If you just moved into a new home and want to make some quick changes, or you’re planning to sell in the spring and want to make some simple updates, here are some ideas for those winter days when it’s cold outside and dark early!
Help your utility bills
Some simple projects can help cut energy or water usage and save money. Great news for buyers and sellers.
Weatherstripping around doors and windows is a simple and quick update. Foam weatherstripping is sold in many assorted sizes and thicknesses at your local hardware store so you can find the right size to fit in all those odd cracks and corners that let in drafts. This can even help cut your heat bill by 20%!
Swap out your shower head – if it drips, is out of date, or just doesn’t fit your personal style anymore, why not install a new one? Changing a shower head is a simple home improvement task that requires plumber’s tape, but no plumber. You can get a fresh look and, depending on the type of shower head you buy, reduce water usage which places less demand on your hot water heater.
Get organized
Declutter the garage! Garages are easy areas to store items that don’t have a permanent place in the home, and this means they quickly become a catch-all. Hanging shelves and overhead storage can help get seasonal items and decorations up and out of the way. With larger items moved, you may even be able to make a dedicated space for tools using a wall rack or even a work bench. Just make sure to find studs for safe and sturdy shelf placement.
Refresh small areas
Replace hardware in your kitchen or bathrooms. This is really the easiest way to upgrade and refresh your kitchen and bath space. It provides a big visual change for relatively little time and money. Take one of the current pieces of hardware with you when you shop for new ones so you can be sure to buy new handles in the correct size. That way you don’t have to fill the old holes and drill for the new hardware.
Paint a small room or area. A small bath or a fireplace can be painted in a day and will instantly add new character to your home. As with any painting project, prep before you paint. Sand uneven surfaces, fill gaps and holes, wipe everything clean, and make sure you have a drop cloth on the floor for easier clean up. Ask a paint specialist at your local hardware store what paint to get for different surfaces. For example, if your fireplace is brick, water-based paints work better. And if you actively use your fireplace, you’ll have to consider products that withstand high heat. In bathroom areas that have a shower, you need to consider how humid the room gets and look at higher gloss paints as they have a harder finish that water doesn’t get through as easily.
There are plenty of projects to keep you busy at home during a long winter. Get that list out and tackle those home improvement projects.