Are you one of those homeowners who always wants to be doing something to improve your home? If so, the winter can be a bit frustrating. It's too cold to engage in any large, exterior projects, but you still have a desire to work on something new. So, what are some projects that you can tackle during a long, cold winter?
1. Paint the Walls and Touch Up Interior Trim
It's time for some painting! During the winter, you can go room by room to refresh the walls. A new coat of paint makes everything look bright and new again, and it isn't something you need to go outside to do. Just remember that you do need to keep the rooms well-ventilated, or you could easily make yourself sick!
If you don't want to paint all your walls, just touch up the trim. Trim gets dirty and damaged very quickly, and it's a major contributor to a home looking unclean or old. If it's a little too dirty, replace the trim entirely. All you need is trim nails to nail it down.
2. Repair or Replace Your Exterior Doors
Can you feel the cold coming from your exterior doors? They may not be as insulated as they could be, and it may be time for a new door installation. Consider either repairing your doors or replacing them entirely. Replacing exterior doors is one of the fastest ways to make a home look different, and new insulated doors can save you a lot in terms of energy.
Older exterior doors can become warped over time or develop cracks that prevent them from completely sealing. Some doors may just not be hung correctly; check to make sure that they're hanging straight before you think about replacing them.
3. Update Interior Doors and Hardware
Doors, knobs, faucets, and door handles — they're all easy to replace and can dramatically change the way that your home feels. Do you have doors that your children have scribbled on? Do you have paint that's been chipped by pets?
Replacing your interior doors is as easy as getting the measurements for your existing doors, and you can replace hardware yourself. In fact, changing things like knobs on kitchen cabinets is one of the fastest ways to give your kitchen a refresh.
You can also replace the hardware throughout your home if you want to create a uniform look.
4. Update Your Kitchen or Bathroom Backsplash
Small, incremental changes are manageable, but they can make a noticeable difference. If you want to change the way your kitchen or bathroom feels but don't want to get wrapped up in an in-depth project, consider changing out the backsplash. You can do a lot with just that one thing, especially if you choose something really bold, in an interesting texture or color.
You can also consider retiling your bathroom entirely, especially if you have an extra bathroom or a guest bathroom you've been meaning to renovate. Tiling takes a lot of time, but if you've got the time to spare during the winter months, it could be the perfect project.
5. Seal Any Drafts
This is the perfect time to be looking for drafts. Take a tour around your home and note any areas that seem to be particularly cold or windy. You may need to replace the weather stripping around your doors or seal up the bottom of your doors. You may also need to replace windows or window frames, especially if your windows are older.
Doors and windows are places that tend to have the most significant energy leaks. Sealing these up properly will improve your insulation and your energy use — and make it a lot more comfortable to be in those rooms.
6. Repair Your Furnace
Now is when you're counting on your furnace the most, so get it maintained and repair it if necessary. Regular maintenance can make things like furnaces and HVAC systems last a lot longer. If your furnace has been struggling, you may want to replace it now rather than suffer through the cold. A furnace usually lasts anywhere from 15 to 25 years, depending on the brand and style. If your furnace is older than 20 years, it may be getting close to the end of its usable lifespan.
Any interior projects can be done during the winter, and they can help make you feel a little less cooped up and stir crazy. Make a list of the interior projects that you've been putting off throughout the year, and it's very likely that you'll find that you can get many of them done during the colder, winter months.
Comments