It’s the month of roses and chocolate. But instead of forking out money for a predictable symbol of love, consider accomplishing a long-delayed honey-do project. Skip downer chores such as unclogging drains and go for something that puts you both in a cheerful mood. For example, do you need a better solution for winter coats close to your main entry? Clean out a nearby closet, install a shelf (for hats and mittens) with coat hooks underneath or get a coat tree. Is the garage workshop a mess? Invest in a cabinet to store all those little parts. To bring order to hand tools, buy a pegboard and hooks and use a marker to outline where each piece goes, as Julia Childs used to do with her kitchen tools.
Add some romance
Nothing affects the ambiance of a room like lighting. Candlelight sets a romantic mood, but so can the modern equivalent: a dimmer switch. If you’ve held off installing one because you wanted to use compact fluorescent bulbs, most of which aren’t safe on circuits with dimmers, check out the growing array of dimmable LED bulbs, including ones with narrow bases that fit candelabrum fixtures. You can also add romance to a room with strings of miniature lights or with rope lights. Not just for Christmas anymore, they’re great for highlighting an arch or a doorway or stringing around the top corners of a room as sparkly crown molding. Or maybe you just need a new or spruced-up lamp or ceiling fixture.
Paint
February, the last month before the majority of gardening chores beckon, is a great time to tackle an indoor painting project. Not sure where to begin? Home Depot stores frequently offer free workshops about tools and techniques. Find the one nearest you at www.homedepot.com; set the store location to one near you and then type “workshops” in the search box.
Plug those gaps
You might be dealing with lingering cold-weather issues in your house, but it’s also a great time to think ahead about areas that get too hot in the summer. Go online and download “A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating With Energy Star” from the home improvement section at www.energystar.gov. This pamphlet identifies the usual places where air leaks and shows with pictures some simple ways to fill the gaps. It will also help you decide whether you’re up to the task. If not, you’ll know what to ask contractors when you interview them.
Go hot and cold
Most furnace filters need to be changed every three months. So if you switched on your heating system in November, you’re probably due for a change. Clogged filters restrict airflow and force the air handler to work harder, which adds to your energy bill and makes the system noisier. While you’re basking in the furnace’s warmth, also spend a few minutes planning for those days when the temperature is too hot. Have your air conditioner serviced now, when technicians aren’t booked up.
Get credit
If you do tighten up your house, take advantage of the many tax credits that still exist for owners who make existing homes more energy-efficient. Homeowners who also take advantage of local and manufacturer rebates can sometimes wind up as much as $1,000 ahead — not counting their ongoing savings in annual energy bills. Now that’s sexy.
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