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Want to start 2022 on the right path? Do these 5 things to your home

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New Year’s resolution time is right around the corner, and what better time than now to get a jump on your plans for 2022? If you own a home and are already thinking about the improvements you want to complete this spring, why wait? If you’ve been planning on starting some home improvement projects, you can complete the projects in the winter regardless of the climate where you live. One of the best parts about doing home improvement projects in the winter is that it leaves you with more time to get outside once the weather warms up again. Here are five things you can do to your home this winter that will set you on the right path for 2022.

person using paint roller to paint grey wall
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Paint or refresh a wall

One of the best ways to spruce up the inside of your home is to add a fresh coat of paint. Painting a room or two is an excellent way to refresh your home without putting a ton of time or money into it. Even if you don’t want to paint an entire room, changing the color of one wall to create an accent wall will give the room a whole new look. If painting isn’t your thing, you can also try out wallpaper or shiplap for a wall or two in your home. Any way you choose to change the appearance of a wall will bring a new look to the room.

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Change cabinet hardware

Changing old handles, pulls, and knobs on cabinets and drawers is a quick and easy way to refresh a room’s look. Whether it be in your kitchen or bathrooms, replacing the old hardware with new hardware will change the appearance of the cabinets in no time. The best part about this project is that all you need is a screwdriver and a few hours. Even if you have cabinets that don’t have pulls, you can easily add them with a power drill and a little time.

Black bathroom faucet with water running
JJ Gouin / Adobe Stock

Install new faucets

If you’re not ready to remodel an entire room, replacing the faucets is a great way to freshen up the look. Both kitchens and bathrooms can benefit from new faucets, and the work shouldn’t be that difficult to do yourself. Typically, plumbing projects are best left for the experts, but changing a faucet isn’t difficult as long as your new faucet has the same number of mounting holes as the old one. All you need to do is turn off the water under the sink and follow the instructions that come with the faucet you bought.

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Replace moldings

If your house doesn’t already have crown molding, swapping out the existing molding for crown molding is a great way to add value to your home. Not only does crown molding look beautiful, but it can also cover up nicks and dings on your walls. Installing crown molding takes a few tools and a bit of know-how, but you can complete the project in a weekend with a miter saw, drop cloth, paint, nail gun, and ladder. If you spend the extra money to get pre-painted molding, you can skip the paint and drop cloth — and you won’t have to worry about paint fumes in a house with closed windows.

Couple replacing light fixture in home.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Swap out light fixtures

Electrical work falls into the expert category, but these days simply swapping out new fixtures for old ones is pretty DIY-friendly. Exchanging old light fixtures for more modern options will not only spruce up your home, but it will likely make your house more energy-efficient as well. Today’s fixtures usually take LED light bulbs, saving you money on bulb replacement and energy bills. If you have poor airflow in your house, you can even change a few regular lights into ceiling fans with lights pretty easily. Just be sure to switch off the power before you begin messing with any wires, and if all else fails, look up a video to help you along the way.

Whether you’ve already been thinking about home improvements or you’re looking for some projects to fill the dark, cold winter, there are several things you can do inside to spruce up your home. You can complete several projects inside in a weekend or less with a few DIY skills and the ability to follow directions. Painting, hanging wallpaper, changing light or plumbing fixtures, and swapping out cabinet hardware are all projects you can complete relatively quickly and inexpensively. And remember, the best part about completing home improvement projects in the winter: You can get outside as soon as the weather warms up.

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Kelly Kaliszewski
Kelly Kaliszewski
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelly's work has appeared in blogs and on websites. When she's not writing, she is playing with her two dogs, cooking, or…

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