The holiday season brings with it great joy, comfort, and anticipation. Many homeowners are expecting to celebrate this time of the year with their friends or family as guests. This means the hustle for shopping must have begun by now.
In the US, the holiday season is said to start in late November or early December. It lasts throughout the final month and extends into early January. Statista found that only 10% of the 2023 holiday shopping was done in December.
As much as 50% of Americans started the process in early October itself. With shopping, now will also be the time for many to invest in their homes. In other words, home renovation projects will skyrocket to make a good first impression on the guests.
Perhaps you do not have much time for a complete overhaul. Even then, some upgrades will spruce up your haven and wow your guests. In this article, we will discuss four home improvement projects anybody can perform if they have no time for a total makeover.
A Cabinet Refresh
Most American homes have plenty of cabinets and drawers, especially in high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. A simple refresh of these fixtures can create a whole different appearance.
What’s more, is that you have a vast variety of options to choose from. Consider changing your cabinets based on the material, like solid wood, plywood, or MDF. Additionally, you can select high-quality modern knobs or handles.
We would recommend knobs for small drawers, whereas sophisticated handles in stainless steel are best for elongated or larger cabinets. If you wish, play around with the cabinet and drawer colors for a change of look.
Remember that bright-colored cabinets have currently become more popular. You may choose two complementary or contrasting colors. In case of any doubts, play it safe with neutral colors like white, gray, and black that will never go out of style. You can keep the knobs a bright color just to add more depth or contrast to the space.
Painting the Guest Room
The Architectural Digest published a rather interesting article in 2022. It discussed how millennials were killing the concept of a guest room amid the growing national housing crisis. Though hospitality has seldom been absent, the idea of reserving an entire room for the guests seems to have become outdated.
We would like to differ, reiterating the importance of a private oasis for your guests. Is there a point in involving your precious visitors in the home’s usual cacophony? When not in use, this room can serve multiple purposes, even for multigenerational living.
If you already have a designated guest room, that’s great. In case not, try converting one of the family rooms into a guest room for the upcoming holiday season if possible. In either of the scenarios, your guest room will require a fresh coat of paint.
Painting a single room’s walls is not only cost-efficient but it will also make your guests feel special and valued. Just ring expert house painters and have them give your guest room an evolved look. Do this project as soon as possible because the process can take some time.
According to EA Pro Painters, it usually begins with a free estimate and then proceeds to color selection, project commencement, and quality inspection. Once all the layers of the paint have dried, your guest room will be ready for other things like strategic furniture placement, cabinet restocking, and more.
As for the paint color, it will all depend on the mood you wish to create. If you’re going for a warm and intimate vibe, choose dark and cozy colors. Similarly, if you want the room to feel calm and spacious, light neutral tones are the way to go.
Upgrading Light Fixtures
The holidays are a good time to inspect the interior illumination of your home. Are poorly lit lamps and chandeliers the only sources of light for your guests? Then, it’s time for a revamp.
Lighting is one area of utmost importance during the winter when the skies are overcast and daylight dwindles. Your guests may prefer warmth and intimacy but dim lighting can take the ambiance to the extreme of gloominess. Fix it now by upgrading the light fixtures.
A pro tip is to not settle for a singular or even dual type of light, be it overhead lighting or lamps. Give every nook of your guest’s space a different vibe with recessed, accent, and track lighting.
You can even choose separate colors for each to create a different mood. It will function much like the paint to enhance a space’s appeal, improve its functionality, or create a specific mood for your guests.
A Crackling Fireplace or a Functional Entry
We understand that fireplaces, or at least their regular use, are becoming an outdated concept in many American homes. After all, modern technology has filled all the gaps. However, these corners of the home are significant from the viewpoint of creating a festive ambiance.
Those who continue to use fireplaces do so because of the nostalgic feel they create. Contemporary fireplaces are clearer-burning and more efficient. Studies suggest that they can be over 80% efficient in generating sufficient heat.
All that you need to do is gather the family around and share memorable holiday season stories. In case your existing fireplace brick or stone has darkened, consider a fresh coat of paint even here. If your home has no fireplace, you can still have a zero-clearance fireplace created on an existing wall.
Moreover, run a glance at your home’s entryway. Is it in proper shape to welcome guests? The winter season calls for extra storage solutions due to boots, jackets, coats, and more. Do your exterior doors have enough storage hangers, cubbies, and hooks all around?
If not, you can clear the hall closet to make room for bulky coats, boots, and other winter accessories. If there is no hall closet, another option is to quickly have a couple of hooks and hangers installed at your front door for storage purposes. This is a must since 2024 winters are expected to be colder than normal for at least the northern part of the country.
End Note
Has this article given you quick ideas and inspiration for a 2024 holiday revamping? Consider each area we have discussed against your home’s current condition, and explore virtual home remodeling options to visualize and plan every detail of your renovation project. Then, invest in an improvement project wherever needed and possible.
Just be ready to welcome your guests with open arms. It’s the subtle changes that turn the look and ambiance of the home upside down.
