DIY Projects
You may be thinking about selling, or maybe you just want to spruce up your home. Now that the weather is improving and things are opening up a bit, you might be looking at your yard, porch, patio or deck, and imagining some outdoor summer gatherings of family or friends. Or maybe after being confined to home for the past year, it's feeling a bit too lived-in and in need of some freshening up. Here are some small projects that can make a huge impact.
- Front door: Your front door is your home's first impression. And it takes a lot of abuse - beating sun, driving rain, scratching paws, nudged open with your boot when your hands are full, slamming closed in a gust of wind. You might be due for a replacement (if so, consider whether your interior entryway can benefit from the light a door with glass might allow). But most likely, a simple color change will provide a bright update to a tired doorway. While you might be leery of using too much color inside if you're prepping your home for sale, the front door is a safe place to let your home show its personality. A pop of color can be fresh, fun, whimsical, or inviting, and will lift your spirits every time you come home!
- Furniture: A couple coats of paint can transform a piece of furniture. If you want to update that old vanity or add a touch of color to a room, head to the paint store for samples and get creative. If you have a lot of patience, you can strip the finish from an old piece and refinish with a brighter stain.
- Ceilings: Repair and patch where necessary and repaint. Freshly painted ceilings brighten up a room even if you don't change anything else. And remember, ceilings don't have to be white!
- Decluttering: (see previous newsletter!) If you have a room that needs an overhaul, consider removing everything you do not frequently use. Reintroduce items as necessary if you are missing them, but if you leave most items out for a couple of weeks, you are likely to find that you don't need them at all. The room will feel bigger and brighter.
- Wall art and framed photos: Is one particular room overwhelmed with framed photos or art? Take them all down and spend a few days with bare walls. You'll start to envision different options for artwork placement and updated photos and frames. Often, our art and especially photos come to us in a piecemeal fashion. Reframing with coordinated frames, and rehanging in an attractive grouping can make your favorite pieces appeal again. If you are prepping for sale, think twice about too many family photos though - you want buyers to envision their family in your space, and it might be hard with great-grampa staring them down from the mantel!
- Window treatments: Sometimes just cleaning window treatments is enough, but if you have heavy or dated ones, it may be time for something new. Draperies can trap stale and musty odors and block natural light. Styles change, and today, bare windows no longer look "unfinished." Focus instead on making sure the woodwork is in good shape - no peeling or scuffed paint! Consider wood blinds for a clean look. Honeycomb/pleated window shades that have the 'bottom up/top down' feature simultaneously allow for privacy and light. Or, a room-darkening style might help you sleep. You can find most any color you need to match your woodwork and trim colors.
- Closet: Remove all contents and paint the inside. It will brighten it up and likely help you get rid of old items you no longer need.
- Wall paint: People are often concerned about paint color trends, but there are literally thousands of colors and subtle shade differences that the paint manufacturers will continue to change every year as a marketing/sales strategy. Wall color is a very personal decision and should be one that is pleasing to your eye and works well with the decor, furnishings, and flooring. Paint is an easy fix for the next person who will own your home, so while you are living in it, you should enjoy the colors that suit your tastes. If you are painting with an eye to putting your house on the market though, neutral tones best allow buyers to see the space and envision their belongings in it.
- Mulch beds and plantings: You don't have to spend a fortune to improve the curb appeal of your home, but it might take some sweat equity. Consider a fresh start by removing all existing mulch and adding new material. Choose a mulch color that works with your house color. Clean up the boundaries/edging of your mulch beds for better definition. Remove plantings that aren't doing well and replace with something that has some resilience such as a Boxwood or Bird's Nest Spruce. Consider a circle of pavers or stones if you want to highlight a specific heirloom planting.
- Patio: Bring out your patio furniture and see if it needs a cleaning or update. Just adding colorful planters and an outdoor rug will bring some pizzazz!
Happy Spring!
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