When it comes to home improvements, we often prioritize style upgrades or ROI value. However, some of the best improvements are the ones that make life more simple, save money in the long run, and make daily tasks a whole lot easier. These changes actually end up upgrading the way you live. Do you want some practical improvements that can make everyday easier and more comfortable? Keep reading and you’ll discover some easy home improvements that save time, money, and effort.
Install A Water Softener
There are a few easy home improvements that can affect everything in the home. FixinHard water is more than just a minor annoyance. It can drain your bank account, too. Hard water leaves mineral deposits on your drinking glasses and faucets but it also lands in your pipes and appliances. Yes, your laundry feels a lot less fresh than it could, but those pipes and appliances might also stop working because they’re blocked. And fixing that can cost a lot of money.
However, if you install a system for whole-home water softening, you’ll have a modern solution that totally tackles hard water right at its source where it comes into your home. When you’ve got soft water running through your pipes, your appliances will last longer. Plus, your skin and hair will feel better, too. And your dishes will be sparkling clean. You’ll need to spend a lot less time cleaning up. That’s a bonus feature that you might love the most.
Switch To Energy-Efficient Lighting
Lighting is another one of those easy home improvements. It’s going to make a big difference over time (and immediately when it comes to lighting your home). Consider replacing your traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient LED ones. After you do that, you’ll significantly reduce your energy bills and also cut down on how often you have to change the bulbs. LED bulbs last much longer than incandescent ones. All in all, you’re saving time, effort, and money in one fell swoop. (Does anyone else think of Nate Bargatze when you read that phrase? Let me know in the comments below.)
And let’s not forget you can also include some smart lighting options in your home. You can install smart lighting and use an app on your phone that lets you control your lights remotely. Or schedule them to turn on and off at various times, so you’ll never have to worry about leaving the lights on when you leave the house again.
Upgrade Your Insulation
If your home feels drafty in the winter and far too stuffy and warm in the summer, your home probably is leaking air. The issue might be with your insulation. It could be time to change it or upgrade it. If you have an old house, maybe it’s the first time it’s being added.
Proper insulation doesn’t just keep your home comfortable all year round, but it also reduces your energy bills. You won’t have to use so much energy for heating and cooling. And you often can set the thermostat at a lower temperature in the winter and higher in the summer and stay just as comfortable.
The best place to start is your attic space. Poor insulation there is generally one of the biggest culprits for energy loss in most homes. True, this easy home improvement isn’t one that’s going to be visibly noticeable and make your home look a lot better, but it’ll definitely help to make it feel better, and that’s even better in many ways. (Especially when you’re saving money and energy at the same time).
Add a Mudroom
Are bags, shoes, coats, and stuff scattered everything near your entryway? Is it making things in your home messy and muddy in the process? If that’s something you want to solve, a mudroom could be the answer. No, you don’t have to turn over an entire space for a mudroom area or add an extension. iJust a small area near your hallway is enough.
Add some hooks, shoe racks, and some bins and buckets for organizing bits and pieces. Label each cubby and bin with each family member’s name so they know where their stuff goes. It will help keep your home tidier, and you’ll also save a lot of time when it comes to hunting down missing items. (Doesn’t the ‘where’s my’ always happens right when you have to leave, especially when you’re in a hurry?)
