Let's be honest. There's almost as many love songs about your home as your significant other. From the New Jersey legend Bruce Springsteen to country superstar Shaina Twain, people just love singing about where they hang their hat, but how much do they actually take care of it? This Valentine's Day, we have 14 ways you can show love for your "home sweet home" that are insanely easy. Hey, it's the little things, right?
Who doesn't love getting some jewelry on Valentine's Day? Your house is no different. Gift your home a new faucet, showerhead, or even light fixtures or door handles. If nothing else, scrub those metallic accents until they shine.
2. Show passion for your home with fire safety
Double-check on your fire safety procedures to make sure your home is as safe as it can be. Make sure your smoke detectors are working and installed in the correct places. Check that your fire extinguishers are in date and your escape plan is still accurate. Sprinklers are an expensive gift to an existing home, but certainly consider them. They are a lifesaver – literally.
Get more home safety features in our vipTIPs, available exclusively on the vipHomeLink app! We'll also send you reminders to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly, so you can keep your family and home safe year-round! Enjoy a risk-free, three-month trial now!
3. Love by numbers
Help the pizza delivery person find the correct home by updating your house numbers. This quick installation instantly enhances your curb appeal, and if you've just moved into your home, these decorations also add a personal touch.
Not sure how to do this? Hire a handyman to take on this job for you!
Dress up your home with a lovely vase full of long-stem roses, or if you're looking to improve your living space, introduce a few plants. These not only provide that all-important "pop of color," but they also help freshen the air. Look for a bamboo palm or a dragon tree, which are also stylish.
If your driveway or walkway took a harsh beating this winter, give it the love it deserves. Patch up some of the cracks or if it's been a year or three since you last treated your driveway, make plans with a licensed professional to reseal it come May.
Get a room – seriously. Choose a room this Valentine's Day and give it a makeover! We're not saying go overboard (though a little extra TLC isn't a bad thing), but style it in a new way. Give it a fresh coat of paint, update the wall art or mirrors, get your feng shui on! Then make future dates with your home to spruce up the interiors – master bedroom today, guest bedroom next week, kitchen the week after. Keep the magic alive!
If you're looking for a more professional touch, get a designer and decorator!
If you haven't hung your flatscreen TV on the wall, consider doing so and adding a frame. This way, your TV literally becomes "moving pictures," and you know what they say. A picture is worth a thousand words – or if it's a TV, a couple hundred dollars. Might as well make it look pretty.
Keep your home safe from those who want to do it harm. Invest in smart home tech, like a video doorbell or motion detectors. If you're truly worried for your home, then consider getting a security system professional installed. Learn more tips to keeping your home safe in 'Tis the Season to Secure Your Home from Burglars and Porch Pirates.
Change your relationship status from "It's Complicated" to "In a Relationship" with your home by completing those maintenance or improvement tasks you've put off. Have a leak in the kitchen sink? Either get out the toolbelt or call a plumber. Haven't cleaned out your dryer vent in a while? Today's the day. Your sump pump is complaining? Get it looked at or complete a plumbing inspection. It's the little things that go a long way.
Sure, you spilled leftovers last week and wiped down the shelf, but did you get the dribble in the crispers? Give your refrigerator a deep clean – with bubbles! – and also keep your family healthy with a spick-and-span icebox.
If you're already dabbling in the smart tech, then consider adding a new feature, maybe a smart water valve or even a smart refrigerator. If you're just starting out, we recommend giving your home either a Google Nest hub (with a smart assistant) or a programmable thermostat, which will help lower your utility bills.
Looking to add more smart home features? Learn about the future of home insurance - smart insurance - which comes with home sensors!
Show your house you care by preventing a flood from your washer, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage and lead to mold. While mold is dangerous for homeowners, it also sickens your home. Simply upgrade to a braided hose to keep your home healthy and replace it every five to seven years.
Maybe you love your home, but you want to give it a fresh new look. The color blue is calming and soothing, and if you do need to say goodbye to your home for whatever reason – a blue door can score you on average $1,500 and blue paint in the bathroom an average of $5,440 during a resale! (The bathroom requires a "light blue," so we suggest "Charismatic Sky.")
14. Give your house a home with vipHomeLink
It's not just what you do on Valentine's Day but what you do every day for your home (and in turn, what your home does for you). By gifting your home vipHomeLink, you'll be able to take care of your home in new and exciting ways.
Show your home how much you appreciate it subscribing to vipHomeLink. Subscribe today with the first three months on us!
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