9 Home Projects to Tackle in February

Comedian Jim Gaffigan says, “Without Valentine’s Day, February would be… well, January.” The cold short month is usually long on wistful thinking of spring and a pandemic isn’t helping. We’ve gathered some project ideas that might help the month of February go by a little faster. We’ve got small, medium, and large projects to fit all sizes and capacities.

SMALL: One-Hour or Less Tasks to Tackle in February

• Gather old towels and sheets to donate. If you bought new linens during January white sales, let go of some of the old. Many local organizations, like Oasis International, seek donations of used bedding and towels. And local animal shelter, Animal House, is often in need of sheets and towels for their cat rescue mission. If your linens are too worn, cut up for rags.
• Rotate your mattress. Doing so every few months will help it wear more evenly and extends its life. Get in the habit every time you change your sheets.
• Clean entryway floors. Winter weather often means melting snow and road salt, which can be hard on your floors. Pick up clutter, give the floors a good mopping, and consider a stylish basket near the doorway with a few old towels to wipe messes. If your entry has wood floors, you may want to add a boot tray for added protection.

MEDIUM: Weekend Tasks to Tackle in February

• Spruce up your game night/ movie night zone. By February, you may be movied-out, so it is a good time for a refresh and making the area as cozy as possible. Deep clean by vacuuming floors and upholstery and clearing clutter. Consider adding a basket or tray to corral all the remotes. Wash your throws and pillow covers. If you are in the mood for new and are crafty or have crafty tweens, here is a super easy DIY no-sew pillow cover tutorial using fleece fabric. A great winter project.
• Cook to stock up your freezer. Spending a few hours on the weekend to create big-batch suppers that can be frozen and re-heated later can be a real weeknight time saver. Easiest to tackle are soups, stews, and casseroles. Then all you have to add are crusty bread and salads, or our winter favorite – grilled cheese.
• Spruce up your bookshelves and clear the clutter. For books you no longer want, many neighborhoods have little libraries. Ready Readers accepts gently used children’s books and The Greater St. Louis Book Fair is for charity and accepts book donations. Once clear, dust, clean and consider adding removable wallpaper to the back of the shelves for visual interest. Re-organize like collections/items together. Here are some great organizing/styling tips for your bookshelves.

LARGE: Maintenance and Extras to Budget in February

• Start planning for a spring or summer home sale. If you’re considering putting your home on the market this year, it’s a good idea to start the process now. Set a timetable and interview potential real estate agents (like us!). Make a list of projects that need to get done to help your home show well. We can definitely help you with this list.
• If you have landscaping or hardscaping projects you want to tackle this spring and summer, now is a great time to start getting bids. Landscapers book up quickly and with the pandemic, more people are expanding their outdoor living spaces. Get on the calendar now. Season Cycle is a great resource for St. Louis City.
• If you can, indulge in fresh flowers. February is notoriously dreary and flowers can really help brighten up your mood and interior. Support local and regional farms and businesses who care about the environment at one of our favorites, City House Country Mouse. If supermarket flowers are more in budget, lilies and alstroemeria (below) come in a variety of colors and will last two weeks. Carnations, chrysanthemums, and allium last up to three weeks. There are many online tutorials for arranging and preserving grocery store bouquets. Bottom line – treat yourself.