Even if you’re comfortably nestled in your “forever home,” chances are there’s still room for a few improvements. In fact, you already may be thinking about changing various aspects of the decor or landscaping. However, many do involve planning, expense and even the help of professionals.
For this article, let’s start with the assumption that weekends should be spent relaxing, recharging and doing fun stuff. Therefore, the “weekend projects” we’re recommending aren’t especially involved or time-consuming. Instead, they’re small tweaks that will take only a few hours to accomplish — but provide an “instant gratification” factor that may inspire you to tackle bigger projects down the road.
Paint the Front Door
A home’s front door says a lot about the people who live behind it. If yours is looking a little drab or uninspired, why not spend a few hours over a weekend painting it a color that creates a warm, welcoming first impression? It’s one of the fastest and simplest ways to increase curb appeal and it could be the inspiration you need to kick your entire exterior color palette up a notch.
Start by doing a little research on door colors that would best suit your home’s design and your own personal tastes. We suggest visiting a website like Pinterest for a broad range of curated ideas.
Add an Accent Wall
An accent wall is an ideal solution for creating visual interest, drawing the eyes toward a focal point in a room and making furniture pieces “pop.” It could be as simple as painting a portion of a wall a brighter complementary color, such as the space behind a headboard. Wallpaper can also be used to add layers of pattern or texture. What’s more, with a wide variety of “peelable” options available, there’s no long-term commitment involved. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you could add a textured surface like shiplap or even exposed brick; however, this may involve calling in a pro to get the job done right.
Use Lighting Creatively
You don’t need an electrician to re-imagine your lighting scheme. Just hanging a string of indoor/outdoor, café-style globe lights can make a porch or patio much more inviting with very little effort.
Looking for a quick fix to brighten up a dark hallway, clothes closet or garage? Consider rechargeable LED lighting strips with adhesive-backed magnets that adhere to any clean surface. We suggest the motion-activated type since they’ll automatically turn on and off as needed — a boon for those with night vision challenges or similar safety-related issues.
Spruce Up the Kitchen
Even small touches can make a big difference in terms of upping your kitchen’s appeal. Simply replacing the knobs and pulls on your cabinets can make the whole space feel new and refreshed. Just be sure to measure the width of existing cabinet pulls before you head out to the hardware store.
Is your pantry looking a bit disorganized? Dedicated bins for items like cleaning products, spices and towels can get things ship-shape almost immediately. And while you’re at it, new shelf paper that’s color coordinated to go with the bins will tie the whole look together.
Think Outside the Boxes
Even if it’s just a new coat of paint – maybe to match your new front door — creating an updated look for your mailbox is an easy and satisfying way to spend a few weekend hours. If you feel like making a whole-weekend project out of it, the sky’s the limit. However, it’s wise to check with the postal service first for current installation guidelines.
Window boxes, either DIY or purchased ready-made, not only add a touch of color and visual appeal to your home, but you can also create a mini herb garden outside a kitchen window filled with colorful basil, aromatic rosemary and other faves and save money at the market, too. It’s also an ideal project to get kids involved with, especially if you start from seed.
We hope your journey to Finding Home is smooth and successful. And remember, no matter where you happen to be in the moving process, you can count on Mayflower to be with you Every Step of the Way®.
Want more tips and advice? Check out our other blogs for city guides, decorating ideas and a wealth of other helpful, time-saving information.
Oh, and did you know Mayflower has a channel on Spotify? Move and groove to tunes that get you to your new place — and settled in — in style.
