The spring season is upon us, and it is a wonderful opportunity to start anew. For those of you who want to make a big impact on the home on a modest budget, here are some ideas on how to make your home feel brand new(ish).
- Wipe down and repaint your walls. I personally believe this is one of the first spring cleaning tasks to complete after decluttering if you want to add that feeling of newness to a room. Wiping down walls before touching them up with paint helps minimize the chance of having a streaky or uneven finish.
- Mop your floors and/or deep clean your carpets. These tasks can brighten up a room immediately. I try to get my carpet professionally cleaned once every six months. I also have a reliable carpet cleaner for accidents and high-traffic areas that I use at least once a month.
- Wash your sheets, pillow shams, and comforter. This is a relatively small chore for most people, but this task goes a long way if you want to ease into spring cleaning.
- Update/restore a treasured piece of furniture. This for those of you who just can’t let a favorite statement piece go. You can start a restoration project with the help of a professional, or you can do it yourself if you are able. Personally, restoring furniture is one of my favorite pastimes when I’m stressed out. (You can see a before-and-after photo of the vintage dresser that I restored last fall at the beginning of this post.)
- Clean your windows, mirrors, and glass furniture. This is another one of those little tasks that go a long way if you want to add that feeling of cleanliness and clarity to a room or space.
- Deodorize your home. An open container of baking soda, kept in a discreet place (such as on top of your kitchen cupboards or in a closet), can help absorb smells and clear the air. Two other excellent, all-natural products that can help with this are FreshWave or DampRid, which absorb smells and trap excess moisture in the air.
- Replace old and builder’s grade light fixtures and hardware. This is a relatively inexpensive way to transform a room or space entirely. Out with the old, in with the new.
- Add light to a dark or dim room. This can be done by either adding more light fixtures or by removing interior blinds or screens from windows.
- Update old outlets and light switch panels. Find cracked and yellowed light plates and switches as well as outlet covers.
- Get rid of old, unwanted, or unnecessary furniture and decor. When all else fails, declutter.
As always, please feel free to share some of your restoration and renewal ideas or feedback in the comments or on my social networks. Best of luck to you on your future projects.