3 Simple Ways to Freshen Up Your Home and Stay Motivated in Retirement

Now that you’re retired, you probably have some pretty big home improvement projects you want to tackle. If you’ve read my post, 3 Steps to Declutter, Simplify, and Find Peace of Mind, you may already be organized and ready to tackle some larger projects. Hooray!

However sometimes, as good as you know you’ll feel when you’re finished with a big project, getting started can feel a little overwhelming. Sometimes tackling a small home or personal project can be satisfying and give you the encouragement you need to keep going.

You know, not major home improvements like painting or installing ceiling fans; just small projects to make your home environment more organized and pleasant. These small wins can keep you motivated and energized. 

I have a few examples to share that I hope will inspire you. 

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The Pure Joy of Power Washing!

Power washing is a simple activity that will allow you to freshen the outside of your home without involving a long list of steps, equipment, or materials. You can go at your own pace…jump in and clean everything at once or do a little each day until everything is done.

My husband bought a power washer back in 2019, and now my whole family loves power washing!  We practically have to fight over who gets to use it.  I feel a little like Tom Sawyer and the whitewashed fence.  All I have to do is take the thing out and someone wants to take over.  Hahaha…that’s fine with me!! 

The photo above shows the front steps of my 130+-year-old house. God only knows the last time those very old concrete steps were truly cleaned.  But look at the difference! 

We went on from the steps to do the brick patio and then the outdoor furniture.  Everything looks brand new and I just love it!

Note:  You can use different nozzles and play with them a little to adjust to different surfaces.  For example, if you’re concerned about taking paint off when you don’t want to, just adjust your distance. 

The “Clutter Magnet” Bookshelf

We all have those places in our homes where “stuff” just seems to pile up. We pass by them ten times a day, each time thinking, “I’ve got to straighten that up!” And yet it persists. I call this being “clutter blind,” and I am as guilty of it as the next person.

The tiny bookcase in the photos below is in my dining area–and it’s right in the line of sight as you walk in the front door. I didn’t think it looked that bad, so it wasn’t even on my list of things to tackle. But my daughter commented on it one day, saying that it needed “help.”  That one comment made me look at it in a completely different light. 

So I made a few changes.  I feel like those simple changes made a world of difference…and it wasn’t even that hard! 

I bought a couple of lovely rope baskets in soft colors that coordinated nicely with my walls. I placed the books in the baskets with the titles up so anyone looking for a book can still easily scan the titles. Making these few simple changes minimized the visual noise (and it’s much easier to dust the shelves, too!).

I really like the way storing the books in baskets worked in this instance. I have a LOT of books in my house and am considering different ways to group and store them that will cut down on the visual noise in the room.  This one worked well here because it is a fairly small bookshelf. I’m not sure how well it will in a larger space, but I like the idea and will keep thinking of different ways to tackle this book collection issue. 

“I’ll Just Put This Here for Now” (and put it away later…)

We all do it. I know I do. ‘I’ll just put this here for now, and put it away when I have time.” This may be fine for one thing, but doing it over and over can make small (or even big) spaces look bad fast.

Take my kitchen for example. It’s not a big kitchen and the counter space is quite limited, so leaving things out instead of putting them where they belong can result in zero counter space. Also, when we have more people in the house (as we usually do in the summer), there’s often a crowd around the coffee machine. Spreading things out even just a little bit can have a big impact. 

To do this, I started by taking everything off the counters. Then I walked around the kitchen pretending to be doing different tasks–making coffee, toasting my bagel, manning the stove, etc.  Doing that showed me that separating the toaster oven from the coffee prep area was a good idea. I also could see that keeping the pot of utensils closer to the stove was helpful. And most important was clearing more prep space on either side of the stovetop. 

This wasn’t a huge project but it had a great impact. This little corner of counter space is visible as soon as I walk into the kitchen. It makes me smile now every morning and we’re not bumping into each other as much now during our morning routine.  

Tips For Your Next Home Refresh Project

Remove Everything

Whether you’re organizing a bookshelf, kitchen countertop, closet, or any other area in your home, start by removing everything–yes, everything–from that space.

Once the area is empty, consider each item you removed. Ask yourself two questions:

• Do I really need this? (think carefully)
• Is there a better place for this? (if you answered yes to the first question)

For example, if you have more than one of the item in question you may be able to get rid of one (or more). If you found a ball of twine as you emptied out a bookcase, you may want to relocate it to a kitchen drawer, craft room, or garage.

Consider the Space

If the area you’re working in is removable (e.g., a small bookshelf), try moving it completely. Step back and ask yourself whether you really need this shelf/bookcase/table/cabinet in the first place. Does the usefulness of the item justify the space it is taking up?  In the case of my small bookshelf, I decided it should stay.  I have very little storage in my home, so I could see the value. 

For larger areas in your home, like kitchen countertops or walk-in closets, mimic yourself using the space. Pretend to cook or prep a meal, bake something, or get dressed, for example. How can you best arrange items in the space to streamline how you use it? 

Replace and Organize Items

When you’ve decided what goes back into the space, put them back slowly and deliberately. This is another chance to consider whether you really need the things you’re putting back.

Start with the bigger or anchor items and then fill in from there. Consider using eye-pleasing containers to help settle down the visual noise. Step back and have a look. If something doesn’t look quite right, move things around. Once you’re finished, step back again and admire your work!

These are just a few of my examples.  Now, it’s your turn.  Look around you for a few small home refresh projects. You’ll find it will do you a world of good by boosting your energy and enthusiasm levels.  After a few small wins like these, you’ll be on your way to tackling bigger projects on your list.