Filed under: Kitchen, Bedroom, Your Home, Bathroom, Living Room, Projects, Gardening, Flowers, Storage & Cleaning, Storage & Organization
Looking for a way to fill that extra hour you'll gain this weekend when daylight saving time begins? Here's a few of our favorite quick and easy projects.
Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, November 7, at 2am local time. So unless you're up until 2am Saturday night, get ready to turn your clocks back an hour when you wake up on Sunday. Yes, it's that dreaded time of the year when the dwindling daylight hours get even shorter, while the temps drop even lower. Really, couldn't we just crawl into our beds and hibernate until spring arrives?
Sadly, no. But, as it turns out, there is a bit of a positive spin on the dreaded daylight saving time. Think about it: This weekend you'll have a whole extra hour to dedicate to one of the many projects you've been putting off all year. Need some inspiration? Here are a few of our favorite project that only take an hour! (We promise.)
Daylight Saving Time
According to Sherry Petersik, one half of the duo behind Young House Love, "paint is absolutely the easiest and most inexpensive way to update your home -- the perfect one-hour project." Some of our suggestions: Take the time to touch up your home's trim, paint your front door, add some color to your ceilings or add art to your floor in the form of stencils, a project Petersik and her husband took on this summer. "Once you have the tools, stenciling your floor is a piece of cake," she says. "So brush off that paint paralysis and go for it. Worst case scenario: You might want to repaint in the future. But more likely, you'll end up with an entirely new space that you love coming home to."
Organization projects tend to be last on people's list because sometimes the challenge seems like just too much to handle. Erin Doland, editor-in-chief of Unclutterer and author of "Unclutter Your Life in One Week", actually suggests starting small. "Many people just say 'I want to get more organized,'" says Doland. "Avoid these lofty ideals, and focus instead on specific projects with tangible outcomes. Even if you only tackle one small project at a time, eventually it will all get done." Some one-hour projects that Doland suggests: Make over your junk drawer, wrangle the wires behind your desk or media center, create a wrapping paper station or just simply switch out your warm-weather clothes for your winter wares. For added motivation, Doland suggests putting on some upbeat music. "Groove while you work! You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get things done when you're having a good time."
"With a little time and patience, anyone can make homemade crafts to be proud of," says Katie Fagan, one of the crafters behind home inspiration blog Because Sis Said So. From creating your own wine cork board, to designing personalized stationary for family and friends, to whipping up a batch of chalkboard paint, crafts don't have to stem from a completely original idea. "I'm not the most creative person in the world, but anyone can look like Martha Stewart with a little help from the professionals," says Katie. And speaking of Martha, why not create a festive holiday wreath in your extra hour?
We know, we know -- the last thing you want to do is spend your weekend cleaning. But anyone can take an hour to, say, speed clean your pantry. Or what about tackling all the windows in your home with help from our no-streaks-allowed guide? Or, if you're really looking to get down and dirty you can give your bathroom tiles a strong scrubbing (no toothbrush necessary) or making your very own homemade polish then polish your picture frames and furniture. "These are all really easy tasks to handle and can easily be completed in an hour," says Sophie Uliano of "Gorgeously Green." "The key to cleaning quickly is focusing on one task at a time. Before you begin, take a look at the clock and vow to work for one hour straight. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done."
Even though the weather might be taking a turn for the worst, it doesn't mean you can't head outside to tackle a fewhttp://www.shelterpop.com/2010/09/20/autumn-plantings-one-pot-wonders/">create a container garden; or plant some spring-blooming bulbs, like crocuses, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. Nancy Ondra, gardening expert and author, also suggests prepping your yard for winter. "Like all gardening projects, this will depend on what types of plants you have, where you live and how big your beds are," says Nancy. "But remember: There's no magic formula for creating and caring for your garden and its surroundings. Just do a little homework, and you can tackle any task in a short amount of time."
Then again, if you want to put these projects off for awhile, we don't blame you. After all, what better way to prepare yourself for all these projects than one extra hour of blissful sleep. Sweet dreams!
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