Wintry weather. COVID lockdown. If you’ve found yourself spending more time at home these last couple of months, you might be starting to notice the areas of your house that need a bit of a freshen up. And now you’ve got the time to do something about it. Winter can be the perfect time for the home improvements to enjoy once the weather warms.
Whether your ambitions only extend to a fresh lick of paint, the hibernation months can be a perfect time to get started on those projects. No matter what you’re looking to achieve, here are some ideas for how to spruce up your place while it’s cold outside.
INTERIOR PAINTING
Painting is one of the most cost effective and simple ways to transform the look and feel of your house. Light paint can brighten up a dark place in the wintertime and make rooms feel bigger. Painting the ceiling a lighter colour than the walls also give that feeling of height as well as light. Plus, that same dry interior air that can dry out skin in winter can also help a fresh coat of paint dry more quickly.
STORAGE
No one has ever looked at a new home and complained about the abundance of storage. And while a new butler’s pantry will add value to your home, there are other, less ambitious solutions. Built-in storage for the garage and under staircases is always popular, and built-in robes can maximise storage space. And for something more involved, attic areas can be transformed into storage areas with simple drop-down ladders – best to check with a professional that your roof can support the structures needed.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Adding an outdoor kitchen or a barbecue area can raise the value of the property. Repainting the fence or getting some new plants in the ground in time for spring can be the little touch up that’s a lot easier than extensive landscaping. Opening the inside of your house to the outside – either through installing new doors or changing your garden orientation – can dramatically change an area.
KITCHEN AND BATHROOM
Since the days we used to gather around a crackling fireplace, the kitchen has always been the warm heart of the home. From large renovations to small upgrades, an improved kitchen makes winter more enjoyable and your house – if you don’t over-capitalise – more valuable.
We use our bathrooms multiple times a day, and a warm shower first thing in the morning is what makes winter survivable. Perhaps now could be the time to turn that shower into a nice, long bath? If you’re looking for something eye-catching but more DIY, consider retiling or re-grouting your old ones, introducing plants to the bathroom, fresh painting or adding mirrors to increase light and a feeling of space.
LIGHTING AND INSULATION
Lighting makes a wintry house feel warm and open, and it can improve energy efficiency – saving you money. Winter brings less daylight, which means more electric lighting. But replacing blown globes – or all globes – with energy efficient ones is an easy change-up and saves on bills at the same time.
FLOORING
If you’re looking to keep the house warm, underlay beneath carpets, laminate or wood flooring can help to regulate the temperature, and underfloor heating is an increasingly popular home improvement. Sometimes those winter months feel like a time for being a homebody and hibernating. But that home time can be put to great use – get in touch with All Safe today to discuss how we can assist with those winter renos.