When you are cooped up in your house all day, for weeks on end, it is easy to get a little anxious to make a change. It’s natural to get tired of staring at the same thing day in, and day out. Quarantine and social distancing are enough to make anyone stir crazy!
Fortunately, there are plenty of cost-effective DIY home improvement projects you can undertake now that you have more time on your hands. As a bonus, all of these improvements will likely increase the value of your home, should you decide to sell (score!). And if you don’t decide to sell, these improvements will still add interest to your home.
DIY Central Air Install
Window air conditioning units have their place, but there is nothing quite like the convenience that comes with total, central control of your home’s temperature. Further, there is reason to believe that a central air system may be more cost effective in some homes as opposed to window units. (Maybe this is because your kids have less opportunity to crank it up to freezing!)
Now, don’t get me wrong: installing your own centralized air unit is not necessarily the best project for a first time home improvement DIY-er. But it is by no means impossible. In fact, when you have a lot of time on your hands, it might be cheaper than hiring a professional HVAC installation service.
Of course, installing your own central air conditioning system requires considerable research. And if you don’t know what you are doing, or find yourself in over your head, don’t be afraid to call a professional! “Ask any professional HVAC service about their COVID-19 safety measures,” says Simply Mechanical HVAC company in Littleton CO. “Any reputable company will have systems they are willing to share with you before you let them into your home.”
Update Cabinetry and Hardware
Refacing your kitchen cabinetry is an easy upgrade that adds a ton of aesthetic appeal. Kitchen trends tend to die out fairly quickly, so it might be worth it to invest in more classic, mid-century modern visuals.
The best part about updating cabinetry is that it is fairly straight forward. You do not need to educate yourself in the ins and outs of plumbing or electricity in your home. You also don’t need to turn off your power or water to accomplish the renovation, which means you can take all the time you need to complete it.
Similarly, the hardware around your home is a simple but effective way to add a little extra “oomph” to your interior design. And these hardware pieces are not limited to the knobs and handles in your kitchen. “Hardware” in this sense can encompass sinks, lighting fixtures, doorknobs, and locks to name just a few. You might be surprised at how easily some shiny new fixtures can add some “va-va-voom” to an otherwise simple space.
Winter Proofing Your Outdoors
I know, I know: no one wants to consider that summer will soon be coming to a close. It seems as though we have spent the whole of it indoors! Unfortunately, it is time to start transitioning to colder weather and preparing our home to do the same. Frankly, it is better to get it out of the way while you have the time, anyway!
If you have a self-contained water fountain or another self-contained water feature in your outdoor space, it is definitely worth it to invest in anti-freezing infrastructure and products. In that same vein, you can start transitioning any wildlife you keep in the outdoors (such as fish in a pond or chickens in a coop) to the indoors or to more winterproofed accommodations.
Install Decorative Shelving
Decorative shelving can transform small spaces. If you are working with limited real estate, do some hunting online and find interesting shapes! DIY shelving units now come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, in sets and individual packages, and there is bound to be something for everyone’s taste. The great thing about shelving is that they pull double duty: shelves add visual interest while, well, holding your items! What could be better?
Waterproofing Basement
If you are in a rainy or stormy part of the country, you should be aware of the rain-readiness of your home. Do you think your basement or crawlspace could withstand the battering of a hurricane or storm? If you have even a little doubt, you should look into it as soon as possible!
Waterproofing your basement is instrumental to avoiding devastating damage to your home and valuables. Plus, waterproofing may even lower your insurance premiums!