Fall is a season of change. The green leaves transform into hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. The weather transitions from hot and sticky to cool and rainy. As the conditions outside change, there are some things you can do to get your home ready for the new fall season. From decorating your home to tackling repairs and winterizing your home, getting ready for fall and winter, here are 6 things you can do to get your home fall-ready.
It’s Fall, Y’all
For most people, one of the most exciting parts about the change in seasons is decorating their homes. Fall and winter are full of festive holidays, and decorating is a fun way to express yourself. Whether your fall style is just a pumpkin or two, or you choose to go for a more elaborate display, it’s all up to you.
Fall only lasts so long, so getting into the spirit of the season is a fun way to embrace it before winter hits. You can find adorable accent decor at brick and mortar chain stores or you can shop online for specific things you can’t find locally. There are a ton of awesome small business owners that create beautiful seasonal and holiday-themed items.
The fall season is also a great time for DIY projects. Take a walk and find sticks, leaves, stones, pinecones, and other small bits of nature and you can use these to make fall decorations without having to spend much money at all. These custom handmade pieces are a great personal touch to your seasonal decor.
Entertaining
Fall is the beginning of the holiday season, and for many people, that means they’ll be having guests over more frequently. Whether you’re just passing out candy on Halloween or you’re planning on hosting holiday gatherings and dinner parties, there are some things you can do to make the experience enjoyable for yourself and your guests.
Halloween is one of the best opportunities to really go all out. If you want to truly impress your trick or treaters, you can do this more easily than you’d think. With thrift stores, dollar stores, and cheap online retailers, decorating on a budget is easy. You can find so many things at a discounted price, from lights and fake spider webs to pumpkins and carving kits. Also, if you are crafty, there’s always the option of making your own decorations so you can bring the vision in your mind to life.
For those that plan on having guests over for food and drinks, there are some things you can have on hand for these occasions. If your style is to make appetizers such as a charcuterie board, investing in a nice board and accompanying accessories is sure to impress. You can even buy caviar to add to the spread.
Upgrades
One of the things that is widely common in the fall and winter months is sales. Retail shoppers all over the United States know that Christmas, Hanukkah, and other important holidays are right around the corner, so they get pretty competitive with their pricing.
Fall is the perfect time to get a good deal on just about everything. Whether you’re looking for the Amy Winehouse collection on vinyl as a gift for your sister-in-law or your kitchen is ready for new appliances, most stores have some sort of sale going on this time of year.
Whether you’re ready for new towels and bedding or you need to make upgrades to your kitchen and bathroom, discounts are everywhere. Most people spend a lot of time cooking and baking during the cooler months of the year, so if you’ve been having issues with your oven or dishwasher, taking advantage of this fall perk is a great way to get your home ready for making home-cooked meals this fall.
Pre-Winter Repairs
The cold temperatures that come along with fall and winter can really take a toll on your home and yard. Sure, decorating is the fun part of getting ready for the fall season, but there are several important ways to prepare your home before the fall and winter weather hits. And if you’re planning on listing your home, making repairs and cosmetic upgrades prior to adding it to homelister increases your chances of selling it in a timely manner.
In many places, autumn is a fairly wet and rainy time. This in combination with leaves and sticks falling from the trees at an increased rate means your gutters are more likely to get clogged. Before the weather changes, cleaning your gutters gives you a clean slate before this increase in precipitation. If you want to prevent the fall leaves from filling and clogging your gutters, you can even take the extra step to add mesh gutter guards to protect your gutters from future blockage.
Before temps drop and you’re dealing with chilly drafts, take the time to check your windows and doors for air leaks. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save up to 20% on your heating costs by sealing up any leaks around your home. A drafty home is both uncomfortable and costly. Checking for air leaks is easy; just close the window or door and hold a lighted candle near the frame, watching for the flame to flicker, as this indicates an air leak.
Cold and Flu Prep
When fall is finally in sight, that means cold and flu season is right around the corner. While there is no way to guarantee you’ll be able to sneak past the viruses floating around right now, there are some things you can do to minimize your risk of getting sick and some items to keep on hand in case you or someone else in your household comes down with a case of something.
Prevention is the preferred way to go. If you don’t get sick in the first place, you don’t have to recover, right? There are some things you can do that are supposed to boost the immune system, reducing your chances of falling ill. Some things that may help prevent catching the flu or a cold include:
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Stay hydrated
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Consume plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
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Use a humidifier
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Stay active
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Get some rest
While these are great ways to stay healthy, there is always the chance you’ll still get sick. Since that is the case, keeping some of the best clean medicine products on hand is a smart plan so that you can treat the illness right away.
Embrace the Season
No matter what you’ve got going on, fall is here, even if it’s only for a limited time. Take some time out of your schedule to enjoy the season while it’s here. Maybe decorating for holidays or seasons isn’t your thing, but there are other ways to appreciate all that fall has to offer.
On your next coffee run, grab a classic PSL. If you love a hot, comforting meal on a chilly night, make a stew or a pot roast in a slow cooker and snuggle up under a cozy blanket. You could even light one of the many fall scented candles like apple cinnamon or pumpkin spice.
