Right now, we are between large projects. We just finished the mudroom, and we plan to replace our floors within the year. That means, the budget is LOW for working on the house right now. We really need to save for the floors! However, we still have a ton we can be doing around here. We will be concentrating on free or VERY affordable projects, which is actually going to force us to get things done that should have been done a long time ago! I think sometimes a spending freeze is exactly what we need to be productive. If you want to improve your home but don’t want to spend money, here are some things you can do to make an impact for free:

• Clean/organize

Honestly, I think the this has more impact on a home than any decor possibly could. I know that I feel most comfortable at home when my house is clean and under control. Our basement flood kick-started our basement purge and organization. The basement is almost done. We’ve gotten rid of stuff, moved stuff around so that it is a space we can actually use, and have torn down all of the pink insulation that made it unwelcoming.

This is the “before” (with some weight equipment out of place due to cleaning up water). I’m promising an “after” next week. This side by side is what the basement would look like if I had a wide angle lens. The alcove with the weight equipment is just to the right of where the first picture ends.

Next, we will be moving on to our lower level (halfway underground basement). Since we moved here 5 years ago, this has basically been a space where we put random stuff that we don’t know what to do with. It holds random furniture, old carseats/strollers, a silver Christmas tree, you get the idea. The goal is to have this space cleaned up and ready for kids by Christmas morning. I’d love to surprise the kids with a new play space on Christmas. Parker completed one hurdle this weekend by fixing the dryer vent that runs through the room. It had a crack in it, so we have a lint problem in the lower level.

• Decorate with what you already have

I know that not everyone is like this, but we have so many things to hang on our walls that we’ve just never gotten around to hanging or for which we haven’t found the perfect spot. We got both of the kids things to hang in their room for Christmas last year. Has it been hung? NO. I’m going to give us a little break since we did spend 6 months on a mudroom this year, but it still could have been done! I’m also putting this on the list to be done by Christmas. Now, if you DONT have random decor lying around, you can still use things you already have to spruce things up. Typical household items like books, serveware, and even fruit can be used as decor. For very little money, you can have your kids create some art work and hang it on the wall in frames or mattes. There are also lots of places to find free printable wall art on the internet. Print something out, frame it, and hang it up!

• Rearrange a room

This is something that I never do, but my mom did it all the time! I’d come home from school and my room would be rearranged. It felt like a new room…in a good way. Sometimes you would find that you liked it the other way better, but it still gave you the feeling that you got something new, even though you didn’t. And there’s no harm in giving a new furniture arrangement a shot. You can always move it around if you don’t like it! If you are feeling really crazy, you can even bring in things from other rooms. (I also do this with clothes when I’m starting to feel like I have nothing to wear – so like all the time. If I can find a new way to combine some things I already have, I can put off buying something new).

What are your favorite ways to feel better in your home? What do you think about a spending freeze? Does it force you to be more creative? Hit me up with some comments.

Jalene