Spring has sprung! Well, it’s almost here anyway. Cabin fever has set in long ago, and it’s time to start facing the dreaded season of "clean up, fix up and paint up!"
As the winter months dragged on, your home started to feel tired and worn, and now it’s time to give it that quick pick me up. "But", you say, "Money is tight, and I can’t afford to renovate or make any major purchases!" No problem, there are many things to you can do to perk up your home, and they only require some "sweat equity". If you’re like me, you can use the exercise anyway. (The past few months of sitting on the sofa have taken their toll!
Exercise and Exorcise!
Kill two birds with one stone….exercise and exorcise! Take one area at a time, and focus, focus, focus. Start by gathering everything that you have dumped in that spare room because "you will put it up later." So, it’s now later (yes, better than never) and find a home for those odd items… shirts that are missing a button; the twenty paperbacks that you read while you were snowbound; the suitcases from the trip you took four months ago that haven’t found their way back to the attic; the clothes that your child left on the floor after he went back to college…and whatever other surprises that might lie at the bottom of the heap!
On to the hard part…. Decide what to keep, what to give away, and what to throw out. Will you ever REALLY fit into that pair of jeans again?
Consider Donating
There are many agencies and non-profits that are in dire need of gently used clothing and even furniture. Not only are you helping a good cause, and yourself, but, in most cases you can write off most donations on your taxes… usually providing you more money in the long run than a garage sale, without all the effort! (Make sure to check with your accountant first.)
How about a Trade?
Try trading books with friends. It’s a great way to get more reading material without spending a penny. Who knows, you might even start a book club and get on the Opra show!
Take a Good Look
Now, look closely, are the baseboards all chipped and scratched? Does it seem a little dark in the room? Are the remaining accessories just in there because you had nowhere else to put them?
Put on Your Painting Shirt!
Touch up those baseboards with the extra paint that you have out in the garage (hopefully it’s not dried out from being there for ten years!) If not, you can purchase a quart of the matching paint and just lightly paint over the chips and scratches. Depending on what other cans of colors are lurking in the back of the garage, you might consider painting one accent wall (maybe behind the bed?). While you’re at it, wash off the years of grimy fingerprints around the doorknobs and light switches.
Let the Sunshine In!
Open those heavy draperies, pull up the blinds, and WASH those windows, Cinderella. Just by bringing in a little natural light, the room will feel much happier and more inviting.
Do the "Accessory Swap"!
We all get tired of being in the same old place all the time. Try taking one piece from that room and swapping it with a piece from another room. By simply swapping out and moving things around, you can create a fresh new feel all around the house.
Your spare room now has a new lease on life and you have a feeling of accomplishment. See, it wasn’t so bad, and it really didn’t cost much to make a more inviting space. So, what are you waiting for? Pick the next tired area and get started. You can do it!
