by cody roberts

Spring is in the air. The birds are tweeting, the days are growing and energy levels are rising. And if you’ve been stuck inside your home stewing all winter, this can be the perfect time to give your abode a revamp. From simple painting to a complete overhaul of your home with an interior designer, here are a few local options to get you there.

The general manager at Stan’s Paint Clinic Inc, said late summer and early fall are the most active times for painting, but spring can be a perfect time of year to do interior or exterior painting.

Even if you’re dealing with the rain, Stan’s carries specialty products that can withstand the weather. Stan’s Paint Clinic Inc in Idaho Falls is located at 1521 Northgate Mile.

Gregory, the GM, said this year’s color trends in paint are tending to be warmer and on the earthy side of things. “We’re seeing bold colors and rich hues, moving away from the whites and the grays,” Gregory said.

As lights and windows greatly affect how paint looks in your home, Gregory always recommends starting small with a sample coat of paint to see how it looks.

And once you’ve settled on a paint, Gregory said the key to a lasting coat is preparation.

“The amount of effort you put into preparing your surface to receive your top coat is going to determine how good the quality is of your finish,” Gregory stated. “So everybody should have the mindset of cleaning and washing their surface, making sure there’s no waxes or greases there, and choosing a quality primer.”

But Gregory said painting your home shouldn’t feel too daunting. It’s forgiving, as you can always apply more. “Remember, even if you make a mistake, you can just go back over it again and fix it,” Gregory said. “Don’t be afraid to paint and let it transform your life.”

Amy Muszala, manager/lighting specialist at Wolfe Lighting, said lights can make or break any home. And Wolfe Lighting, located at 560 1st Street in Idaho Falls, sells everything down to the wires. They can even do lamp repairs.

Amy said lighting that is trending to be popular right now is gold and traditional.

“It’s more of a timeless thing,” Amy said. “So it’s more curated, like you go into an older grandma’s house — you can tell she has really good taste. It just feels good. That’s more of what traditional is.”

Amy said anyone looking to change up the lighting in their home can check out Wolfe Lighting’s website at wolfelighting.net. They can order from over 200 brands, and they warranty everything they sell.

While Wolfe Lighting doesn’t offer installations, they do have good relationships with many local electricians who get the job done. Some jobs are even simple enough that the homeowner can take care of it.

“It depends on the person,” Amy said. “It’s pretty easy to install a simple flush mount yourself, but it just depends. Like a ceiling fan — I would not recommend your regular homeowner do that themselves.”

Bill Bohrer, president at Wall 2 Wall Flooring in Idaho Falls, said flooring is the most conspicuous surface in any building, so it’s essential that you like what you see. He said winter time is usually slow for flooring businesses, but come spring, it usually starts picking up.

Bill said Wall 2 Wall Flooring offers just about anything for flooring you can think of. This includes residential carpet, vinyl, wood and ceramic tile as well as commercial options that can cater to the needs of places like hospitals, airports or sports facilities.

Bill said anyone interested in replacing their flooring should come down to the shop, located at 3160 N Yellowstone Hwy, and talk to a salesperson. They’ll work within your budget and help guide you through the process. Most of their products are sold with installation included.

“For 90 percent of flooring, I would not recommend they install it themselves,” Bill said. “You have a lot more than just sitting it down on the floor. It depends on the installation, but there’s a lot more to it.”

For anyone who needs services for deck staining, cabinet staining, painting, gutter cleaning, landscaping projects, fencing repair, flooring replacement or other general maintenance, local handyman company Elk and Oak Home Services has got you covered.

Owner Allan Garner said his company has only been around for a few months, but he learned from his grandfather. “My grandpa was a handyman, so I learned from him growing up, and I think no job’s too big or too small.”

Allan said he does jobs from Island Park to Blackfoot, and up through Swan Valley and Victor. He said the only thing people need to do to prepare for a job is make sure the area he works in is fairly clear, so if he’s painting, just be sure to move the furniture out or to the center of the room.

“I want to grow fast and change how people look at the handyman business. I want to go back to doing it the old-fashioned way.”

Allan said anyone interested in his services can contact him at elkandoakhomeservices@gmail.com or call 208-201-7518.