While spring, summer and fall had you working on all your outdoor tasks, the winter season is the perfect time to focus on those indoor chores that have been sitting on your to-do list. Here are five projects that will help spruce up your home – and keep you busy, this winter season:
1) Upgrade your front hallway light fixture: The front hallway sets the tone for your entire home because it’s the first thing your guests see. For an easy winter project this season, why not update the look and feel of your entryway with a new overhead light fixture? Choose a more modern, or classic design, that properly illuminates and opens up the area. You’ll want the fixture to add some style to the area too – for example, do you prefer modern chic or classic country? Once you have installed your new fixture, remember to dust and clean it regularly.
2) Replace a toilet seat: Replacing an old toilet seat can subtly improve your bathroom’s overall look and feel. All you need is to determine the shape, of your toilet seat (elongated or round), before heading to your local hardware store to make a selection. If you’re looking for more than just your average toilet seat, many newer designs offer a range of unique looks and features. For example, a quick attach and release hardware locks the seat in place and makes installation – and cleaning – fast, efficient and thorough. A quiet-close feature stops the seat from slamming shut. Rubber bumpers, on the underside of the seat, stop it from shifting during use. Some seats even have built-in lights for night-time use.
3) Select a new front door mat: A door mat is a great way to prevent dirt from getting into your home, but once it becomes old and tattered, it’s less effective and very unattractive. When selecting a new doormat, there are a couple of things you should consider. Firstly, a new mat should be longer than a typical stride, meaning you should be able to walk across it with both feet before stepping onto your floor or carpet. Secondly, you should also consider the material it’s made of. If you are looking for a mat that is easy to maintain, a great choice is an acrylic mat with vinyl or rubber backing. To keep it clean, simply vacuum or shake the mat out at least once a week.
4) Change your baseboard trim: The appearance and condition of your baseboards can affect the general look and feel of any room in your home. There are many different styles of baseboard trim to choose from. For instance, for a more modern look, you may want to try a baseboard with a gently rounded top. If you’re going for a more formal look in a particular room, a sculpted mid-height decorative baseboard trim would do the trick. If you are replacing the baseboards in a larger room with higher traffic, a taller sculpted baseboard, approximately seven inches or more in height, would be best, as it would protect the lower portion of your wall. Whatever baseboard trim you decide to go with, a new trim always gives a room a nice ‘pop’. If your trim is in good condition, but just has some scuff marks, consider simply giving it a fresh coat of paint.
5) Paint a wall or room in your home: A fresh coat of paint will make your rooms look cleaner and brighter. To select a paint colour, pick up some paint chips from your local paint store. It often helps to pick up a brochure as well, to see what the paint colour would look like in your home. Some stores even sell tinted paint in smaller quantities to test on your walls, to make sure you love it, before committing!
