Quick Winter Warm Ups
The cold temperatures are here to stay. As you take cover indoors it’s the perfect time to start adding home improvement projects to your to-do list. Here are a few project ideas to get your home feeling and looking fabulous.
From boring to bold baths
The bathroom is a great place to start improvements since its one room in the house that’s used every day. If your bathroom is boring, basic or just outdated, it’s time to make a change – even on a budget.
Faucets are a simple and affordable way to instantly renew the look and functionality your bath. Moen’s Darcy™ bathroom collection includes transitionally styled faucets that provide a soft-modern look and water-saving benefits to offer the best of form and function and give you a beautiful bath in no time. The collection is also available in Moen’s Spot Resist™ Brushed Nickel finish, so you’ll save time cleaning, as it helps resist water spots and fingerprints.
Weather the winter wisely
No one wants to spend money on high energy bills, so be sure your home isn’t losing heat through windows and doors that aren’t insulated properly. Don’t throw money out your windows, updates such as weather stripping can keep out cool air while keeping the needed warm air in.
And don’t stop there; simple tasks, such as replacing worn-out caulk, insulating your outlets, and prepping your windows with plastic cling for the winter months can significantly reduce heating and cooling bills.
Quick and convenient kitchen upgrades
Cool weather means less barbequing and more indoor cooking; and as the entertaining hub and family gathering place, it’s no wonder the kitchen is another popular home improvement space. A quick way to update the kitchen, much like the bath, is by installing a new faucet.
From prep to clean-up, the faucet is a major workhorse – and a focal point – in the kitchen. So, if you’re living with a builder basic, it’s time for an upgrade. Pulldown and pullout faucets are a popular choice, such as the new Brookshire™ kitchen faucet from Moen Canada, which features decorative touches and classic styling with a pullout design for at-your-fingertips water delivery.
Get Fired Up
Nothing feels better on a cold night than getting cozy by a fire… but be sure your fireplace is prepped for the season. For a wood-burning fireplace, inspect the chimney for nests or cracks. Next, be sure to clean it thoroughly to remove creosote, which is unburned fuel, to prevent unwanted fires. For gas-burning fireplaces, be sure the airways of the pilot and main burners are working properly and the blower is clean. Finally, be sure you have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, as well as an operational fire extinguisher nearby.
Focus on fixtures and fans
As the days get shorter and there’s less natural light, you may notice your fixtures a lot more. For added illumination and energy savings, update incandescent bulbs with brighter, ENERGY STAR-rated bulbs which use about 75 percent less energy and last 10 to 25 times longer. Next, focus on your ceiling fans. Start by cleaning the blades with a gentle detergent and switch the blades to rotate clockwise. Changing this setting pushes warm air down into the room, making it feel warmer while saving up to 15 percent on heating costs.
Check off your home improvement to-do list with these simple changes. Your home will look and feel fabulous, and be more efficient during the winter season.
Source: Homeservice Club of Canada