6 easy indoor home projects to do this winter

Amanda Lauren, RealSimple.com on Jan 7, 2025

Winter is officially here and there’s a good chance you’re going to be spending more time indoors. While it’s nice to relax and enjoy some cozy days, you can also maximize this time for home improvement projects. The good news is that lots of those projects are not only easier than you think but they can also have a major impact on the way your home looks and feels. Here are six easy home projects to try this winter.

1. Declutter and reorganize

Stuck at home on a snow day? Use the time to declutter spaces like your bedroom closet. Get rid of clothing that’s stained, damaged, or doesn’t fit. Take anything you don’t like and put it in a pile to give away.

Then, reorganize your items in a way that makes sense to you. Don’t know where to start? Group like items together, such as shirts with shirts.

Move on to other areas of the home, such as your kitchen pantry and under the bathroom sink.

2. Swap out hardware

Want to try a home project that makes a big impact with very little skill and effort required? Try swapping out the hardware on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. All you need is a screwdriver.

This is also something renters can do to give their homes a personal touch. Just be sure to keep the old hardware and change it back before you move out. Go for something eye-catching, like brushed brass or opt for sleek matte black in a modern home.

You can also swap out the hardware on furniture, like your desk or dresser, to give old pieces a quick, easy, and often budget-friendly refresh.

3. Install a new shower head

Want to turn your bathroom into a spa without any construction? Just swap out your shower head. While this might sound intimidating because plumbing is involved, it’s actually easy. All you need to do is unscrew your old shower head and install a new one on the pipe in its place. Whether you want a stronger stream, a filtered shower head, or rain style — the possibilities are endless.

Even if you don't want to replace your shower head, you should definitely take the time to clean your existing fixture. Trust us, you'll be glad you did.

4. Paint

While painting requires a bit of pre-planning — it’s not very difficult to do. It also doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Best of all, it can have a major design impact on your space — even if you're just painting small accents, like the trim.

5. Hang curtains

While the wrong window treatments can break a room, the right ones can make a room. Hanging curtains is something many of us can do on our own. First, measure the windows and choose a curtain rod a few inches longer than the width. Then, think about what colors and types of fabrics look best in your space. Do you want rich velvet curtains perfect for blacking out a sunrise? Or would you prefer something sheer and light to make the room feel breezy?

Hang the curtains approximately four to six inches above the window frame to make the ceiling look higher.

6. Install peel-and-stick wallpaper

Installing traditional wallpaper can take a lot of skill, but installing peel-and-stick wallpaper just takes a bit of patience. Be sure to measure the wall or walls properly before you order the paper. It’s also a good idea to get an extra roll as long as you can return it unused. While this can take a little bit of trial and error, peel-and-stick wallpaper is forgiving and easy to fix. It also changes the ambiance to any space entirely, whether it's a powder room, dining room, bedroom, or even home office.

(Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at www.realsimple.com.)