New Year, New Updates

As a homeowner, you take pride in your house and how much work you put into it. With the New Year approaching, you might already be thinking about some cool ways to spruce things up. What are some great home improvement ideas that can help you transition into the next year on a great start?

Add Solar Panels

Traditional electricity has always done the job you need to be done, but have you ever thought about swapping out your electrical box for solar panels instead? These innovative energy-harnessing designs have been around for a while now, but science has been perfecting them since their first iteration. Solar energy is much cheaper than using electric energy, and one of the best features? It's a green technology as well, which means that it's kinder to Mother Earth. Some of the best reasons for going solar?

• Your home's value is increased. People buying homes today are looking for green technologies, and since solar energy is so valuable it makes having a great selling feature.
• If there's a power outage, no worries; you're independent from the electrical transformers, so while everyone else uses flashlights to see you just flip a switch.
• It doesn't take long to see results on your energy bills — you start getting a return on your investment from the moment you start using it.

If you're thinking it's out of your price range to make such an investment, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are financing options available if you qualify. Like a car, student loan or any other large payment, a solar loan breaks up a large price tag into much smaller portions so that your monthly payments are manageable. 

Freshen Up With Paint 

Almost nothing is as quick and easy to transform a space as a can of paint. If you notice that your walls are starting to look dingy and worn, it's time to liven up the space by painting.

Remember that preparing the room you're painting is sometimes more important than the paint job itself. The devil is in the details, which means that you need to pay attention to even the most trivial things.

• Paint doesn't stick to a dusty wall, so give your walls a good scrub down beforehand. An easy way to do this is to mop your walls with a flat-padded mop and a solution of vinegar and water.
• Don't paint over your electrical outlets; as time goes on, the paint will chip away thanks to prongs going into the slots. Take the time to remove switch plate covers and wash them in hot, soapy water to remove any gunk or grease. 
• Shower curtains purchased from the dollar store can be fantastic drop cloths for cheap. Buy a bunch of them to cover furniture and flooring you don't want to spill any paint on.

Replace Outdated Lights

You've probably gotten so used to looking at your orb-shaped builder grade lights that you don't even notice them anymore, but take a good hard look. Do your lights fit this decade or do they look violently 90s? Style aside, how well do they project light and brighten your rooms? If you have the money to do so, buy replacement light fixtures for every room in the house. You don't have to do this all at once, go room-by-room and watch how dramatically the effect of the room changes.

This is also a great opportunity for you to swap out all your traditional light bulbs with LEDs. Not only are these extra-bright, but they're energy-efficient too: Compared to a standard bulb, LEDs last 20 to 25 times longer and can help you save money on your electrical bill. Chase the shadows away and bring your lights out of the DARK ages.

Build A Dream Outdoor Area

Transform your yard by making it the perfect place to host family gatherings and backyard barbecues. There are so many ways that you can make your yard one-of-a-kind, but some of the most popular ideas include:

• A firepit area. Whether you've had one custom-designed and crafted by architects or you have dug your own and added bricks, an outdoor fire area is a beautiful feature that is also practical. People tend to gather where there's a fire, so parties and events are much more fun at night.
• Why not build that deck you've always wanted? Design it to be big enough for outdoor gatherings with friends and don't forget to provide plenty of seating. A popular idea is to build seats into the deck railing itself to save money on chairs.
• Let your kids' dreams come true by crafting them a playhouse. You can customize it however you please and the little ones will be thrilled.

The New Year is a time for making changes. In the spirit of the season, decide how you want to update your home and bring it up to date.