No sooner is the festive season behind us than thoughts turn to spring. Perhaps it is the slightly depressing sight of the home minus its Christmas decorations, or maybe it is the optimistic feeling that winter will soon be behind us, but most of us get that itchy feeling that we need a good project that will add functionality, beauty or value to the home – and hopefully all three.
So dust off your overalls and get your credit card at the ready – it’s time to visit mysafetysign.com and put up some “construction work underway” signs, because Spring is definitely in the air! Here are some ideas to get your creative juices running.
Rewire the electrics
If you own an older property, the chances are, you struggle to find enough power outlets for everyday needs in the modern technological world. These days, everything needs to be either plugged in constantly, or at least recharged with alarming regularity, and many homes are a mess of trailing sockets and extension cables.
These are a far from ideal solution, and can overload your system, presenting a fire risk as well as a trip hazard. A thorough rewire will make your home safer, and provide amazing convenience. These days, you can get socket outlets installed that also have USB fittings, making it easy to charge phones, tablets and the like.
While you are about it, get the consumer unit checked, and if it’s not up to snuff, replace it. This is an area where you really can’t cut corners, and at any rate, it is a good investment that will add to the value of your home if you decide to sell.
A conservatory makes a wonderful space to relax and enjoy the spring sunshine, even if the temperature is still low. It’s also a perfect place for entertaining guests all the year round – modern conservatories are far better insulated and more energy efficient than they used to be. Chances are, once it’s built, you will spend more time in there than in the family room!
Resurface the driveway
The freezing winter months take their toll on an asphalt drive, as does everyday wear and tear. Being the first thing that visitors see, a poorly maintained drive really lets the whole appearance of your home down. If yours is looking a little down at heel, spring is the perfect time to do it, as ideally, it needs moisture and warm, but not hot, temperatures, so look to get it booked now.
Incorporate some fresh colors
Over Christmas and new year, it was all about those snug, warm colors – deep reds, oranges and greens, for example. When you venture to the DIY store, get in some spring shades while you are in the paint aisle, ready to welcome in the new season. Pastels such as pale blues and yellows give the feeling of days out by the ocean, and remind us that those longer, warmer days will be back with us soon!
Tammie~