The 6 Best Winter Renovations and Home Improvements

There’s no denying that spring and summer are the most popular times of year to make home improvements, but if you’ve been writing winter off entirely for these projects, you’re missing out. From easier scheduling to a potential for cost savings, there are many reasons to do renovations during the winter. It’s just a matter of picking the right project.

To that end, we’ve decided to list the six best winter home renovations and home improvements. Read on below to get a sense of what these projects entail and why they’re a good match for the winter season.

1. Adding insulation to your attic

If you haven’t done so already, insulating your attic is a great way to keep your family warm while also cutting down on your heating bills. You can either have a contractor do this for you or go DIY. What’s important, in this case, is that you focus on finding insulation with the correct “R-value”.

Where insulation is concerned, the “R-value” refers to the effectiveness of the insulation. Ideally, you should aim to find insulation with an R-value of at least 38, but the higher the number is, the better.

2. Remodeling a kitchen

Since the work is fully indoors, remodeling a kitchen is a great choice for a winter renovation. Additionally, since the average kitchen renovation can be expected to cost around $25,000, according to Home Advisor, it may also be a good idea to try and take advantage of those off-season discounts.

When remodeling a kitchen, timing is everything. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use your kitchen to cook for the length of the remodel, so if you’re the type who cooks extensively in the winter or will be hosting a dinner party, you’ll want to be sure to schedule your remodel carefully.

3. Remodeling a bathroom

Remodeling a bathroom is a great way to freshen up the look of your home. Plus, it’s able to be done at a variety of price points. If your goal is to keep things cost-effective, you can simply swap out the vanity and give the room a new coat of paint. However, if you have the budget, you can change up the shower or tub to create a more spa-like atmosphere.

In this case, making sure to schedule the timing of your remodel appropriately is also key. Put simply, being one bathroom down is a hassle, especially if you have a lot of people in the house. If you’re planning on entertaining or hosting guests soon, you may want to wait until afterward to start this project.

4. Finishing a basement

If you’re in the market for more living space, finishing your basement can be a smart way to give yourself more usable square footage. Whether your goal is to create a hang-out space for the kids, an extra bedroom for guests, or a dedicated laundry area, in most cases, you’ll have the freedom to design the space however you see fit.

As for why it may make more sense to finish a basement off in winter, this is also an opportunity to save on your heating bills. Part of making an unfinished space livable is adding insulation. The new insulation behind your walls will help heat your home from the bottom up and make it much less likely that your pipes will freeze during cold snaps.

5. Converting to an open-concept floor plan

These days, everyone wants an open concept and living area. However, you don’t have to move to get one. While this project is extensive, it can be done. Once it is, you’ll have the ideal set-up for being able to cook and take part in family conversations at the same time.

Since contractor’s schedules tend to be more open during the winter months, this may be a good time to call them in to talk about what it would take to open up your home. The contractor will have to spend some time figuring out which walls are load-bearing and helping you configure your new space.

6. Giving your closet a makeover

Redoing your closets is another indoor home improvement project that’s a natural fit for winter weather. In terms of the scope of work that needs to be done, this renovation is rather simple. After all, there’s more to designing the functionality of the space than there is to the actual installation.

In this case, the major advantage of this project comes from the materials being used. Typically, closet organizational systems tend to be made from either a pre-fabricated melamine material or coated wire. Neither of those materials need to get acclimated to the temperature in the same way that hardwood might.