Home Improvement Projects for Lighter Evenings (and Where Storage Can Help)
Daylight saving time, when the clocks go forward an hour in March, is a bit of a mixed blessing, isn’t it? On the one hand, the evenings are lighter for longer and it’s fair to say that most of us benefit from exposure to a little more sun. On the other hand, we have to get up an hour earlier … Are lighter evenings worth the sacrifice of an hour’s sleep? Well, maybe it doesn’t feel like it when your alarm goes off in the morning, but the days seem to last a lot longer and hopefully the extra light will make you feel more energised!
The extra light on an evening might also reveal a multitude of imperfections in your home that you’ve been happily able to ignore over winter but that now really rather need tackling. Major projects need a lot of time and preparation; if you’re looking for smaller projects that will nevertheless have a big impact on the look and feel of your home, here are some that you’ll be able to accomplish in the longer, lighter evenings.
Indoor improvements
1. Declutter.
Not technically a home improvement project, but an absolutely necessary first step before you start doing any other kind of work. You’ll have loads of things around the house that you won’t need for the next few months - bulky winter coats and clothes, blankets, hot water bottles, heaters, etc. - so find somewhere to put them out of the way.
If you don’t have room for that kind of storage in the house without everything feeling cramped, consider renting a self storage unit for a few weeks. You’ll find that having fewer belongings in your living space makes your home instantly feel fresher and larger. We have loads of advice on decluttering to help you get started.
2.Spring clean.
Again, not so much a home improvement project but it’s important to get everything properly clean before you start any kind of DIY. Use the lighter evenings to cast a critical eye over your home, one room at a time. Get scrubbing, dusting, and wiping in all those nooks and crannies you don’t normally bother with. Cleaning your windows will instantly let more light in for a start, and giving everything a good polish will make your home look and smell fantastic.
3.Paint skirting and trim
Redecorating will always improve the look of your home, but repainting a whole room is a big project and one you probably won’t have the energy for in an evening. Instead, buy some white eggshell paint and refresh the skirting boards and trim around your doors for a relatively quick and easy home improvement.
4.Switch your light switches
Little details in your home can make a big difference. Light switches and plug sockets are usually white, but over time they can start to look yellow and are a magnet for grime. Try cleaning them - if it’s just built-up muck that’s making them look a bit grim, some elbow grease will have them looking like new in no time. If they’re yellow from sun exposure or age, invest in some new ones (maybe get some plug sockets with USB ports for extra convenience). Just make sure you switch the power off before you remove the old ones!
5. Touch up grout
If you have tiles in your kitchen or bathroom, the grout may have become discoloured over time. If there is any sign of mould, treat this with a mould remover before cleaning it, or you’ll risk exposing yourself to mould particles when you scrub.
To brighten your grout, you can make a paste from bicarbonate of soda, a drop of dishwashing liquid and a little bit of water. Apply the paste to the grout and leave it for an hour before scrubbing it off with a brush or scourer. Or, you can use a grout whitening pen or cream if the grout still looks grimey when you’ve finished cleaning it.
6. Paint your doors
Doors are pretty nice to paint; you can do one at a time and they don’t take too long. Ensure you use a primer if you have any previous coating on your doors.
Painting your front door can make a big difference to the appearance of your house. You can even paint uPVC doors (and window frames) with multi-purpose paint; they’re surprisingly easy to lift off their hinges so you can paint them on the floor (one side at a time!) and rehang them in a couple of hours.
7.Replace handles and knobs
If you don’t want to repaint your doors, but still think they look a little tired, you could replace their handles - there are loads of colours and styles to choose from. Similarly, you could replace the knobs and handles on your kitchen cupboards or bedroom wardrobes.
8. Tidy wires and cords
Cords and wires hanging down from your TV or cluttering up the floors can be hidden with a little time and effort. We have a few ideas on how to tidy your cords quickly and easily.
9. Replace your shower curtain
Shower curtains get grubby and mouldy very quickly because they’re usually damp or in a moist environment. Changing your shower curtain out for a new one (or, if you have a shower screen, giving it a really good clean) can make a big difference to your bathroom’s appearance. While you’re in there, replace your lightswitch cord for a fresh one.
Outdoor improvements
10. Use a pressure washer
Rent or buy a pressure washer and give your garden a facelift. Spray the patio, decking and any plastic garden furniture to make it look like new! Outdoor furniture cushions that have seen better days (especially if they’ve been left outside for long periods) can also be brightened with a good spray from a pressure washer.
11. Clean garden furniture
If you can’t clean it with a pressure washer, then give it a good clean the old fashioned way. Dust off the cobwebs, scrub the fabric and apply a little WD40 to any springs or moving parts. You should be able to leave your garden furniture in the garden now for a few weeks, without having to stow it away in the shed or in your self storage unit, so take some time to decide where to place it all to get the best use out of it.
12. Prune, mow and tidy your garden
Gardening in the evenings is great - it’s not too hot, there are fewer flying creatures around, and it’s a relaxing way to spend some time unwinding. Mow the grass, prune the trees and bushes, put plants in some pots and make your garden beautiful.
Some final advice
Never start a job after the shops shut unless you know for certain that you have everything you need!
If you think that a self storage unit would be useful for decluttering your winter gear, you might also decide to keep your unit all year round, swapping out your winter gear for the garden furniture and other summer paraphernalia when the dark nights return. If you’d like to know more, please get in touch and our friendly team can offer information and advice on which size of unit would best meet your needs within your budget.
