Social distancing could be a blessing in disguise if you take the opportunity to follow these tips for improving your living space and the value of your home too.
Many of us are using our time at home during this period of self-isolation to get organised in our homes and to take on minor house projects.
If you are thinking of selling your home, then it is even more important to get the house looking it’s best before you invite
potential buyers in.
Here are some of our team’s top ideas on how to start an early Spring clean and dare we say it, enjoy improving your home with your family over the next few weeks.
There is no better way to make the time pass more quickly than by staying busy and using your time at home for something positive.
Create a mood board
Design a scheme based on the colours, patterns and shapes you love. Look in your wardrobe – what colours do you wear? These colours may be a good basis for some ideas for your home decor too. Do you like warm or cool colours, bright or muted? In terms of style what is important to you – is it purely visual, or are you drawn to auditory stimulus such as wind chimes, or is it a sense of touch and therefore really textures that are important to you? What do you genuinely love – perhaps travel or cooking, how can you incorporate these?
Improve your home’s curb appeal
First impressions are important and spending some time tidying the front of your house can really make a difference. Clear any weeds and trim back rambling, overgrown plants and straighten lawn edges. Symmetry is attractive, so re-pot some brightly coloured plants to place either side of your front door for ultimate curb side elegance. If you have the right paint at home, re-paint the front door for an instant freshen up. Then it’s time to turn your attention to your outside space! If you grow your own fruit and veg, you can really enjoy the time this Spring in your garden getting organised, clearing old debris and growing gorgeous crops.
Re-arrange the furniture
This is a free and easy way to give any room a completely new look. You’ll be surprised at the impact a reshuffle can make. Make it fun family time and involve the children by getting them to measure furniture, create a room plan, and see which items of furniture would fit where before deploying the new arrangement.
Create a gorgeous feature wall
Use a striking paint colour or wallpaper to create a new focal point and transform a room – take a look at colour therapy resources online and Pinterest for ideas. If you are really in the mood to paint, when has there ever been a better time to give the whole house a refresh?! Just don’t try and do everything at once. Don’t let it become a draining chore. Take your time.
Go green
Many indoor plants like Asparagus Fern, Peace Lily and Aloe Vera can be divided and transplanted to create new plants. Indoor plants are a lovely way to freshen the air in your home and studies show they improve feelings of well-being. Plants make a room look exotic and lush. Grow basil, parsley and coriander and have fun growing edible plants on the kitchen windowsill with your children. If you are more dead finger than green fingered spare yourself the trouble of watching your handiwork wither and invest in some high quality faux foliage.
Lift your mood with sparkling surfaces and windows
Clean, sparkling surfaces such as worktops, bathroom taps and windows can be easily achieved by a good scrub. Clean windows will make an instantaneous difference to light levels in your home and getting them to shine is a great workout!
Fragrance your home with delicious smells
Dried homemade potpourri is a lovely project to do with your children. You can use different flowers, herbs, spices and fruit to make your own custom fragrance and display in beautiful bowls in your home. What about a zesty lemon and rosemary combination for Spring?
Time for a cathartic de-clutter
Homes that are organised, with minimal clutter look classy and sophisticated and are more restful to live in, improving your well-being. Think Marie Kondo – does each item spark joy? It is quite a useful way to look at things! Room by room, de-clutter cupboards and drawers, worktops and surfaces. It will make your home look bigger, more elegant and it will feel so satisfying! You can’t go to the tip or recycling centre right now so make sure you have somewhere out of the way to put things ready to go straight out once they re-open.
New stylish storage solutions
Browse magazines or go online for ideas. Can you make a window seat with storage underneath? Or put up some new shelves to create open storage using rustic wood or sleek white depending on the look you are going for. Repurposed wooden crates make great storage boxes or shelves and look stylish in country style homes. Find unused baskets and re-purpose them to create bathroom or cosmetics solutions, organise all your stationery or store firewood.
Organise the bedrooms one by one
Clear out your wardrobes, bring out your summer clothes if you keep them somewhere separate during winter. Don’t forget to check what is under the beds! Fold your clothes beautifully to make them last longer and to reduce your storage needs. Display your jewellery so you can really see what you have to choose with ease each day. Wash all your curtains, cushion covers and rugs when it is a nice sunny day and you can hang them out in the garden.
(Article source: 50 Connect)
