All this extra time spent at home may inspire your inner DIY guru to do some extra household changes. There are all sorts of areas that could use your attention, and it’s entirely up to you on where to work your magic. One rule of thumb, however, is to start small. You don’t have to get into huge changes just yet as even small household changes are impactful. From sprucing up some corners and brightening up areas, to getting your hands dirty with minor repairs – you’ll always have a project to keep you occupied. At the end of the day, you’ll be reaping the rewards of all your hard work.
Update Dated Fixtures
For a little bit of a home makeover, get rid of dated fixtures. We detailed in a guide on ‘How To Remove a Drop Ceiling‘. for those who are looking to give a modern update to tired trends. Similarly, you can get your paintbrushes swirling by freshening up your cabinets. This can instantly transform a beloved space, and while you are at it, you can even go a step further and repaint your trim and baseboards for a contemporary feel. You might even find yourself wanting to repaint your front doors as well. As replacing a door may be on the costlier side, you can opt for a fun and bold shade for a hint of drama.
Inspect your Utilities
If it’s been a while since you last did an inspection on your utilities, now is the time to. Catching small problems early on can help prevent big disasters. HomeServe advises checking your kitchen sinks for debris and any build-up of food, as this can cause unpleasant smells and possibly be harmful if ignored for an extended period of time. Having rotting food stuck in your pipes could be a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria and mold, so make it a point to pour boiling water, baking soda, or vinegar down the sink to prevent this from accumulating. Another frequently used utility that may fly under the radar is your front load washer. Sludge build-up from detergent can encourage mold, mildew, and bacteria to grow and cause smelly odors. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you allow more air circulation in the washer, clean its lint trap, and run a cleaning cycle once a month. A pleasant smelling home is a happy one.
Be conscious of your lighting
You should let natural light into your homes as much as possible – and yes, this means getting rid of dusty old curtains. Next, consider changing your bulbs to LED ones. A guide to LED bulbs describes how these outlast regular incandescent bulbs, and also cut down on your energy consumption and electricity bill. This could be extremely helpful if you are spending more time at home. An article by USA Today breaks down the numbers, detailing how you can save roughly $1,000 over a 10-year period which is around $8.33 monthly with LED bulbs. These are a much more convenient option, and there are now a number of dimmable and omnidirectional varieties out in the market for your ideal lighting preferences.
With minimal resources, slight efforts, and a commitment to home improvement, you’ll soon realize that it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest difference.
