With a new year comes new resolutions, new goals, new desires…and new upgrades. In January, we find ourselves motivated to start afresh, set new goals and plan ahead. It’s also the month of taking on home improvement projects to update spaces in your home. Would you agree?
How are you planning to update your home this season? Whether they are simple updates or major renovations, it’s totally worth it and your home will be customized just as you want it.
This month, I’m spending the time to organize our home, from the pantry to the garage. I’m also refreshing our home with simple DIY home improvement projects. I’ve listed some easy DIY home improvement projects to get you started.
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Sprucing Up Your Baseboards and Trim
Go around the house and take a look at your baseboards and trim. These wood pieces collect a lot of dust over time. They will need a good cleaning and paint touch-ups. If you see cracks between the baseboards or trim and the walls, it’s time to re-caulk those seams.
Here are my recommended tools and materials for touch-ups and re-caulking baseboards and trim around your home.
Light Fixtures and Switch Plates
Do you still have builder-grade light fixtures in your home? It’s time to change them out. With so many affordable classic and stylish light fixture options out there, you can find the perfect light fixture that’s perfect for your style, for every room in your home. In our home, we updated the light fixtures in our kitchen, foyer/entryway and living room.
Go ahead and update those builder-grade light switches as well. We recently updated ours and what an impact it makes on our walls. Here is a blog post with all the instructions on how to upgrade your light switches.
Cabinet Hardware
Update your cabinets hardware by changing out the old or installing new hardware in places where there currently isn’t any. Adding hardware to your cabinets is like putting on jewelry. They completely transform your cabinets; this is an opportunity to select hardware that reflects your personal style.
See how to install cabinet hardware. It’s a simple beginner DIY project that can be completed over a couple of weekends. If you update your cabinet hardware, please tag us @simplicityfordesigns. I love to see what my readers installed!
Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Friends! Switch out those halogen or incandescent light bulbs for LED light bulbs. You’ll be glad you did. Update your outdated thermostat to a smart thermostat as well. It makes your home more energy efficient, saving you money on your monthly utility bills.
Other ways to make your home energy efficient is by installing light dimmers. Dimmers allow you to control the brightness of the light bulb and reduce the energy used.
Walls
I have to say that one of the easiest ways to update your home is a change to your wall paint color. Whether you are in the mood for an airy space or a moody space, go for it! The transformation is unbelievable. Don’t forget to also patch up holes from previous hanging artwork or shelves – a putty knife and spackling paste will make this job quick and easy.
Doors
Have you been wanting to change the color of your interior or exterior doors? This is the best time to do it. Repainting your interior doors and exterior doors is an easy way to update your home. Clean those doors down and you’re set to repaint. You’ll need a good set of paint brushes, rollers and the proper paint.
Our favorite go-to paint brand is Benjamin Moore Advance in a satin finish. Satin is a perfect sheen for trim and doors. It’s durable and easily wipeable. We used this paint brand in our kitchen update. Benjamin Moore Advance is water-based paint that acts like oil-based paint to reduce brush strokes for a smooth finish.
Let me know what other ways you plan to update your home in the New Year. I would love to hear from you…and please tag us @simplicityfordesigns so we can see your projects.
Until Next Time, friends!
xo, Gbeke
Good post Gbeke.
I would love to paint my wall behind my bed a charcoal gray or black.
I’m organizing my pantry and cleaning out kitchen cupboards and freezer.
Thanks for all your ideas and tips. ❤️
Thank you! That’s bold and it will add interest in your bedroom. Yay! same here. How is it going?
Gbeke, you got me inspired. I’m changing out my dining room chandelier. If my hubby doesn’t get it hung soon I might get tired of it and want something different.