Do It Yourself Winter Projects

7 Do It Yourself Projects You’ll Want to Start This Winter

Do It Yourself Winter ProjectsHaving an occasional lazy day indoors is relaxing, but if you’re stuck inside because of the cold, why not be proactive? There are a variety of easy projects you can take on during the winter that you will appreciate thoroughly when springtime rolls around again… So, why not make the most of the next winter storm?

If you’re feeling the winter blues, here are 7 DIY home improvement projects to lift your spirits:

1) Painting

Did you know that cold weather is ideal for drying paint? The dryness of the winter months makes winter the perfect time to paint the interior, so crack a window, and start painting. Select a bold color and paint an accent wall in your living room. Or add dimension to your bedroom by painting the ceiling.

Backsplash project

 

2) Add a Backsplash to Your Kitchen

Backsplashes are important to adding personality to your kitchen. For a kitchen that needs some life, a flashy or textured tile can wake it up. For a kitchen that already has personality, a sleek, neutral tile can add unity to the room’s look.

 

3) Add More Lighting

What better way to brighten and warm your spirits in the winter than with new lights, lamps or ceiling fans. Not to mention it’s an easy and affordable way to update the style of any room.

LED-style lights, which come in contemporary and bold styles, also provide a money-saving option. Installing dimmers in areas like the family room or dining room saves money, while allowing homeowners to customize the ambiance.

 

Organize Closet4) Make Your Closet More Organized

Is organization on your list of resolutions? Kick off the year by tackling your closet.

If you create a place for everything, you’ll be a lot more likely to put things away. There are so many things you can do to customize a closet for your needs. You can install shelving, purchase a shoe rack, create drawers and dividers, and much more. You can even try designing your own Modular Closet.

Remember, you’re only limited by your imagination.

 

5) Remodel Your Bathroom

There’s no better time than the winter to spice up your boring bathroom. While replacing a faucet, tile, or repainting are relatively easy for the DIYer, more ambitious jobs like replacing the tub or adding tile floor might be better left to a professional. Though a complete remodel will be a bigger investment, it’s worth considering.

 

Reburbish Doors

6) Refurbish Your Doors

Interior doors can have a lot of visual impact on your home. The good news is you can virtually “replace” all of your doors without spending excessively.

You can easily refurbish your interior doors by painting them, changing the doorknobs, and even adding moulding.

 

7) Change Your Light Bulbs

You won’t regret replacing your bulbs with energy-efficient ones. It’s a great way to go green and save money. On average, an Energy Star qualified light bulb will save between $30 and $80 in electricity costs over its lifetime, so don’t let the upfront cost of these bulbs scare you away from making the purchase.

 

By focusing on the inside of your home while the weather is cold, you’ll have a lot more time to tackle the warm-weather stuff when spring rolls around. And, as you begin your project, stop by GNH Lumber for all the supplies you’ll need, including tips and guidance!

 

Sources: “5 Easy Home Improvement Projects & Upgrades For the Winter”, moneycrashers.com.

Maximize Kitchen Space

5 Ways to Maximize Kitchen Space During the Holidays

Maximize Kitchen Space

December is a busy month for the kitchen. Many of us spend our time planning and shopping for the holiday season, as well as welcoming family into our homes.

While it’s an enjoyable time, it can get quite chaotic, especially when you’re the one that’s preparing all the food.

Get your kitchen design project started!

To save yourself some stress this holiday season, consider these tips for both reorganizing your home and maximizing kitchen space:Continue reading

Fire prevention week

Tips for Fire Prevention Week

Fire prevention week

In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.

That’s why this year’s National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” is so important. It reinforces why everyone needs to have an escape plan.

Here’s this year’s key Fire Prevention Week campaign messages:

 

  • Draw a map of your home by using our grid in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF) with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
  • Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
  • Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
  • Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
  • Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
  • Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.

 

 

The NFPA has developed a series of Sparky video clips that reinforce important home escape planning and practice messages. In the video above, Sparky says know two ways out of every room.

 

Tips for Creating and Practicing Your Escape Plan:

  • Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.
  • Decide where to meet once you get outside.
  • If a fire starts, you may have just two minutes to get to safety. So, time your fire drills and find out: what’s your escape time?
  • Smoke is dangerous: practice low crawling.
  • If your clothes catch on fire: stop, drop and roll.

 

Top Tips for Fire Safety from The American Red Cross:

  1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
  2. Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries.
  3. Check smoke alarms yearly to be sure they are less than 10 years old.
  4. Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
  5. Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
  6. If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.

If your home needs a new smoke detector, Carbon Monoxide detector, or combination of both, GNH Lumber is offering several options on sale this October. In support of National Fire Prevention Week initiative’s, we are also featuring a sale on fire extinguishers and straps. Visit our web sales page for pricing and details.

 

CLICK HERE for Fire Prevention & Safety Checklist

CLICK HERE for this month’s GNH Web Sales

 

Sources: Home Fire Safety“, RedCross.org; “Fast Facts About Fires“, NFPA.org.


Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms are ON SALE this month only at GNH Lumber! CLICK HERE for web sale details.