Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the urgency to freshen up the house. Spring cleaning and decluttering are great ways to make your home feel more alive. But here are a few other things you can do to spruce up your living environment.
Update the exterior
You may think of a home’s interior whenever you think of spring cleaning: cluttered closets, cabinets overflowing with tupperware, and junked up kitchen drawers. But spring is as good a time as any to update or freshen up the exterior of your home, too. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all you need to brighten it up and make it look clean, but some exteriors require a little extra work. For example, maybe your stucco could use an update. Why not go all out with modern aluminum siding? Contact your local siding contractor to find out if that’s an option for your home. Siding comes in different materials and colors. You can choose aluminum siding for its low-maintenance, or you can pick a wood siding that you can customize and change.
Deodorize it
There’s nothing that makes your home feel clean like fresh scents. And not only that, but psychologists say our sense of smell plays a big role in our moods, memories, and emotions. For example, citrus scents like lemon and orange can make you feel happy, while lavender and frankincense can calm you down. If you like to add certain smells to the air without overpowering it, you can diffuse essential oils. You can also make sprays with them by mixing them with spring water or alcohol to lightly mist over furniture or curtains.
But you don’t have to infuse scents to make your home smell fresher. And even if you do, you’ll still want your air pure rather than covered up with perfumes. Open up all the windows for a few hours while you clean and let all the fresh air sweep through. Do this as often as possible to help purify your indoor air. And if you have problems in your home that are causing offensive odors, try to get to the root of the problem. If you notice a musty or moldy smell, the problem could be with your air conditioning unit. Contact someone who specializes in these types of repairs, such as a professional HVAC contractor in Cumming, GA to check it out.
Get organized
Psychologists say that clutter can increase our stress levels by “distracting us and overwhelming our senses with extraneous stimuli.” So, not only will your house look better once it’s decluttered, it can actually make you feel better all around. Getting organized is more than just putting everything out of sight. If you don’t have a designated place for everything, it’s likely to end up right back where it was. Try to keep only what your family uses and donate the rest. If you have trouble finding a place for things, consider hiring a professional to help you organize it.
Freshen up your kitchen
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so some kitchen remodeling may be just what your home needs to make it feel alive. And it doesn’t have to be a major overhaul. You can update the countertops with a modern granite or marble. Or you can spruce up the cabinets with a fresh coat of paint. You can even replace all the hardware and faucets for a beautiful new update. Just check out some of the latest trends to see where your kitchen lacks style and plan a small renovation accordingly.
Add a room
Expanding your house a little might give it the fresh look you’ve been wanting. Maybe you’ve been sharing a bathroom with your five family members and it’s time for a second one. Or maybe you just need to expand your living area to make it feel more open. Sometimes, homes just need an extra room to help them feel less cluttered and a little larger. You might even be able to finance the project with a second mortgage or home improvement loan. Speak to your banker about options for mortgage loans or other types of loans to decide what types of improvements you can afford.
