This is a sponsored post brought to you by LightStream, an online lending division of SunTrust Bank.

When we moved from the DC Metro Area to the suburbs of Atlanta, GA, we had a plan.  And that plan included purchasing a home and building a business.  This meant that furnishing our new home and making home improvements had to happen over time, and not all at once.

So over the last couple of years, we have slowly made changes to our home, as the budget allows. Last year, we made improvements to the exterior by painting the entire house and having some landscaping done. We also had one of our favorite interior designers design a swanky home office for us.

I’m totally not surprised that over 57% of homeowners plan to make home improvements this year (per a 2015 survey from SunTrust.) As we discuss on the site often, your home is your sanctuary. It’s the one place that allows you to put the stresses of the daily grind behind you.

Here are the top four home improvements that will give you the most return on your money and life:

• Minor bathroom improvements – like replacing tile, replacing faucets and fixtures, upgrading the tub, shower or fixtures.
• Kitchen upgrades – like upgrading the floors, cabinets, countertops and lighting.
• Curb Appeal enhancements – such as adding color with flowers, adding shrubbery, or adding a walkway.
• Bedroom renovation – unlike the above enhancements that will give you maximum return on your investment when you decide to sell your home, a bedroom renovation will give you maximum return on your investment when it comes to your marriage or personal life. Turning your bedroom into a sanctuary by painting, upgrading the furniture and light fixtures, and purchasing fresh linens can do wonders for your relationship and peace of mind.

So, what’s next on our list of home improvements? Renovating the master bedroom and bathroom and totally upgrading and decorating the family room with new paint, window treatments, and new furniture, molding and light fixtures are next.

We’re upgrading the master bedroom because we need a sanctuary.  As entrepreneurs, we work hard all day building our business.  And at night, we want a peaceful place to connect with each other.

We want to renovate the family room because it is our home base.  All family activities occur there including watching TV, playing games and entertaining guests. Our plan is to have our designer help us with these projects too.

And now is a perfect time for home improvements, especially for home owners with good credit. From March to May 2015, homeowners are able to get a special rate on a low interest home improvement loan from LIGHTSTREAM, an online lending division of SunTrust Bank.

You can apply for this loan online.  And it’s an unsecured loan which means it does not require collateral to be secured by the loan, so there is no lienholder paperwork with this loan.  Check out LightStream’s quick easy process and you could have your loan as soon as the same day you apply. (See important details here.)

Also join them on them on Facebook where you can get fabulous home design tips.

BMWK – what home improvements are you planning to make this year?

Visit https://www.LightStream.com/2015HomeReno for additional details, rates, terms and disclosures.

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LightStream, a division of SunTrust Bank. Opinions and text are all mine.