Depending on where you live, the change of the seasons can affect your home improvement schedule. Snow and ice can make exterior projects more difficult, but climates with blazing hot summers can make ventilating indoor projects much easier during cooler weather. If you want to add value to your home before selling it, or if you want to improve your DIY skills, there are still plenty of projects that you can tackle during colder months.

Late Fall and Early Winter Projects

As you head into winter, there are some timely projects to keep in mind. On the small side, it’s always good to stay on top of routine maintenance, like replacing smoke detector batteries and cleaning your furnace—especially if you routinely use your fireplace. When it comes to big projects, updating your fireplace is a great way to increase the enjoyment of your home during colder weather. Try adding glass fireplace doors or a mantel.

Keep in mind other services that might be cheaper in the winter, too. Tree pruning and removal or window replacement services are usually offered year-round and might be cheaper in the winter. If you schedule your window replacement before the cold really sets in, your energy bill will benefit from improved energy efficiency for the rest of the season.

Insulate and Seal

Oftentimes, as the weather gets colder and the wind picks up, it’s easier to find cold spots in your home, due to drafts. Door draft stoppers are great as a temporary fix, but if you find a draft coming from an area beside a door, consider hiring a contractor to evaluate your home. Solutions usually look like adding or upgrading your insulation and/or sealing cracks with insulating spray foam around your home. Insulating your water pipes can have similar cold weather benefits. Insulating hot water pipes that run from your water heater can make them more efficient. If you’re worried about cold water pipes freezing during the winter, insulation can help prevent them from bursting.

Try a Fresh Coat of Paint

Projects that typically require proper ventilation, like painting, are highly dependent on your ability to ventilate your home. If you’re not able to sacrifice your A/C in the summer, winter weather might provide a great opportunity for adding a fresh coat of paint to rooms in your home. However, if you’re careful about the type of paint you choose, you might not need to crack as many windows. Some low-VOC and no-VOC paints, also known as paints without Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), can be safely used with fans for air circulation. Air purifiers and plants can also help absorb paint smells. If you do decide to paint, try turning on our Painting the House playlist to keep your energy high.

Switch up Your Lighting and Hardware

Switching your lightbulbs to LEDs is an easy Saturday project that can also help your home be more energy efficient! Upgrading the fixtures is a larger project, but can revitalize a space. Try adding lighting dimmers or connecting your fixtures to an app to control your light switches remotely. Similarly sized aesthetic projects include replacing cabinet hardware in your kitchen and bathroom.

Make Spaces More Functional

Some of the best DIY projects are the ones that make your home more enjoyable to live in. Updating your laundry room to add shelves for laundry detergent and stain remover or a counter over your washer and dryer to fold clothes are small ways to improve functionality. Adding a backsplash behind your kitchen sink is another way to get the most out of your kitchen. A ceramic tile backsplash can be easier to clean and protect the wall from moisture buildup.

If you need a little help with financing your indoor winter projects, consider a cash out refinance. Learn more about how Freedom Mortgage can help you with that!