5 Add-on Projects to Tackle During Home Redecorating

Whether you’re planning on redecorating your home through a professional company, by the do-it-yourself method, or (more likely) a combination of the two, there’s more you need to get done than just the redecorating itself.

Your main project may be focused on repainting one or more rooms, laying down new, more up to date carpeting, outfitting your kitchen with the latest home appliance technologies, and investing in stylish yet eminently comfortable furnishings that you’ll use for years to come.

But the scientific principle that an “object in motion tends to remain in motion” and “an object at rest tends to remain at rest” applies to people and their projects as much as to molecular physics. If you have other tasks that have been procrastinated long enough – taking care of them while your redecorating efforts are in full swing is a smart way to ensure they really do get done!

Here are 4 things you may want to make add-ons on your home redecorating to-do list:

1. Finally, Win the War on Pests

Maybe you’ve had recurring pest problems for months or years on end, and you still can’t seem to finally win “the war on pests.” Now is a great time to “get professional on them.”

You don’t want roaches, ants, dust mites, fleas, bed bugs, beetles, rodents, and other unwelcome guests enjoying your nicely redecorated premises along with you – or keeping you from fully enjoying them.

If you’re not sure which pest companies near you can handle the type of pests you’re dealing with or which ones have the most positive online reviews from real customers, check out this incredibly helpful online tool to quickly find the best local pest control companies in your area!

2. Get Your Lawn “Manicured”

It would be a shame to have your indoor spaces looking bright and new while your outdoor spaces retained their old imperfections. There’s no better time to upgrade your landscaping than during (or just before or after) your home decorating projects.

If there are dead branches on your trees or if branches are stretching over your roof, thus creating a storm hazard and giving rodents an easy route toward your attic, get them trimmed. Reseed or re-sod bare patches in your lawn. De-weed. Lay down mulch, creek pebbles, volcanic rocks, landscaping timbers, and more to make your yard optimally attractive.

It doesn’t have to cost a lot or take a long time. Even if you don’t add a major landscaping project to your list, simply taking care of those lingering odds and ends and adding a few decorative touches to your lot will do wonders for your home’s overall appeal.

3. Clean Out & Repair Gutter Systems

It’s easy to put off cleaning out your gutters and downspouts, but if left unattended, the built up debris can cause water to back up and overflow, thus threatening your foundation, creating puddles in your yard, and defeating the purpose of having a gutter system to begin with.

If left clogged and winter arrives, backed up gutters can even cause ice dams (in northerly climates) and lead to expensive roof leaks.

And if there are minor leaks in the bottom of your gutters here and there, a sagging gutter, a missing gutter bracket, or other small problems you’ve not yet fixed – put it on your redecorating list and it will get done.

4. Install Energy-efficient Lighting

There’s not better time to upgrade the energy efficiency level of your home lighting fixtures and bulbs than when you’re already in a “redecorating mood.” Plus, modern LEDs now come with standard-sized bases to fit your existing light fixtures and in numerous styles, which is earning them the status of “next generation lighting.”

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) are also a new, attractive option that can save you energy, add style, and not take up huge space like the old-fashioned fluorescents. And there are many Federal, state, and local tax rebates and incentives that can save you money on your upgrade, besides saving it later on your energy bill!