As you plan for the new year, you might find yourself daydreaming about your next slate of home projects. And you may be extra-motivated if you’re currently dealing with wintry drafts finding their way inside, or you’re keeping the heat low because you’re worried about costs.
But when home improvements require professional help, it can feel like a major undertaking, especially when you aren’t sure where to start.
Some updates are easier than you’d think, and make a big difference in your comfort level. They also can make your house safer and more energy-efficient. Here’s a room-by-room breakdown of ideas.
A Warmer Bathroom & A Better Shower
The seasonal cold and damp can hit a little bit harder in an outdated bathroom.
Swapping out bathtubs or showers for newer models can create a more efficient use of space and a less-drafty bathing experience. Newer materials like non-porous acrylic are better at repelling mold and mildew, which makes for easier cleaning. This is also a good time for converting to safer options, like changing out tubs for walk-in showers, or making your shower more accessible.
A warm bathroom space is also a must, but you don’t want to create conditions for excess humidity to foster mold. The best, most efficient option is to ensure that the room is well-insulated and that all windows are well sealed so your heat can more effectively warm the room. A no-cost home energy assessment can tell you if you have adequate insulation or not, so that’s the place to start if you haven’t yet explored that option.
If your well-insulated bathroom is still draftier than you’d like, specialized heaters for the room can provide a quick warm-up when you need it. However, make sure you shop only for heaters designed for bathrooms, and pay special attention to size recommendations. Larger space heaters aren’t necessary and can take much more energy than you need.
You might also consider a heated towel rack, or thick rugs for the floor if you’re concerned about cold tile on bare feet.
A Brighter, Fresher Kitchen
Good lighting is important for kitchens – not just to create atmosphere, but to make cooking and cleaning easier.
Changing a space’s light can be tricky, depending on how many fixtures are already available or whether there are spaces to attach lighting strips or affix battery-operated lights.
Swapping out overhead lights is a simple fix – exchanging a yellow-toned light for a neutral or cool white can brighten up the space. If you need to add more light but are limited in overhead fixtures, you can install under-cabinet LEDs to better see what you’re cooking.
Winter cold means also you’ve sealed up the house for months on end; if you do your cooking with gas, now is a great time to get an induction stove. Reduce harmful gases such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide that linger in the air for hours–especially in less-ventilated rooms.
Warm, Inviting Living Spaces
Living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms are where you spend most of your time, so making them cozy and comfortable can help pass the winter much more pleasantly.
As with the kitchen, lighting makes a big difference. While a brighter light is welcome in the kitchen, living areas benefit from layering different light types. Warm overhead lights, lamps, and sconces can create an inviting overall glow in the room, with cooler-colored task lights to illuminate your work or reading at desks, tables or lounge chairs.
Meanwhile, eliminating drafts from places like chimneys or windows is also essential. For chimneys, some DIY sealing inside your home can be useful – but in the majority of cases, professionals should assess the sources of drafts and suggest solutions that won’t create moisture or air-flow problems.
Well-sealed windows can also make a big difference here. Quicker fixes involve adding storm windows or sealing with caulk or weatherstripping. You might also swap out regular curtains for thermal options during colder months. These are like blackout curtains, except the heavier inside layer is made from two or three layers of thicker material designed to slow heat transfer. Curtains that go on rods above the window via grommet are easy to change as needed – and you can open them wide to let in sunlight during your limited winter daylight hours.
For longer-term efficiency and comfort, you may want to consider investing in new windows. That’s a larger undertaking, but the payoff is significant. The lifespan of windows is 15-20 years, and possibly even longer in well-maintained homes. Replacing those decades-old windows with modern, higher-tech construction gives you an efficiency boost that will likely last for the rest of your family’s residence in the home.
Double- or triple-paned windows with environment-specific glass coatings, inter-pane gas fills that slow heat transference, and advanced frame construction all make for a comfier, less drafty home. And yes, you can install new windows in wintertime – you may even be able to take advantage of discounts from installers, who typically see less business during this time of year.
Planning Your Next Steps
You probably already have ideas for what needs fixing in your home, but the hard part is getting started. If your projects involve something beyond a trip to the local hardware store, read up on other options:
Call (781) 618-6711 or contact our team to speak to a specialist today. Our team is ready to help you take the first step toward a more comfortable, efficient home!