Drive through Bowie, Greenbelt, Silver Spring, Rockville or Laurel and you'll see hundreds of them: split-level homes built in the 1960s and 70s, with a short flight of stairs up to the bedrooms and another down to a family room. They're solid, well-built houses on good lots. They also tend to feel chopped up and dark by today's standards. The good news is that a few focused changes transform them.
1. OPEN THE KITCHEN
The typical split-level kitchen is closed off from the living and dining rooms by a wall. Opening it, fully or with a wide pass-through and a peninsula, is the single biggest change you can make. Some of those walls carry the floor or roof above, so a contractor should confirm what's structural before planning. Our open concept guide explains the beam options and costs.
2. MODERNIZE THE HALF-FLIGHTS
Those short stair runs are the defining feature of the house, and in most split-levels they still have original wrought-iron or spindle railings and carpet. Swapping to wood treads, painted risers and a simple modern railing (horizontal metal, slim square balusters or a solid half wall with a wood cap) makes the whole middle of the house feel current. See our carpet-to-hardwood stairs guide for costs.
3. MAKE THE LOWER LEVEL FEEL LIKE PART OF THE HOUSE
The lower level is usually half below grade, with a family room, laundry and sometimes a half bath. It often feels like a basement even though it isn't one. What helps:
- Run the same flooring as the main level, or a closely related tone, so the floors connect visually.
- Replace small dark windows with larger ones where the grade allows.
- Add layered lighting: recessed lights plus wall sconces, not a single ceiling fixture.
- Upgrade the half bath to a full bath for a guest suite. Our basement bathroom guide covers costs.
4. LET IN MORE LIGHT
Split-levels often have a large front window and little else on the main floor. Options include enlarging the rear window over the sink, adding a glass door to the deck, and painting walls and ceilings in light, warm tones that bounce what light there is. Dated dark paneling in the lower level is one of the easiest wins: it can usually be painted.
5. UPDATE THE FAÇADE
Many split-levels have brick on the lower half and siding above. Painting the trim and front door, new lighting and house numbers, and a refreshed front walk go a long way. Our curb appeal guide ranks these by impact per dollar.
The best split-level remodels don't fight the layout. They lean into the half-levels with open railings and continuous materials, so the house reads as one connected space instead of four separate floors.
WHAT IT COSTS
A focused main-level refresh (kitchen opening, flooring, stairs and paint) commonly lands in the $45,000–$110,000 range in our area depending on the kitchen. Doing the stairs, paint and lighting alone can be done for a fraction of that and still changes the feel of the house.
RELATED READING
OPEN CONCEPT REMODEL GUIDE FOR DMV HOMES
Load-bearing vs. non-load-bearing walls, real costs, permit requirements, and what else changes when you open up a floor plan.
BASEMENT FINISHING COST GUIDE: MARYLAND & DMV (2026)
Full cost breakdown for finishing a basement in DC, MD and VA — framing, drywall, flooring, lighting and everything in between.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR HOME VALUE BEFORE SELLING IN THE DMV
What actually moves sale price in this market — paint, floors, targeted kitchen and bath updates, and curb appeal that photographs well.
Planning a project? See our Kitchen Remodeling service page for scope, process and recent work.
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