Great Ideas to Help You Through the Holidays

As the holidays approach quickly, many people are put into panic mode. The fact is that holidays can be the most stressful time of the year, especially if you are trying to fit in work, family, and friends to your already hectic lifestyle. However, if you want to get through the holidays without feeling like your home and your world is falling apart, consider the following ideas:

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead for the holidays is hard, but it will be even harder if you have too many things to do. If you have any non-related holiday things to take care of, such as getting the oil changed in your vehicle, get these things done ahead of time. You can also plan to get holiday chores done, such as making out Christmas cards, by taking them with you and doing them when you are waiting for an appointment.

Dishes Build-Up

You may enjoy baking and making special meals during the holidays, but the build-up of dishes can quickly get out of hand if you don’t stay on top of it. Instead of getting overwhelmed with dirty dishes, take control of it by using disposable plates, bowls, and utensils when possible this year. There are a wide variety of holiday-themed disposable dishes that will make your home look festive and you don’t have to worry about cleaning them. Or if you have time while you’re waiting for something to come out of the oven, use that time to take care of the dishes you just used.

Divide and Conquer

While you may feel like that you have to do everything to make the holidays perfect for your family, the holidays are the time to divide and conquer the housework. Even young children can be put in charge of some tasks, such as sorting laundry or dusting. The truth is that your family may complain, but they will appreciate the fact that it allows you to spend more time with them.

Simplify Your Shopping

While most people believe holiday shopping has gotten out of hand, not many choose to do something about it. Whether you limit your gifting to just three or four gifts each or you choose one larger gift for each person, by simplifying your gift giving, you are going to eliminate a lot of your stress over the holidays. Get your family in on your plans so that no one is surprised and everyone knows what to expect. Even if you spend the same amount of money, by limiting the amount of gifts, you are going to save a lot of stress and time over the holiday season.

Layer Your Window Wardrobe For Winter Warmth

When the winter winds begin to blow, you need to consider your home's "window wardrobe" as a way to keep warm air in, cold air out, and heating costs down.

Of course the most efficient thing you can do to winterize your windows is inspect them all thoroughly and invest in high-quality vinyl replacement windows where necessary. This step can dramatically increase the energy efficiency of your home and boost its curb appeal at the same time.

But all windows benefit from seasonally-appropriate dressing and the sooner you get your windows appropriately outfitted for winter, the sooner you'll start enjoying cozy, draft-free comfort. Here are some tips on creating a winter wardrobe for your windows.

Layering

Just as layers play an important role in your own winter clothing choices, layering your window dressings can make a huge difference to how your home feels. Start with the layer closest to the window panes; if you have mini-blinds or roll-up blinds in place, consider lowering or closing them when winter is at its worst. If you aren't currently using blinds or roll-ups this might be a good time to consider them, at least as a seasonal addition. Blinds can be an effective draft blocker, especially on cold winter nights.

Types of Curtains

Now move on to the curtains. The light and breezy sheer panels that are perfect in the spring and summer need to be packed away and replaced with semi-opaque curtain panels that are denser and more closely woven. Lightweight translucent drapes may look great, but they do very little toward protecting your windows or blocking drafts. Though they may not "bring the outside in" like summer sheers do, they still allow light to penetrate and they'll provide a layer of defense against drafts.

Look for heavier drapes that are closely woven, opaque, and preferably lined. Special thermal drapes are a great choice for winter windows, but "light blocker" draperies that feature vinyl or rubberized linings can also work well. The man made lining layer acts as a moisture barrier that keeps the indoors feeling drier and more comfortable.

It's also important to be sure your draperies are long enough to graze the floor and wide enough to close completely to completely seal out drafts. Drawing the drapes does block the room's natural light, so you might want to reserve this action for evenings, but you'll appreciate the warm results.

Want to Prevent Heat Loss? Don’t Forget These Steps!

The weather’s getting colder and one of the biggest things homeowners are worried about this time of year is making sure their home isn’t losing heat. Not only does heat loss make your home less comfortable, it’s a waste of money because you’re paying to heat your house, not the neighborhood around your house.

Before you head to the store for cumbersome plastic coverings or heavy, bulky drapes, consider making these smart changes to warm up your home and ensure that you’re cozy even on the coldest day of the year There are lots of ways you can prevent heat loss in your home, but here are a few of the ways people commonly overlook. However, these methods may prove to be more effective at keeping your home warm.

Worn Down Weatherstripping

You may have put weatherstripping on your windows and doors at some point on the past, but if you can’t remember exactly when that was, it may be time for it to be replaced. These simple foam strips wear down over time so it’s smart to replace them regularly. If the old weatherstripping appears to be crushed, then it should be removed and disposed of. It only takes a few minutes to treat your exterior doors and windows. The new weatherstripping will have self-adhesive backing so you can easily install new, effective foam that will block drafts and keep your home warmer.

Rarely Used Rooms

Take a close look around your home and you may find that you’re not using every space. Shut down the vents in the guest bedrooms and other areas you hardly ever use and close the door to force more heat into the rooms you do use regularly. If you find yourself needing to use these rooms during the winter, it’s no problem to open the door and vents again and have the room warm up again in no time.

Expanding Foam

It’s no secret that doors and windows are the key areas where heat can escape from, but sometimes the reasons this happens aren’t so obvious. Remove the trim around your windows and you may be surprised to find that the gap around the window frame was never insulated. This is common in older homes, but spray foam insulation is an easy way to solve the problem. All you have to do is spray in the foam slowly, allow it to expand and harden, carve off the excess and reinstall the trim.

Replace Your Windows

Even if the weather is already turning, you can still make the investment in vinyl replacement windows. Most contractors offer this service year-round and you’ll feel the difference in your home immediately. You can have just one window replaced or have the entire house treated to see the greatest reduction in your utility bills.

Tinting

It may come as a surprise to you, but window tinting can keep your home a little warmer. The reflective surface not only keeps the heat out in the summer, but it also keeps your home’s heat inside the home when it’s cold outside. This winter, make your home a little warmer and lower your utility bills. Now is a great time to start saving money, and you’ll continue to enjoy the benefits throughout the year.

Holiday Window Decoration Ideas

When it comes time to decorate for the holidays, be it Halloween, Christmas, or anything else your family may celebrate, there’s a lot that has to go into it around the house - but have you considered your windows? Whether you have new vinyl windows or the windows that came with your home, there’s plenty of ways to make your windows just as festive as the rest of your home.

Stickers and Clings You probably haven’t thought about these since you were a little kid, but there’s still plenty of options out there for easy, removable window clings to help get you in the holiday spirit! Holiday- or party-themed retailers will offer a wide variety of vinyl static-based window clings that will hold tight to your windows through the whole season without any mess or cleanup!

Window Paint Or if you prefer something a little more personalized, there’s plenty of options to paint directly on the window! Tempera paint provides a safe and easy to clean option for painting directly on the window pane, allowing you to paint pumpkins, turkeys, Santa Claus, or anything else you want directly on the window for a more personalized look - and you can wash them right off when you’re done! This might be a fun project for the kids to get in on to help them feel like they’ve had a hand in the decorations!

Repurpose Other Decorations or Items Why stop at just using items intended for windows? Depending on the shape and layout of your windows and the rooms they hang in, you can take other decorations and re-use them on your windows instead. String garland and Christmas tree ornaments along the tops of your window panes, or re-use holiday-themed table settings to create impromptu window treatments. Don’t just stop here - there’s plenty of decorations that you can use to make your windows just as festive and decorated as the rest of your home during the holiday seasons!

Home Improvements That Get a Great Return

Whether you are trying to sell your home or you simply want to fix it up, there are many home improvement projects that will quickly increase the value of your home. A simple paint job can make it more sellable, but will more than likely not get you a great return. However, the following are some projects you can do that will get you the return you need and improve the value of your home:

Vinyl replacement windows are a relatively easy project to complete and most people see a substantial return on their investment. The cost of the project will vary, depending upon how many windows you have in your home, the size of the windows, and the style you choose. However, you can be guaranteed that this project is one of great value.

A vinyl siding installation is another great investment. It’s easy to do and will help your home in a number of ways. Like the windows, the cost will vary depending on the size of the home and other factors, but it should help maintain the value of your home and reduce utility costs. If selling, it is a great way to improve your curb appeal as well.

Adding a wooden deck is another project that is appealing to potential buyers and, if you are not selling, one that can be enjoyed by you and your family. The initial cost and investment for a new deck might be pretty hefty looking, but you can almost be guaranteed that it will improve your home’s value and provide years of enjoyment for you and your guests.

A new garage door is another project you can take on, and the cost of this project should still be manageable. However, this project, once complete, can improve the curb appeal of your home and make life a little easier when using your garage.

If you are selling your home, you may not wish to invest a lot of money into it. However, even if you are not selling, the projects above are all good ways to increase the equity in your home. If you are not selling, it will still benefit you in the long run as you and your family can enjoy a great looking home and one that is going to put more money in your pocket should you ever decide to sell in the future.