Winter means spending more time at home. Why not make your environment more cozy and comfortable, reflecting your tastes and style?
Please don’t think you have to spend a bundle to make your home look and feel nicer. Small upgrades requiring only a tiny investment — if any — often make the most noticeable difference.
Are you ready to feather your nest for the season or perform a bit of early spring cleaning?
Here are seven ways to make your home look and feel nicer.
1. Pressure-Wash Your Home
You expect filth to accumulate on your floors, but have you looked at your walls lately? They can develop a layer of dust and grime over time that dulls your finish and makes everything look dingy. Your exterior gets even worse as the elements deposit fresh dirt daily.
Fortunately, you can rent pressure washers at most big box home and builder’s supply stores. While taking this step before painting or staining your deck is critical, you can also use it alone to brighten your home’s exterior. Watching the filth peel away in perfect lines as you direct the hose is so oddly satisfying that you may decide to invest in a machine. Why not open a pressure-washing side hustle that improves your whole neighborhood, upping your resale value and bringing in sweet extra cash?
2. Slap on a Fresh Coat of Paint
Although paint prices have increased with other construction materials in recent years, it’s still one of the most cost-effective ways to make your home look and feel nicer. It has one of the highest home improvement returns on investment — you can often redo your entire interior for less than $500 if you DIY.
However, you don’t have to tackle your entire interior or exterior. Those with smaller budgets, less patience or both can transform the look of their living area by adding an accent wall. It’s the perfect place for displaying your picture gallery, drawing the eye’s attention. Using a darker hue can help you hide your 2-year-old’s Picasso, replacing it with framed photographs of family vacations and first birthdays.
3. Clear the Clutter
Here’s a freebie idea that anyone can do. Are you feeling down or overwhelmed lately? Guess what? Getting organized can do wonders for your mental state, so head to the local discount store to stock up on shelves and file folders, then roll up your sleeves and get to work.
What if keeping up with your active clan leaves you spinning like a dervish? Try these easy organizing hacks to help cut the clutter without incessant nagging:
- Use hanging baskets: A basket ladder makes an attractive bit of corner decor, especially if your home features a cottage look. It’s also the perfect place to quickly stash those Legos your 4-year-old left scattered on the floor when the doorbell rings unexpectedly.
- Color code: Have you noticed tiny tikes like bright colors? Using color-coded boxes for their toys could inspire your little ones to pickup their room.
- Try DIY drawer hacks: Cut up old paper towel tubes to create cups for organizing socks in drawers. Do you toss your silverware willy-nilly? You can find trays for sorting your forks and spoons at nearly any dollar store.
4. Improve Your Climate Control
You might rejoice if you switched to telecommuting during the pandemic — no more office thermostat wars. However, you still have to keep your clan cozy and address those chilly spots in winter.
Does your home office leave your toes shivering because it sits atop your garage? Insulating the space beneath can save you significant money on your home heating while reducing your need for a space heater. The same goes with damp basements — adding a wood stove can cut energy costs and help make the space more usable.
A programmable thermostat is a must. Most people sleep best in temperatures close to 65° Fahrenheit, but that means waking up shivering — a real deterrent if you rise early for work. However, the right model automatically adjusts before you arise, improving your night’s rest while making your mornings more comfortable.
5. Upgrade Your Lighting
You probably know you should replace your incandescent bulbs with LEDs to conserve energy, but did you realize how much fun you can have? This style contains your full array of soft whites with every hue imaginable. Why not cast your bedroom in a gentle lavender light to induce relaxation and calm? Color-changing models can make your kids ask for quiet play time in their rooms.
Natural light has the power to enhance your mood, so take down those heavy blackout curtains, at least in living areas. Replace them with gauzy numbers or, better yet, a one-way film that protects your floorings and furnishings from UV radiation while giving you an unfettered view of the great outdoors.
6. Refresh Your Indoor Air
You have five senses — why stop at sight? Swapping out your home’s HVAC filters improves heating oil efficiency and reduces allergies. An aromatherapy mister can fragrance your air and improve your mood. Use citrus scents to energize you and lavender to help you relax.
7. Embrace Hygge
What is hygge? It’s a feeling of cozy contentment invoked by warm surroundings when winter winds blow.
How can you evoke it? Add plenty of throws and pillows to invite afternoon naps and novel reading. Light a fire at the hearth or put on some soy candles and keep a pot of tea at the ready. Think of all the things you love about grandma’s house and amplify them.
Make Your Home Look and Feel Nicer
Winter invites you to spend more time indoors. How can you make your home look and feel nicer?
Improving your environment with the above tips doesn’t take much money or effort. You’ll avoid cabin fever, taking pleasure in staying cozy and snug in your newly improved home.
