10 Home Improvement Projects For The Holidays

Hot chocolate. Fuzzy socks. A cozy fireplace….

It’s that time of year again. As you prepare for the fall and winter holidays, we’ve prepared our top 10 holiday home improvement projects. Take a look!

1. Front Door & Entrance

One of the first things that a guest will see is your front door. Putting a fresh coat of paint on your front door or even changing it out entirely could give your home a fresher look. If your exterior color palette is relatively neutral, choosing a bold or non-neutral color for your door could make a statement or add a cheery touch. Replacing the house numbers and adding some new vases with plants or succulents are additional options to bring new life (literally!) to your front porch.

Contemporary Remodel by J Walsh Construction

[Image via Apartment Therapy]

2. Foyer & Entryway

Add some artwork, a console table, or a bench in the foyer for a warm and inviting first impression. Personalize the details and add or update existing lighting with a show-stopping light fixture in your entrance. The foyer is a first snapshot of your home and a great place to add fun and personalized details.

[Image via Classic Casual Home]

3. Paint & Wallpaper

A fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost efficient ways to update your entire house, and there are so many different possibilities when it comes to paint colors. If you love the idea of having a neutral as the main paint color but want to jazz it up or go a bit bolder, you can try designating accent walls (or even the ceiling!) in a few rooms for more interest. For some added texture or pattern, select an accent wallpaper. The powder room is a terrific place to try out a bold or fun color since the scale isn’t too overwhelming. The impact of a bold hue or wallpaper in a smaller space gives you more miles for the effort.

Custom Tierrasanta Remodel by J Walsh Construction

[Image via Young House Love]

[Image via Home Adore]

4. Baseboards, Crown Moulding & Trim

Adding or updating the baseboards, crown moulding, and trim is another cost efficient way to spruce up your entire house. You can find baseboards to suit all styles, whether your home is traditional, transitional, contemporary, or anything in between. Adding some trim that is appropriate to your home’s architecture can really give your interiors a more finished and refined look.

Clean, flush baseboards and trim. Historic Irving Gill Renovation by J Walsh Construction.

5. Lighting

Lighting is a great way to liven up a space, and you might be surprised at how dramatically choosing the right one can transform and define a room. The foyer, dining room, and kitchen island are great areas to install some fun, dramatic, or over-sized lights to add some bold texture, color, and personality.

6. Fireplace

The fireplace is a central part of many family and living rooms and is often a focal point where holiday decor and stockings are displayed. During the holidays, a fireplace often feels like the coziest area to gather around (even if the coziness is largely symbolic in sunny San Diego!). Replacing the mantel and updating the fireplace tile, stone, and overall design is a great way to update a space that your family and guests will enjoy.

Historic Mission Hills Mills Act Renovation by J Walsh Construction

[Image via The Lily Pad Cottage]

7. Kitchen

The kitchen is one place that is worth investing in for both functional and aesthetic reasons. A new countertop, backsplash, cabinets, and layout can completely change your daily routine as well as the feel and flow of home. However, if a complete overhaul and redesign is out of the question for the near future, re-facing or painting the cabinets is one way to give the kitchen new life. Updating faucets and fixture or the cabinet knobs and pulls is another simple and cost efficient way to update the space.

Historic Irving Gill Renovation by J Walsh Construction

Historic Mission Hills Mills Act Renovation by J Walsh Construction

[Image via The Kitchn]

8. Bathroom

Like the kitchen, bathrooms are a good place to consider investing in an update, and the same advice applies here as well. Remodeling a bathroom by replacing the vanity, tile, tub, and toilet will give the space a fresh look. Oftentimes a layout change will improve function and aesthetics. For a simplified update, re-facing or painting the vanity cabinets is a good way to go, and so are updating faucets, fixtures, and hardware. Adding an exciting paint color or wallpaper to smaller bathrooms and powder rooms can also make a dramatic impact.

Historic Irving Gill Renovation by J Walsh Construction

[Image via Architectural Digest]

[Image via DecorPad]

9. Decks

Although entertaining outdoors isn’t what usually comes to mind during the winter holidays, with the San Diego climate it is not only not a problem—it’s a near necessity to take advantage of the beautiful weather! A new or updated deck could be a wonderful place for friends and family to share some good food and drink under the San Diego sun.