1. Start Small
As you embark on your home upgrading projects, start small to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you pick something too large, you may be tempted to stop halfway through your project, and that’s never a good feeling. Some smaller projects can include cleaning the gutters, repainting a room or upgrading the house number on the front of your home. Once you’ve checked off one small project, you’ll feel inspired to keep going.
2. Declutter
Taking down and putting away the holiday decorations gives you the perfect opportunity to get rid of the clutter in your home, especially in spaces that may have become over-crowded during the holiday season. Put away or throw away anything that you don’t regularly use. Clearing the clutter may actually help reduce your stress level and give rid of those post-holiday blues.
3. Reorganize
The easiest way to check off some of those home improvement projects is to get organized everywhere. To help complete “decluttering” consider closet renovation. With a couple of closets and storage spaces throughout your home, you’ll feel on top of it if everything that’s hidden is easy to find. To update and upgrade your closet, change the shelving or storage bings in the hall closet. Reorganize and get rid of anything you don’t need anymore. Buy more new bins or hang a new rod for jackets you’ve collected over the years.
4. Make It Efficient
Perhaps the biggest money saving project to tackle throughout the new year is to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency. You can do this by swapping out small things like light bulbs and with bigger projects like an irrigation system to properly water your lawn and garden, energy efficient home appliances and water efficient showerheads, faucets and toilets. Some states offer tax incentives for making energy efficient home improvements. There are numerous efficiency projects you can add to your list.
5. Replace Decor
Change up the pictures, paintings and wall hangings to make a room feel like new, even if you’re not quite ready to repaint it. You can also move items around, or swap out some of the knick-knacks sitting on shelves, tables or dressers. A little decor change can help you feel like you’ve accomplished quite a bit and are living in a new, fresh space. Once you’ve tackled the smaller project, it’ll be easier to move on to things like adding a fresh coat of paint and other projects that will make you feel better and increase the value of your home.
About Author: Ashley Miller is a home decor and lifestyle writer who cures her HGTV obsession by refurbishing anything and everything she can get her hands on into something new.
