buyers are starting to prioritize environmentally friendly features like solar panels and smart appliances with improved energy efficiency when looking for a new home, so if you’re hoping to sell one day, going green can be a great place to start. Smart HVAC systems with timers and automation, for example, can save you money on your utility bills by allowing you to only run them when you need to. For homeowners who are keeping an eye on the market when planning their renovation, eco-friendly upgrades are a great place to look for a positive return on investment.

4. Invest in your comfort.

Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable in your home, and spending money on that is often worth it in and of itself, even if it doesn’t pay dividends when it comes time to sell. Sometimes, it’s small things that make a big difference, like using a bottled water service to ensure that you always have a high-quality liter bottle of water around, and sometimes you want to take on a big project like transforming a spare room or doing a kitchen remodel. Think about what will most suit you and your family’s unique needs; there’s no one perfect way to approach home improvement.

While it can be stressful to start working on upgrading your home, the rewards for your effort will be well worth it. A properly managed renovation can improve the value of your home in addition to improving your day-to-day life. For homeowners who are interested, taking an eco-friendly approach to home improvement can pay dividends to buyers in the future, in addition to simply being a responsible choice. No matter what direction you choose to go, keep your focus on creating a happy and comfortable environment for yourself and your family, and you’re not likely to go wrong.