There’s no denying that social distancing is still one of the keys to preventing the spread of COVID-19. While you can feel good about spending more time at home to flatten the curve, you may also be experiencing restlessness. Fortunately, finding productive things to do can help nip these feelings in the bud.
One of the most useful ways to spend your downtime is by updating your living space. While now may not be the best time to carry out extensive renovations, there’s no shortage of small-yet-impactful updates you can make to improve the look and feel of your home.
Here are five home improvements you can do while you’re social distancing…
1) Update your front door
You may not have visitors for a while, but that doesn’t mean your home can’t make a welcoming first impression. One of the best places to start is with a fresh coat of paint for your front door. While any colour that complements your home’s facade will work well, opting for a bold hue will make it stand out—in a good way. From cheerful tangerine orange to regal emerald green, now may be the time to opt for a hue that makes a statement.
2) Install a smart thermostat
Now more than ever, consumers are embracing smart home technology. It can provide both significant cost savings and environmental benefits for eco-friendly homeowners. If you’re interested in upgrading, your thermostat is the ideal place to start. There’s no shortage of options on the market, many of which can learn your temperature preferences and schedule. This is an easy improvement, so long as you ensure that the requirements of the thermostat you choose match your existing HVAC system.
3) Touch up your paint
If you’re working from home or simply spending more time there, certain improvements may be difficult to do right now. Extensive indoor painting is one of them. Adding a fresh coat to every room could lead to paint fume inhalation. Fortunately, touching up your walls is another story. Being in your living space for extended periods means you may be more likely to notice chips, scrapes, and faded areas that you otherwise wouldn’t. If that happens, now is the time to reach for those leftover paint cans in the garage.
4) Patch up your walls
While you’re touching up your paint, you may also want to smooth out and fill in any imperfections in your walls. As any art collector knows, hanging frames can create holes and scratches. One of the easiest ways to take care of these defects is by cleaning the areas, sanding them down, and then spackling them with a putty knife. You may need to repeat these steps to achieve the desired effect.
5) Work on your landscaping
If your property includes outdoor space, now is the ideal time to beautify it. Landscaping can go beyond turning your yard into a personal paradise to increase your home’s value by up to 20 per cent. From lawn care to choosing the right annuals, investing in plants now can pay off later. Hardscaping—which includes the non-living elements of your outdoor design—can boost your home’s appeal even further. Think about lighting, decorative brick or stone, and anything you might help you create a pleasant seating area.
Whether you want to make your walls look more polished or delve into your landscape design plans, you can do so safely while social distancing. Improving your home won’t just provide a sense of accomplishment during this challenging time. Do it with care, and it will also lead to results you’ll love.
Are you thinking of selling your home? Reach out today to learn more about the process—and the preparations that can help boost your returns.