14 insanely easy ways to show your home some love

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 that you can show love for your "home sweet home" that are insanely easy. Hey, it's the little things, right?  

1. Give your home a little bling 

Who doesn't love to get 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 to make them 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.

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.

4. Fall back on an oldie but goodie – flowers and/or plants 

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.

5. Patch your driveway (and your relationship)​ 

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 to reseal it come May.

6. Make future dates with each room 

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!

7. Frame your TV​ 

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.

8. Paint your appliances​ 

Are your stainless-steel appliances looking a little dated with rust or other discolorations? Consider stainless steel paint (it exists!) and give your appliances a polished look. If you recently redesigned or updated your kitchen, a new color to your stainless-steel items can complement the new look or even enhance it.

9. Repair those underlying issues 

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. It's the little things that go a long way. 

 10. Draw your refrigerator a relaxing bath 

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.

11. Help your home get smarter​ 

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.

12. Install a braided hose on your washer​ 

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.

13. Adding value to your home with a blue hue​ 

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 home 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. Organize your home with all its information (warranties, work receipts, property surveys) in one secure place. Tailored home recommendations can help you improve your home (and your relationship with your home), and in-app home content can help you keep up with maintenance tasks. This way, you don't forget your important home anniversaries, like when you need to change your furnace's air filters or clean the dryer's lint vent.

Show your home how much you appreciate it subscribing to vipHomeLink. Already member? Your house is so lucky to have you. Check out all our vipTIPs now and keep your home healthy by keeping track of your Home Fitness Index.

Not a member yet? It's okay. We're all a work-in-progress. Subscribe today with a 90-day, risk-free trial.

Looking for more ways to improve your relationship with your home? Check out these additional posts: 

All you need to know about the Money Meter

Home Resolutions 2020: Expert Edition

3 Things you absolutely must do if your house is haunted and the one thing you shouldn't

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