5 No (or Low) Cost Home Improvements You Can Do While Quarantined
Many people these days are still quarantined at home, on tight budgets because of loss of work or diminished work hours. Home improvement is probably not high on the priority list. But, since many of us have nothing but time, now could be the perfect time for you to do a little home improvement. One misconception is that home improvement has to be expensive or done by a professional. Yes, professionals are great for some jobs, but they aren't required for everything. There are many home improvement projects you can do yourself, that are surprisingly affordable. And, since you're stranded at home-now would be a great time to start.
Project #1- Clean up!
While this may not be life altering, I'm sure that there is SOME space in your home that could use sprucing up. Whether it's your kitchen, living room or bath 
there is a room that could use a deep clean. This doesn't have to cost a lot, just elbow grease and some time. You might be surprised how much better your home looks and smells after you have deep cleaned it. Not to mention that this is something EVERYONE in your home can participate in, no matter how small or how capable! Deep clean the over looked items, like the windows, under the beds or appliances! I'm always surprised how much nicer my home smells and looks once I clean the windows! There is something about how the light comes in that looks amazing. And the best part? It didn't cost me anything.
there is a room that could use a deep clean. This doesn't have to cost a lot, just elbow grease and some time. You might be surprised how much better your home looks and smells after you have deep cleaned it. Not to mention that this is something EVERYONE in your home can participate in, no matter how small or how capable! Deep clean the over looked items, like the windows, under the beds or appliances! I'm always surprised how much nicer my home smells and looks once I clean the windows! There is something about how the light comes in that looks amazing. And the best part? It didn't cost me anything.Project #2- Find your Green Thumb!
I'll admit it, I've had more plant funerals than I'd care to discuss, but I keep trying. When going to someone's home, especially for sale, first impressions are important. The first thing buyers see is the front of your home or your front door. If you have plants or flowers near the front of the home, it seems inviting and cared for. It shows you care about your home! So, why not bring a
little of the outdoors in? You don't have to go all out and buy a bunch of plants and pots. There are many ways to bring some green into your life. Try a succulent! If you've never heard of a succulent then you're missing out. These little plants are kin to cactus, they require little water and many times are easy to grow from just a small part of the plant. I'm guilty-if I'm out and see a succulent I like, I will pick a little part of the plant and take it with me. All it takes is putting it in a little dirt, a little sun, and some water. They aren't too fussy, and will eventually root. Don't have a pot? Use an old tea cup, or old veggie can from the kitchen? Eventually they will grow larger and larger. The best part? You can grow more succulents from your succulent! good ones to try are Escheveria, Sempervivum (also known as Hens and Chicks) or Graptopetalum (known as Leatherpetal). Easy to grow and they are pretty. Even if you aren't selling your home-plants add a little life that wasn't there before!
little of the outdoors in? You don't have to go all out and buy a bunch of plants and pots. There are many ways to bring some green into your life. Try a succulent! If you've never heard of a succulent then you're missing out. These little plants are kin to cactus, they require little water and many times are easy to grow from just a small part of the plant. I'm guilty-if I'm out and see a succulent I like, I will pick a little part of the plant and take it with me. All it takes is putting it in a little dirt, a little sun, and some water. They aren't too fussy, and will eventually root. Don't have a pot? Use an old tea cup, or old veggie can from the kitchen? Eventually they will grow larger and larger. The best part? You can grow more succulents from your succulent! good ones to try are Escheveria, Sempervivum (also known as Hens and Chicks) or Graptopetalum (known as Leatherpetal). Easy to grow and they are pretty. Even if you aren't selling your home-plants add a little life that wasn't there before!Project #3- Change your Point of View
Many of us move into our homes, arrange the furniture a few times, then, leave it. Sometimes for decades. Never thinking to re-arrange or try something new. Occasionally it's a good idea to shake things up a bit. 
The way we live in our homes changes over time. We find a significant other, have a family member move in, have kids or someone leaves. The funny thing is, we don't necessarily change the furniture around to accommodate those changes. Instead of living with the status quo, why not try your home around. See if it works better another way? You may be surprised to find that the old way you were living wasn't the optimal use of your space any longer! It also helps to look at the furniture you're using, sometimes things can be repurposed into something else. The cabinet you were using for a dresser is now filled with stuff you no longer look at any more? Great, move it to the living room, use it to store office supplies, make it a sideboard for all your dishes, or put it behind the couch as a side table. Need ideas, check out Pinterest for ways to refinish the furniture you have. Sometimes, it just needs a new look, or a really good cleaning!
The way we live in our homes changes over time. We find a significant other, have a family member move in, have kids or someone leaves. The funny thing is, we don't necessarily change the furniture around to accommodate those changes. Instead of living with the status quo, why not try your home around. See if it works better another way? You may be surprised to find that the old way you were living wasn't the optimal use of your space any longer! It also helps to look at the furniture you're using, sometimes things can be repurposed into something else. The cabinet you were using for a dresser is now filled with stuff you no longer look at any more? Great, move it to the living room, use it to store office supplies, make it a sideboard for all your dishes, or put it behind the couch as a side table. Need ideas, check out Pinterest for ways to refinish the furniture you have. Sometimes, it just needs a new look, or a really good cleaning! Project #4-A Little Paint Goes a Long Way
This project isn't free-but it's close. If you're anything like me and my family, your home was painted probably within the last ten years, but over time it's gotten a little-worn. Oh, alright, it's down right disastrous. Our house interior needs paint, and usually we're too busy to do it. It requires a lot of moving furniture, and time. Things, we didn't use to have. These days though, we've found ourselves with more time than we bargained for. Paint can be expensive,
as far as home improvement goes, there is a lot of bang for your buck. If you have left over paint from the last time you painted, GREAT. Use that! You already have it. Another way to get inexpensive paint, our local paint store has a space out back where they put all the rejects. Mixed paint colors that were either not what the customer ordered or they didn't like it or they were mistakes. This paint is either free or really cheap. It's a good way to get a whole new look to an interior room with little money. If you don't have a paint store like I do, try getting onto Craigslist, many people give away many materials like paint free to good homes. If you can't find any for free-you could just break down and buy some. While this isn't free it is a fairly inexpensive improvement. Just remember, cover your furniture and floor, cut it in then paint the rest. You will be done in no time-and you're home will look like new!Project #5- A Home Improvement and Saving Money Too!
There are some projects that are no cost and there are some that are low cost, then there are some that will save you money too. It may not be a huge amount-but anytime you can save money on something you're already doing is a bonus. Changing things like your heater filter or water filter is important for many reasons, but a great reason is that it can save money in heating and water bills. If you have a forced air furnace, changing its filter out every 3 months will help keep your heater bills down, as the heater won't have to work as hard to generate heat but it will also prolong the life of your heater as it won't over heat the heating element. Same goes for your water filter system, if you have one. These days not only do sinks have water filtration systems but so do refrigerators as well. Keeping these items clean and replacing them when they need it ensures that
they will work for quite a while as well as keep you healthy and costs down. Changing a water filter in a faucet or refrigerator can also help prevent leaks by preventing mineral build up. When your household appliances work more efficiently they use less resources to run. This also applies to cleaning out your dryer vent every load or two of laundry. This will keep your dryer running for years to come. Don't just do the vent on the dryer however, find where your vent is venting out of in the home and make sure the exhaust exit is also clear of dryer lint as well as the vent duct. These vents when clogged are known to cause house fires. A few Facts about house fires and dryer lint: According to the U.S. Fire Administration web site: 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.* These small changes won't be mind blowing for your home, however they will help your home function more efficiently and may even save you time and energy . Never underestimate the power of maintenance!
*https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/clothes_dryers.html
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