Ideas for Winter Home Improvements

"Tighten" your home by sealing air leaks.

This project can even save you money! There are several ways to check for air leaks at wall openings. Some professional contractors use thermographs, a type of thermal imaging device, to locate the cool spots. D-I-Y enthusiasts can use smoky incense to indicate where drafts may be present.

A surefire way to catch all the leaks is to gather your caulking gun, weather-stripping, insulating gaskets and expanding foam; then, systematically address each hole in every wall (outlets, windows/doors, light fixtures, fireplaces, etc.). It can be time consuming, but, hey, winter can be very, very long.

Winter landscaping.
Yes, the words "winter" and "landscaping" can be used in the same sentence. If you are the type of person who can't stay inside for long, here are some ideas for sprucing up those dreary, winter yards.

Try installing some solar powered lighting to outline pathways or planting beds. It will help guide the snow shovel and add a cozy twinkle to the drifts.

Or consider attracting winter wildlife with a new bird feeder. An ornamental bird feeder can act as a landscape's focal point and there's really nothing like a bright red cardinal to animate a bleak, brown (or white) yard.