Sometimes going for a full makeover isn’t financially in the cards for your home right now. There are plenty of easy actions you can take to bring back life and vibrance to your surroundings, and none of them have to break the bank. With a little sweat and a few hours of work, you can chase the boring home doldrums away.
1. Declutter the kitchen. Relocate the kids’ artwork, coupon clippings, and magnet mess from the refrigerator to an organized drawer. Even if you don’t give that fridge clutter a thought each time you pour the milk, it’s creating visual noise in the room. Check out the appliances on your countertop. Which ones get used least frequently? Store them under a cabinet or in a closet. You’ll be amazed what a little extra countertop real estate will do for the kitchen.
2. Focus on lighting. Replace dim lighting and burned out bulbs with soft bright light. Poor lighting can depress the ambiance of a room. Pick out a new lamp as an interesting accent piece that will create an upbeat vibe.
3. Patch up scuffs, holes, and broken railings. Life gets busy, we get it. At some point you stopped noticing that hole or scratch in the wall that the sofa made when you hauled it away. A quick trip to the hardware store and a little time fixing will bring back symmetry and newness.
4. Clean up trims, baseboards, and sills. Crown molding, baseboards, and window sills accumulate dirt and grime over the years, especially if you’ve focused on more pressing areas of the house. A little elbow grease to clean and a little white paint to cover scuffs and every day wear and tear will go a long way.
5. Clean windows, mirrors, and other glass. Natural light coming through clean windows makes all spaces more inviting. Clean the windows inside and outside for best results. Also, don’t forget mirrors in hallways and bathrooms, as well as shower doors.
6. Clean the carpet. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, steam cleaning carpet throughout the home helps it look closer to new.
7. Bring order to bookshelves. Messy bookshelves make a home look messy, even if the floor is clear and spacious. Organize books by shapes, colors, sizes, genre—whatever looks best. Stand books upright with spines facing out. Remove the overload of knick knacks and picture frames. Save a few spots for your favorite framed photos and keep shelves orderly. Filter through all books and donate or resell ones you don’t have to keep.
8. Bring the greenery indoors. Plants liven up rooms with their lush green leaves. Research says they also boost our mood. If you’ve never mastered keeping a plant alive, turn to silk plant arrangements. Real or fake, plant leaves may need a gentle regular dusting.
9. Upgrade the mailbox. If your mailbox stands with chipped paint or hangs by two loose screws, it’s time for some attention. Invest in new paint or stain for the post, and if the box itself is worn, creaky, or on its last leg, replace it with a shiny new one.
10. Maintain the yard. Trim trees and shrubs and clear out loose branches and debris. Anything overgrown gives the appearance of old and neglected. Go for a manicured look to breathe new life into your yard.
Hopefully these tips will give you other ideas of what you can easily change in your home to refresh and renew the vibrance.