Rejuvenate Your Home For Winter
With fall just around the corner, many a homeowner’s thoughts turn grudgingly to preparing for the cold weather that is just around the corner. As we move indoors, it is a good time to re-evaluate the look and efficiency of our living space. Here are a few tips to help make your indoor space cozy and comfortable before you start to hunker down for winter:
Refresh carpeting
Summer houseguests, traffic coming in and out, open windows, and pets; all take a toll on the carpeting in your home. Having the carpets cleaned in the fall will remove dust, dirt and allergens and help improve the air quality in your home this winter. Regular vacuuming will help extend the life of your carpet, but The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends a professional deep cleaning every 12 to 18 months.
Get organized
As the weather cools, turn an eye to organizing household storage to accommodate the gear of winter. Start with the front hall closet, putting summer outdoor wear in storage to make room for bulkier winter garb. Invest in a closet organizer to make it easier to keep things in order. Pick up some bins at the dollar store for hats, gloves and scarves. Label them accordingly, or assign each member of the household an individual bin or basket to keep track of their gear. Next tackle the other rooms in the house, looking for items that can be stored until next year to free up closet space. When you bring out fall and winter clothing, only keep the items you know you are going to use. If you didn’t wear it last year, you probably won’t wear it this year. It can be helpful to have a few boxes on hand for storage and for unwanted items that can be donated to charity.
Warm up your decor
Swap out pillows in summer fabrics and colours with luxurious tapestry or velvet pillows in rich autumnal shades. Toss a cozy lap blanket on the couch or chair for those cool evenings. Give your dining room a fall flair with chair pads or slipcovers and tablecloths or runners in warm shades. Warm up any room with a new grouping of family photos in coordinating frames.
Plan ahead
If the guest room is looking tired, or you want additional space for an office or TV room this winter, now is the time to start planning before the holiday rush. Get ready for holiday house guests by giving the guest room a fresh coat of paint and maybe some new window coverings. Find extra space by turning an unused bedroom into a multipurpose room. Replace the bed with a futon, a convertible couch or a Murphy bed, add a small desk for a computer work station and you have a den/guestroom/computer room. If you are considering basement renovations, start the process now to have your new space ready for winter use. Brighten up the space down below with the addition of recessed lighting, a fresh coat of paint and a new carpet or rug. Start planning now to make your home a warm, inviting place to relax and enjoy when winter finally forces us indoors.
Source: Homeservice Club of Canada