17 Home Projects You Should Tackle While You’re Stuck Inside This Winter

Just because the temperatures plummet and snow covers the ground, doesn’t mean you need to put away your tools and stop doing home projects. Instead, turn to those that can be completed during the winter months, such as painting interior walls, replacing old carpet, or renovating the basement.

These are our favorite home renovations to tackle in winter.

Insulate the Attic and Crawlspace

One of the best projects that can be completed in the winter is replacing or adding to the existing insulation in the attic and crawlspace. Ensuring your home is properly insulated will help to reduce the cost of heating bills, while also protecting the attic, crawlspace, and any infrastructure residing in these parts of the home.

DIYers may be able to handle this job on their own, but in most cases you should hire a professional to insulate the attic and crawlspace. Since winter tends to be less busy for professional contractors, you shouldn’t have any issues booking an appointment, and you may even be able to get a discounted rate.

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Seal Cracks and Gaps Around Windows and Doors

Sealing the cracks and gaps around windows and doors can reduce heat loss and improve the overall efficiency of the home. You can typically use caulking to seal up these cracks and gaps, though you may need to resort to using an insulating spray foam to patch larger cracks around the windows and doors of the home.

Most DIYers will be able to complete this job on their own in just a few hours, especially since the dry winter weather helps the caulking or insulating spray foam dry and set at a faster rate than they would during summer.

Install a Kitchen Backsplash

Use this time inside during winter to tackle a kitchen backsplash installation project. The job doesn’t take a lot of time to begin with, but may take even less time during the winter months when the air tends to be dryer, allowing the adhesive and grout to dry quicker.

Lay Hardwood Flooring

It’s a common misconception that hardwood installation projects should be completed during the warmer months of the year, when in fact, it’s much easier to lay new hardwood flooring in the winter. This is primarily due to the low humidity levels, which helps to prevent gapping between the newly placed hardwood boards, while also decreasing the risk of water damage. If you plan to use adhesive for your hardwood flooring job, the winter air helps the adhesive dry faster than it would during the spring or summer months.

Touch Up or Repaint the Walls

Interior painting projects are one of the most popular choices for winter home renovations, and as you work, the winter air will help to quickly dry each coat of paint, reducing the overall time for the project.

Update Light Fixtures

Take some time to update light fixtures while you are stuck inside this winter. If you have experience working with electrical system may be able to replace a light fixture on your own, though it’s important to take proper precautions to avoid accidental injury.

If you are not confident in your abilities, call a professional electrician who will be able to quickly and safely update any light fixtures you would like to replace this winter.

Organize and Redecorate the Laundry Room

Winter is the perfect time to organize or redecorate the laundry room. You can paint the walls, install new shelving for laundry supplies, and invest in updated laundry bins to keep your clothes and home linens neatly sorted.

Many home appliances tend to go on sale during the winter months, so it can be a great time to purchase a new washer and dryer to complete the updated appearance of the laundry room.

Replace Kitchen Countertops

After the holiday, the winter months is a good chance to make changes to the kitchen, such as replacing old worn, scratched, and cracked kitchen countertops. Redoing the kitchen countertops is relatively straightforward, though the weight of the countertops can pose a problem for solo DIYers.

If you don’t have anyone available to help, it’s a better idea to hire the pros to remove the old countertops and install the new countertop.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A quick and easy job for most DIYers this winter is to replace the old thermostat with a programmable thermostat that can be set to operate on a specific schedule. This will allow you to automate your home heating and cooling process, improving the efficiency of your home.

After installing the programmable thermostat, set it to reduce the temperature indoors at night and during the day when everyone is at work or school. This simple change will typically lead to lower heating costs throughout the winter season.

Reface Kitchen Cabinets

Completely replacing the existing kitchen cabinets is a huge job, but if you are fine with the current layout and the amount of storage provided by the existing cabinets, instead of replacing them, you can reface the cabinets to update the appearance.

Refacing kitchen cabinets typically involves installing new drawer fronts and cabinet doors, veneering the cabinet boxes, and installing new cabinet hardware.

Create a Home Office

Instead of making the trek to the office every day, you may want to spend some time this winter creating an office at home. If you have a spare room or some extra space around the house, you can invest in ergonomic office furniture and functional decor to create a workspace that you can use whenever the weather outside keeps you from commuting to the office.

Replace Old or Worn Carpeting

If your carpet is stained, damaged, or simply worn out, it may be time for an upgrade. Wait until after the holiday traffic is over, then set aside a weekend to take up the old carpet and install new carpet. The updated carpet will feel better under your feet and it can help to insulate the floor to ensure a balanced distribution of heat throughout the home.

Redecorate the Home

Not every home improvement project needs to involve power tools. When the winter snow starts to fall, use your time indoors to redecorate the space by hanging new artwork, putting up mirrors, or installing wall decor that helps to enhance the existing aesthetic. You can also rearrange furniture and appliances throughout the home to create refreshing new layouts and to give your home an updated feel.

Regrout or Replace Shower Tiles

Grout lines can start to become discolored over time, or may even develop small cracks that can lead to the grout crumbling. Similarly, damaged shower tiles may allow water to seep into unseen places where it can cause mold growth or may even begin to rot the walls.

Take some time this winter to replace any old grout or damaged shower tiles to protect and preserve the infrastructure of your bathroom. Winter is typically slow for professional contractors, so if you are unsure about your DIY abilities, don’t hesitate to call in the pros.

Upgrade the Faucets

As faucets age they lose a bit of their original luster and may develop slow leaks that gradually increase your water bill, which is why it’s a good idea to upgrade the faucets this winter. Typically, an experienced DIYer can replace a faucet in under an hour with minimal impact to the home. This simple project isn’t just easy to do, it also helps to conserve water and reduce your bills, making this one of the best options for winter home renovations.

Redesign the Closets

Install new shelving for your closets and reorganize any clothing or other items you may have hanging up. You can also install drawers for added storage, or if you have a large walk-in closet, you may even want to invest in a center island for laying out clothing and accessories.

Renovate the Basement

If your basement feels dark, damp, and dreary, take some time to upgrade the insulation, install new lights, and replace the flooring you can reinvigorate the space, turning the basement into a more functional area, like a home gym, playroom, or a space for hosting friends and family. If you have the time and budget, you may even be able to fully finish the basement with drywall, a few coats of paint, and a new basement ceiling.