by Dennis and Sherry Bishop
The holiday season is upon us, and in the midst of planning for family gatherings and creating Black Friday shopping lists, you might also be thinking about how you can get your home ready for all those whimsical Christmas decorations and loving family members from out of town who will soon fill your home. Before the in-laws arrive, consider these home refresher ideas so that everyone can enjoy the festive cheer at your house this holiday season.
Light the way. The winter months can be dark and dismal. Make sure all walkways and driveways leading to your home are well lit. This is especially important if there is ice or snow on the ground. You don’t want anyone to slip and fall on the way up to your house. Replace any burnt out bulbs on existing outdoor light fixtures with durable and long-lasting LEDs and consider where you might need to install new
porch lights.
Deck the walls with spackle. One of the
easiest ways to spruce up your walls is to repair nicks and scratches. Start by removing any peeling paint or plaster from around the crack. Next, grab some joint compound or spackling and apply thin coats to your walls using a drywall or putty knife. Make sure the spackling is dry before applying additional coats. Before moving onto primer and paint, sand the repaired area.
Get a new winter coat. A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to give any room new life. Consider doing an accent wall or investing in some paint stencils. If you don’t want to tackle any walls, consider painting your front door. Painting your front door can give the exterior of your home enhanced curb appeal your guests will notice before they ring the bell.
Down through the chimney. Nothing’s more inviting on a cold winter’s night than a warm fire, so make sure your fireplace is ready. Start by surveying your fireplace inside and out for any damages that may have happened during the off-season. Also, make sure the immediate area around the opening is clear of flammable material. Finally, to clean out built up soot, consider scheduling a professional chimney sweeping.
Keep Jack Frost out. No one wants to be cold in their own home, so try out some simple sealant options. Keep cold air from coming in through electrical outlets by removing the wall plate and inserting a rubber cover; then reattach the wall plate. For holes around cables, pipes and vents, try an expanding foam product. If large gaps around doors are giving you problems, install door sweeps or use weather stripping.
Be alert. Give yourself peace of mind this holiday season by checking all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s also important to make sure all detectors are in working order so take this time of the year to test and replace all batteries.
Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest.com for thousands of the best home improvement products, including paint, applicators and other essentials for successful paint projects!
DENNIS and SHERRY BISHOP are the co-owners of Petersburg Do it Best® Hardware in Petersburg and are member-owners of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based cooperative of thousands of hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards in the United States and around the world.
(This article is for informational purposes only. Electric Consumer and Do it Best assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of its content, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)
