How to Bring New Life to Your Home
Written by: Lisa Walker
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, you likely spent more time at home than ever before. Working from home, eating at home, shopping from home, even exercising at home: Whatever you did to get through the lockdowns, quarantines, and travel bans, there’s a good chance you did it at home.
After that, don’t be surprised if you’re yearning for a change of scenery. It’s not too soon to change things up, starting with your home. Who knows? Some of the changes you decide to pursue may help boost your home’s appraisal value, which can help if you decide to put your home on the market down the road. In the meantime, try these tips to refresh and rejuvenate your space as society begins to emerge from the haze of the past year.
1. Ditch the Clutter
As the world embarks on the path to a “new normal,” now is an ideal time to begin a new chapter in your life as well. What better way to symbolically start anew than by clearing out any old clutter that’s been holding you back and freeing up space in your home and life? Tackle those piles of papers, that overfilled junk drawer, or those clothes in your closet that you haven’t worn in years. Other prime candidates for decluttering include your:
- Medicine cabinet
- Kitchen pantry
- Craft supplies
- Linen closet
- Toolshed
You don’t have to do it all at once: You’ll feel a strong sense of pride and accomplishment after clearing even a small amount of clutter. If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of getting organized or don’t know where to start, consider booking a consultation with a professional organizing team. And once you’ve got the clutter squared away, work with an interior designer to help reinvent some of your spaces.
If you’re planning on making more substantial updates and hiring an interior designer, carefully consider the costs involved. If you need some extra cash to pay for improvements, you can refinance your home. If you’re currently residing in a rural area, the USDA Streamlined Assist Program offers homeowners the opportunity to refinance with relaxed eligibility requirements. Utilize a USDA loan calculator to explore your options.
2. Create Walls That Wow
After a long period of uncertainty, this is your chance to finally make a bold statement in your space, and one of the best ways to do that is by saying hello to the next generation of wallpaper. Unlike paint, wallpaper allows you to transform your walls with beautiful, durable patterns, textures, and prints. Peel-and-stick wallpaper features an adhesive backing that’s easy to remove and reposition, so application is a breeze. There are nearly infinite design options available, but for something truly unique, consider creating a custom design.
3. Light It Up
Studies show that spending time in poor or dim lighting conditions can have a significant negative impact on your mood, motivation level, and productivity. That’s not the sort of energy you need in your post-pandemic space, so take a moment to assess your home’s lighting situation. Replace any outdated or worn-out light fixtures and toss any old or dingy lampshades — a crisp, new shade in an updated shape is a simple and inexpensive way to breathe new life into an old lamp.
Swap out incandescent or fluorescent bulbs with eco-friendly, energy-efficient LED bulbs. Not all bulbs are created equal, so pay attention to the bulbs’ brightness and color temperature ratings. For each room, choose light bulbs with the right color and brightness for the activities you normally do in that area.
Finally, natural light has been shown to improve your health and wellbeing, so try to allow as much natural daylight as possible into your home. To maximize your benefits, be sure your windows are clean inside and out.
Don’t wait to get started on creating your personal post-pandemic change of scenery. These tips will have your home feeling fresh and vibrant again in no time.
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Written by: Lisa Walker