Low Cost Projects, High Impact Results

In today’s economic environment, we’re looking for projects that make a big impact in our homes, without emptying our wallets in the process.  Good news. There are a few ways you can make aesthetic changes in your home without breaking the bank in the process. Earlier this month we shared five simple, inexpensive tips to prepare your home for the holidays.  Below we’ve listed six simple projects which can modernize or brighten up your home.

Decorate with fresh flowers 

Create a focal point in your kitchen or living area with a vase of fresh flowers. Pick them from your garden or buy just three flowers from the store. Even just a small, simple bouquet will brighten up a room.

Paint walls or ceilings

Painting is one of the most inexpensive changes to make in a house and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Try painting just one wall or the ceiling to create a new look and feel in your room. Painting cabinetry with fresh paint will also bring them and your room to life.

Hang a new bathroom mirror

Is your bathroom mirror outdated? When selecting a new one, be sure to choose one that has a frame around it for maximum impact. Also, be sure it is long enough for a five foot, or a six foot person, to be able to see themself.

Install new drawer/cabinet pulls

If your kitchen or bathroom hardware is from the 1970’s, switch it up. Home Depot and Lowes sell numerous styles of drawer and cabinet pulls and there are many to be found online as well. Try My Knobs  or Anthropologie. Changing the hardware is a great way to modernize a room or give it character on a tight budget.

Dress up a wall with photos

Are you tired of staring down a blank, white wall? Consider dressing it up with photos of family and friends by grouping black and white photos together, or grouping four small same-size pictures together in a four-square to give the illusion of a larger picture.

Update faucets

Kitchen and bathroom faucets are high-use objects receiving a lot of attention. Even if your bathroom and kitchen aren’t amazing, your faucets can be. Many styles are available to update your old faucets and to showcase your personal style chic.

Visit us at boise.handymanconnection.com for our special holiday offers and promotions.

 

 

5 Tips to Get Your Home Holiday Ready

Creating a cozy, comfortable and festive space. That is the aim of hosts preparing to entertain family and friends this holiday season. Entertainers love to ensure our guests feel at home in our house and to create a merry and cheerful atmosphere. Below are five tips to enhance your holiday gathering. But keep in mind, the best gift you can give your guests is the gift of hospitality— sharing your home, friendship and spreading holiday cheer. That is what the holiday season is really all about.

Make it cozier. Just by throwing colored pillows on the sofa, you can cozy up a room. Consider fall colors—warm and spicy, or metallic. Metallic details catch light and add a glowing effect in a room which may help capture the festive mood of the holidays. Another quick fix is to add a throw rug in a high traffic area. What kind of lighting do you currently have? Candles, white lights, a fireplace and soft ambient light (versus bright fluorescent lighting) can change the mood of the room. Don’t forget about music too.

Tidy up. This one seems like a no brainer. Most hosts plan to clean before an event but don’t forget to remove clutter from your family’s high traffic spots – place bills in another location and remove clutter from your coffee tables. Sometimes these areas are hard for us to distinguish since we see them every day. It helps to have a friend tell you what they notice when in your home so you can adjust areas as necessary.

Stock your kitchen. The holidays aren’t only about spending time with loved ones; they are about celebrating traditions and also about eating.  Do your guests have any guests with special dietary needs such as; gluten free, vegetarian, dairy allergy or non-alcoholic drinkers? Keep these in mind when selecting snack foods and beverages for the event. There is nothing worse than a hungry guest who isn’t able to eat what you are serving. 

Think about seating. How many guests do you plan to have? Is there ample seating for them in the living areas before the event and at the holiday table? I remember sitting at the “kids table” at holiday events (i.e. card or camping table). This is an inexpensive way to add more seating but if you don’t have enough chairs, consider renting so that everyone has a place to sit. You may also consider arranging your furniture into “conversation groups” so your guests have a comfortable place to gather and chat before the meal begins.

Create space for kids. Think about your guests. Do they have kids? If so what age? Consider a play space for young kids and/or games for the older kids to keep them occupied and help them enjoy the event too.

There you are…five tips to help you get ready for the holiday season. Do you have a favorite tip to share with our readers about how you prep for the entertaining season?  We’d love to hear from you.

Visit our website at boise.handymanconnection.com