While it might seem too cold for you to get anything done outside, that doesn’t mean you have to hibernate and hold off on everything until Spring. Winter is the perfect time to do some home improvement projects – at least some simple indoor ones. You can even knock most – if not all – of these projects out in your PJs!
These five inexpensive and easy DIY projects will help spruce up your living space and make things cleaner and cozier when the weather starts getting chilly.
Organize Your Pantry
If you can’t remember the last time you did a pantry clean-out, this is the perfect time of year to do it. Just because canned goods have a long shelf life does not mean they will last forever.
Use shelf-dividers, bins, or baskets to organize foods by category. This time next year, your pantry clean-out will take half as much time. The same goes for the time you spend digging to find things daily. So don’t forget to do the same thing with baking supplies, spices, and other essentials that need quick access when cooking or baking throughout the year.
That said, not everyone has a walk-in pantry or shelving unit, but you can still apply the same tips to kitchen cabinets – just on a smaller scale. If you’re looking to save space, incorporate cheap tension rods and adhesive hooks wherever possible to hang things like cooking utensils.
Touch Up Baseboards and Trim
This might not be one of the most appealing or noticeable home projects you could do this winter, but it is one of the easiest.
- First, sweep and mop your floors thoroughly with a good-quality dust buster to remove any dirt or cobwebs that have gathered in between floorboards since your last cleaning session.
- Next, use painter’s tape to mask the area you want to be painted either by the baseboard or your trim.
- Be sure to use high-quality paint and primer for an even surface, as this will make the final touch-up look flawless and clean.
Update Furniture
If there are any old chairs or nightstands that you’ve wanted to upgrade, take this opportunity to refinish or repaint them. You might even want to consider new hardware (i.e., knobs and handles) if the old ones look a bit dated.
A few things you may want to have on hand for refinishing furniture include:
- Paint – different colors and finishes are available for furniture, so it’s really up to you!
- Refinishing products – including wood conditioner/cleaner (for unfinished furniture), filling compound (to fill in any nicks or scratches), wood sealant (to protect the finish from wear and tear), and a top coat (to give your furniture that extra shine and protection).
- Sandpaper – you may need different grits of sandpaper.
- Brushes – a few good options are foam brushes, roller brushes, and paintbrushes.
- Rags – old towels or t-shirts will do the trick!
- Tarp or drop cloth – to protect your floors and surrounding surfaces from any messes.
Upgrade Curtains
Curtains are a simple way to add personality and color to any room in your house, and they can also help keep the cold out (or the heat in) when you need them too.
If there are any windows in your home without curtains yet or curtains that could use a chic upgrade, believe it or not, you don’t need a sewing machine to achieve this.
Here are a few no-sew-lutions:
- Create your own curtain tiebacks with anything from sheer to twine, beads, rope, ribbon – even roses!
- Hang some beautiful panel curtains with nothing but fabric tape. You can tape your hem and create a pocket for the curtain rod with double-sided and semi-permanent tape; the adhesive works the same way a seam would!
- Try using wooden dowels to create rods for your curtains with an antique touch for a more casual look.
Deep Clean the Carpet
If you want to have a cozy bedroom to retreat to in the winter months, take advantage of cold weather and clean your carpets.
- Vacuum first for a quick pick up of dust and debris.
- Mix your carpet shampoo with water according to the directions on the bottle.
- Starting at one end of the room, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub in circular motions, then go over it again with the vacuum cleaner.
- Move to the next section of the room and repeat these steps until you’ve covered the entire space.
- Let the carpets dry completely before walking on them (could take up to a day).
You don’t have to have carpeted floors to cozy your space. Maybe you have a rug that isn’t looking so great anymore. Because let’s face it, life happens, which means so do stains.
Before seeking a total replacement, there are many ways to revive an old rug, but baking soda is by far your best bet!
- Vacuum your rug thoroughly.
- Make a thick baking soda paste, then apply it directly onto the stains.
- Let this dry overnight before removing as much as possible with a vacuum cleaner.
- Repeat these steps if necessary. Otherwise, tomorrow you’ll wake up to a home that feels new and fresh for the winter months ahead!
