The leaves are turning and the crisp, cool, autumn air is enlivened with the smell of wood smoke from firepits along with aromas of hot apple cider and everything pumpkin spice. If you’re anything like us, you love seasonal decorations and look forward to this time of year. At Halloween Time, many families are in the midst of hanging spooky spirits, arranging yard inflatables, and stringing cobwebs across their porches.
As you deck out your house in your finest scary paraphernalia, here are a few key questions and tips to consider that will help you decorate without damaging your home:
When many people think about a home renovation, they focus on the big-ticket items, such as appliances, cabinetry, fixtures, and flooring. But have you stopped to consider your seasonal decorating and what impact this might have on your home improvement plans?
- Many Halloween decorations (think yard inflatables) require power sources; however, many older homes have few outlets and often lack exterior outlets. Even newer homes sometimes lack places to plug in. Consider having some additional electrical outlets properly installed around the entire house. Remember – the fewer extension cords, the better.
- Make sure to have proper exterior lighting for safety and security.
Putting up and taking down decorations can take a toll on your home. Have you considered what you can do to minimize this damage?
- When it comes to hanging/affixing decorations to your vertical surfaces, the general rule is, the fewer holes the better! Swap the nail and hammer for 3M Command hooks or Velcro. These sticky materials are easily removed without leaving a hole behind or taking a chunk of paint off your wall.
- Another pro (and safety) tip: make sure decorations and cords aren’t creating any potential trip hazards.
Inflatable outdoor yard decorations are popular this time of year. Have you thought about the electrical and safety considerations associated with these fun, puffy, blowups?
- Residential circuits are typically rated for 15 or 20 amps. Be careful not to overload a circuit!
- Don’t plug a bunch of extension cords into one splitter or power strip. Make sure cords are outdoor rated.
- Make sure your outlets have in-use covers that allow things to be plugged in but still closed to prevent water from getting in.
- Ensure you use the anchor stakes provided to secure your inflatables, as one bad wind can blow them away.
Have you thought about what to consider for Halloween day and night?
- Make sure your car is not blocking sidewalks or driveways and ensure hedges around walkways and doors are trimmed so trick-or-treaters can easily and safely get to and from your front door.
- The more lighting you can provide leading to your front door the better (and safer) it will be for the kids.
Looking ahead, once Halloween is past, here are some pro tips for storing your frightful items:
- Plastic totes are your best friend. Hardware and craft stores sell various sizes, shapes, and colors of containers. Pro tip: label each bin with masking tape and a Sharpie marker to make finding decorations next year a cinch.
- Some homes lack closet and basement storage. If this sounds like your home, it’s time to think outside the box. There are many closet and garage storage solutions if you’re looking to maximize every square inch of storage space.
- And while some folks like to store items in unconditioned spaces such as the attic or an outside shed, we recommend against this as the extreme heat and cold that summer and winter bring can cause considerable wear and tear on your holiday decorations.
The Key Takeaway
Lead times for cabinetry, appliances and other remodeling fixtures and materials are getting much better, but it’s still best to start the design process of a project well in advance. You want to give yourself plenty time to plan your budget and think through exactly what fixtures and materials you want, based on how long it is going to take to get them. This way you are not rushing a project or having to settle for selections you may have not picked.
In our next blog post, we’ll examine some things that we should all be thankful for, at Thanksgiving Time, when it comes to the current realities and future trends in the home remodeling industry.
We’d love to see your frightful and spooky decorations! Connect and share with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok. And if you’re interested in learning more about a home renovation project, visit us at House to Home Solutions or give us a ring at 301-762-6621.