Get a head start on spring with home and garden tips

LAFAYETTE and MONTICELLO, Ind. (WLFI) - It was out with the snow and in with the warm weather this weekend, which means you might be thinking about those home improvement projects.

Spring fever is in full swing in and this weekend, thousands of home-owners and do-it-your-selfers were at the Builders Association of Greater Lafayette Home Building and Remodeling show at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, as well as the Lakes Area Home and Garden Show in Monticello.

We got some quick tips on how you can spruce up your home this spring.

"The biggest thing for do-it-your-selfers is get out there, get the walls clean with bright and shiny neutral tones, a little bit of white and a bright color as decor splash just for creating interest. And, keep it simple," Residential realtor Aimee Ness said.

Ness says a quick coat of paint can freshen up any home. And this year’s hot color: emerald. But she warns a bold color like that is best used as an accent color.

Ness says the two easiest rooms to do a quick remodel in your home are the bathroom and kitchen.

She says a quick and inexpensive trip to the hardware store can freshen up a room.

"Any type of ceramic is big,” Ness said. “This year they're moving toward brass for knobs and poles. A lot of the colors are still neutral. We're looking at sandstone and things like that. A little bit of lighter gray if you went on the cool tones."

And with the changing weather don't forget about the most important part of your home: the foundation.

Crawlspace Remediation owner Sam Goode says melting snow and spring showers could impact your foundation and crawlspace.

"As a building gets older, concrete breaks down. It's a porous substance, so water can get in there and really cause a lot of damage over time,” Goode said. “Unfortunately it's unlike your roof though. You see your roof every day. You look up there you see a tree branch; you think about it. Your crawlspace though is out of sight, out of mind."

Goode says if you plan on doing any repairs yourself, make sure you have all the proper tools and hydraulic jacks.
And last, but certainly not least, Goode says flowers also make saying goodbye to those long winter days a little easier.