4 Home Improvement Projects Perfect for Winter

Winter is fast approaching, and that usually means it's time to hunker down and prepare for the cold weather ahead. However, the change in season doesn't mean all your plans for improving your home have to stop.

Here are four projects you can easily complete this winter to enhance your home:

1. Paint

While you can paint your home interior any time of year, winter may actually be the ideal season to do so. As the paint experts at Ricciardi Brothers explained, the cooler weather is perfect for this activity as the paint will dry faster and is less likely to streak. If you want to paint a room yourself, take advantage of the early light to put up a fresh coat and crack your windows for some crisp air.

If you want to hire professionals, winter is also the best time to do so. The painting company estimated that you could save 40% on professional services during the colder months because demand is typically lower. If you want to give a room in your home a new feel, a fresh coat of paint is perfect.

Painting a room is the perfect project for winter.

2. Add insulation

It may feel like winter is too late to add insulation around the home, but it's actually the best time to do so. The cold weather and wind make it easy to find drafts and cracks, or see if your home insulation is doing its job on the whole. If you notice your windows or doors are drafty, you can easily fix them with a DIY kit and some tools you likely have already. However, if you want your home's insulation to be inspected, it's best to bring in a professional. They will help you understand how it's holding up and if new material is needed.

In the long run, investing in new insulation will help you save money in future months and years.

3. Upgrade your garage

How cluttered does your garage get over the summer? Between beach gear, rakes and leaf blowers, is there any room for your car left? The winter months are the perfect time to reorganize this area and make space for your winter needs. Realtor.com recommended investing in vertical storage or a wall peg organizer to help.

Take the afternoon (or a few days) to sort through your existing items, donate or sell what you don't need and reorganize your essentials so they are easily accessible. If you have an attached closet or corner, this can be ideal for storing your snow shovels and ice scrapers.

4. Renovate a smaller room

Having a large space like your kitchen renovated during the winter may be impractical because of the weather (and having contractors constantly coming in and out of your home). But a smaller area, like a bathroom or mudroom, can easily be upgraded in a few weeks. Add new flooring, furniture and accessories for an entirely new feel. An added bonus is that contractors may be less expensive to hire during this time of year.

For more home renovation tips and information on financing* them, contact your local Vectra Bank Representative today.

^{*Loans subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply. See banker for details}