Want a new look for the season but don’t want to invest a lot of time or money? There are actually many things you can do that are affordable, fast, and can make a huge difference in the way your home looks and how it makes you feel.

Before you start making changes, though; start with a clean house. If you don’t have the time to clean it yourself, call maid services. Cleaning is the biggest improvement you can make!

The further you get into the holiday season, the more urgent things become. Gifts to buy! Houses to decorate! Food to bake, parties to attend, projects to complete—it’s all a little much sometimes, isn’t it? A big mistake busy people make during the holidays is buying things on impulse, especially things that are necessary for the season.

Before you shop, though; do a quick house cleaning and take an inventory. Whether you’re decorating, gift-giving, or looking for ways to entertain guests, you might be surprised what you already have. One less shopping trip is not only good on your wallet, but on your schedule, too!

You probably organize your kitchen cabinets occasionally, throwing out older things to make room for new groceries. The next time you're ready to organize your cabinets, it's probably a good idea to go ahead and clean them as well—a good, thorough cleaning prevents bugs and germs, and that's good for any kitchen!

While cleaning out the cabinets likely won't be a part of your weekly house cleaning, once every few months is probably a good schedule for keeping messes and germs at bay.

More and more people spend most of their work time (and even play time!) in front of their computers. This can put stress on your back, your hands, wrists, and fingers, and your eyes.

Remember to break up long periods of time at the computer with 15 minute breaks away from the screen and out of your chair. Throw in some jumping jacks or stretches to help stay limber between tasks. 

Do-it-yourself is not only a great way to spend some time, it's also an affordable way to get new things for your home. And, of course; sometimes it's just fun!

This DIY wool duster from 3191 Miles Apart is straightforward and simple, the hardest part being that you need to know how to use a sewing machine. It's worth it, though—not only is it colorful and definitely an improvement over a regular duster, it's also machine washable, making it last much longer than a synthetic duster.

So how do you have the cleanest house you can have while still living like a normal family? Blogger Alexis Anne asked the same thing as she juggled keeping her house clean for interested buyers while also living with her husband and children. 

As the sun goes down and you reach for nearest light, do you ever take a look at the light itself? Most are fairly standard: a bulb in a globe or sconce. Maybe you have a chandelier over your dining room table and a lamp on your desk, but for the most part, your lights are probably straightforward.

Designers are getting fun with light fixtures, though; and from across the internet come a few fun, clever ideas for the fixtures in your home:

Have you ever had to clean up as quickly as possible? Maybe you've got company coming over, maybe there just isn't a lot of time to get the cleaning done. Either way, the house needs to get clean and you've got a time limit.

Don't panic! With a few quick room-by-room tips, you can have the house clean in no time. If your time is really short, a maid service can come in and get you started!

One way, as Apartment Therapy shows, is to use a rug that makes a statement. Rugs do a good job of pulling a room together and defining a space, so this makes sense, and rugs are extremely easy to care for when it comes to house cleaning. Here are some things to keep in mind as you design with a statement rug:

Our maid services use backpack vacuums that are efficient and great at reaching into corners, but there are other tools that are wonderful and some every home should have. Here are three we recommend: