We’re deep in the throes of the winter season. The cold, windy days are enough to drive anyone stir crazy. Beat cabin fever with some fun and easy (relative term) home improvement projects. We’ve scoured the internet and found the top five winter projects.
1. WOW Walls
Since you’re stuck looking at them all winter long, you might as well make them visually appealing. Updating the mouldings and a pop of paint can work wonders. Add some crown moulding for a classic look, or take it mission style with some eased edge casing and base. Home Improvement bloggers across the country have noted that replacing baseboards with 5” tall material is one of the hottest home improvement trends. Tap into your rustic side and do a barnwood accent wall. Rustic/Modern décor is all the rage. Homeowners love adding rustic finishes to their homes. The imperfections of a rustic design generally lends itself to lower or easier maintenance. Don’t like where you hung that picture? Pull it down! Nobody will even notice the nail hole left behind. In fact, it only adds to the warmth and character of the wall.
2. Add a Kitchen Backsplash.
Adding a backsplash is a great way to update the look of your kitchen without spending a fortune. Luckily, it is also a pretty easy project for the average DIYer and is a perfect indoor winter project. Expert advice seems to be to slow down and take your time while planning out and installing a backsplash.
3. Bathroom Makeover
There are lots of different ways and budget levels to upgrade your bathroom. Relatively inexpensive transformations include changing out your faucet and re-grouting the tile work. You can also opt for a full remodel, which may be money well spent. Real estate experts maintain that kitchens and bathrooms are two areas where an investment can increase the overall value of your home.
4. Replace Interior Doors
Sometimes the things we use the most are noticed the least. This is often the case with interior doors. Take a closer look and suddenly the scratches, dents and dings seem to multiply, not to mention the outdated style. Updating your interior doors is a great way to change the overall look of your home without having to go through the hassle of painting or a full blown remodel. Switch to a mission style for a more modern look, or an arch top for a more traditional approach. There are a wide variety of wood species and styles to choose from. Homeowners often approach us believing the only cost effective option is the 6-panel Red Oak door. This simply isn’t true; many manufacturers offer reasonably priced doors in modern styles.
Other factors to consider are adding double doors for closets or wider openings. Not only are double doors more attractive and functional, but they are also cheaper. Most people think double doors cost more when in reality bifold doors are the higher priced option.
Don’t forget to re-tap your rustic side when it comes to doors. Barndoors are the solution to maintaining that open floor plan while still allowing privacy as needed. Barndoors are also a way to add WOW to a room and are often considered art.
5. A Bright Idea
Update the light fixtures in a room or throughout your home. Even if you are on a budget, simple upgrades like replacing lamp shades can make a big difference in the amount of light, light intensity and overall look in a room. Ceiling fans can help push the air back downward and are often installed in the winter as an energy saver. LED lights are another money saving option. Installing new or swapping out pendant lights and other fixtures are a great way to transform the look of an entire room.