Do you have a touch of cabin fever? Feeling confined is natural when cold temperatures and heavy snows keep you indoors. If you can’t escape your current quarters for a getaway, why not make your surroundings more pleasant?
Renovating during the cold season makes certain jobs easier. Additionally, you’ll beat the springtime rush to the hardware store and get in early with contractors if you need a helping hand.
You know you feel better when you take pride in your place, so mindfully explore what DIY improvements would spark more joy in your daily life. Here’s why winter is the perfect time to update your home.
1. It’s Easier to Identify Energy Vampires
The time to test your windows to determine whether they need a fresh coat of caulk isn’t when spring temperatures hit 70° Fahrenheit. However, it’s a snap to determine air leaks when you catch a draft in the winter. Fortunately, you can pickup the stuff you need for less than $30 at many hardware stores and use cardboard to practice drawing a straight bead, so you don’t get drips.
However, caulk can’t fix everything. If your windows are older, single-pane models, it might be time for an upgrade. Doing so can save more than money on your energy bill. It also increases your eco-friendliness and helps protect your furnishings and floors. Today’s dual-pane models feature Low-E coatings that block UV light before it can fade your leather couch.
2. You Can Plan Your Landscape From a Clean Slate
Some people tend to get so lost in details that they lose sight of the big picture. You might start to remodel your entire lawn in the spring but get so caught up in weeding and hoeing that you run out of energy before planning heftier renovations like putting in a pool or creating a kiddie play area.
However, the winter snows blanket your exterior in white, like Mother Nature providing you a blank canvas on which to paint your perfect landscape plans. Now’s the time to measure and go to the drafting board to determine the best placement for future features like gazebos and putting greens. Sit down and make a list of needs and wants, then use a free software program to design your layout. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What’s my budget? Are a pool and all the associated maintenance going to break the bank?
- What are my future needs? You might not need a children’s play area now but may in a year or two if you decide to start a family.
- How will I use the space the most? Do you need an outdoor kitchen for entertaining? A putting green to practice your short game? A she-shed to escape when your telecommuting workday begins?
3. You Spend More Time at Home
Winter means spending more time at home. Why not make your environment into a palace? Ask yourself what enhancements would spark the most joy in your daily life.
For example, if you recently switched to telecommuting, a home office could be a must when you have late-night conference calls, and the kids are home from school. It can even double as a den retreat when you feel overwhelmed. Is it time to redo your sewing room that you hardly have time to use anymore?
On the other hand, perhaps you’re entering the empty-nest phase. What hobbies might you enjoy now that you don’t have to save the kids’ room for when they come home from college on break? You might decide to build a workshop or an art or recording studio.
4. You Have Time to Primp for Sale
Are you considering selling? The market is a bit volatile right now, but winter is the perfect time to update your home if you’re thinking of testing the waters in a few months. The best time for folks to buy a home is late summer to early fall when people want to get their kids settled in time for school, giving you months to finish any lengthy renovations.
If nothing else, you can get the dust and debris out of the way before it’s time for spring cleaning. Better yet, get a jumpstart so that you can go outside and enjoy the coming season’s first beautiful days while your less-organized counterparts labor inside scrubbing floors.
5. You Can Make Winter More Cheery By Embracing Hygge
Unless you live to ski or ice skate, the winter probably isn’t your favorite season. How did humans survive the cold and dark in the days before the internet, online gaming and streaming TV?
The Danish did so by embracing hygge. What’s that? It’s a spirit of cozy contentment that comes when you surround yourself with peaceful surroundings like a hobbit. Line your coffee table with those books that have gathered dust and create a snug reading nook near your fireplace or a spot for enjoying afternoon tea with someone you love.
Winter Is the Perfect Time to Update Your Home
Why wait until spring to renovate your palace? Winter is the perfect time to update your home for all the above reasons.
The cold, dark months will fly by when you spend them improving your environment. You won’t mind riding out winter storms indoors when you make your home your favorite place.
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