It’s Valentine’s Day. Have you shown your home any L.O.V.E. lately? Use the holiday as an excuse this weekend and take a little time to freshen your space up. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money to make improvements that you will notice and appreciate around your home!

Let the light shine: Light makes a huge impact on the feel of a space. Natural daylight can enhance a bright and open feel. Lamp lights can add warmth. Go through each room of your home and evaluate the light. If you have nice big windows, give them a wipe down – both the glass and blinds. Check bulbs in light fixtures (don’t forget exterior lights) and give them a quick clean. Make sure all lamps have working bulbs. If you have a dark room or nook, try brightening it up with a new lamp or by moving a lamp not needed in another room to the space. Rotating lamps around the house can be a free, easy way to change the look and feel of a room in minutes!

Open your entries: Open concept rooms and flow stand out on buyer wish lists for a reason. These things really do make a home feel more inviting! So, walk through your home. As you enter each room, are there items impeding your path or eye line into the room? If so, experiment by rearranging pieces to clear the entry. Again, don’t get fixated on working only with what’s currently in the room. Shuffling furniture or décor between rooms might be the answer! Here are some more tricks to help with an open feel.

Value your investment: Are you up-to-date on your home maintenance? Review this checklist that provides some annual guidance. Beyond that, ensure your home insurance is current and properly valued. This would also be a good time to go through your home to document valuables. Having these records in place and current are some of the best things you can do to protect your investment in your home.

Edit your décor: Trends come and go. Do you feel like certain rooms in your home need to be brought current on style? Start by removing items you no longer want to use. If there are things you can donate, that’s a great way to recycle and give back! Once you have a more clean slate, determine what changes need to be made to update the space. Is it as simple as moving some finishing touches from another room? Do you need to paint an accent wall? Maybe create a gallery wall? Would new throw pillows do the trick?

We hope you’re having a day and weekend filled with all you cherish most! If there’s anything we can do to help with your improvements, let us know. We’re always available to provide project ideas and referrals!