Whether you live under the bright lights of NYC or in the privacy of nature out west, everyone loves to feel safe and comfortable in their homes. But let's face it, over time, homes go through normal wear and tear that requires some fixing.

Some upgrades can be made purely for aesthetic purposes and make your home look nicer, but others are more practical and can really improve your quality of life. Here are a few simple upgrades you can make to really make a difference in your home:

Peripherals For Air Vents

To be clear, any upgrades or repairs you need to make to your home's HVAC system need to be done by a professional. But, you can use your air vents to control the flow of air in your home, whether you want warm or cool air. You can attach air deflectors to your vents and will prevent air from leaking or letting outside air in. Americans get around a billion colds a year, so a well-controlled HVAC system is important.

New Light Bulbs

If you're looking to make your NYC home more energy-efficient, you can't go wrong with installing LED light bulbs in your home. These last longer, use less energy, and will help cut down on your energy bills. As an added bonus, LEDs are relatively inexpensive, so you can outfit your entire home with them.

Check Your Plumbing

Believe it or not, there are some water storage tanks in use that are more than 100 years old. If you have one in your NYC home that's still running, you'll want to make sure everything is in good shape, especially with winter coming. While you're at it, check your home's plumbing system. Even a simple leak coming out of a toilet or a dripping sink can have a big impact on your home. It can cause water to pool up in places it shouldn't and it can drive up your utility bills.

Clean Up

One simple, but very effective way to improve your quality of life in your NYC home is to de-clutter it. Chances are good you've got a storage room just teeming with clutter or maybe a closet that's filled to the brim. By de-cluttering your home, it will obviously be cleaner, but you'll feel accomplished and you'll likely have cleaner air inside too, once you vacuum and remove dirt and dust.

Find Other Ways To Go Green

If you're truly committed to cutting down on your energy use, you should look for other ways to be more energy-efficient. That doesn't necessarily have to include something big like installing a solar panel -- though that certainly helps -- but you can instead install LED bulbs and install energy-efficient blinds and windows. If you truly are looking to go bigger -- like if you need a new roof -- you can have an energy-efficient one. It will block most UV rays from the sun, provide better insulation from the heat, and actually cool the entire house more than a traditional roof.

You'd be surprised at how little changes to your NYC home can drastically improve your quality of life. Something as simple as installing new light bulbs can give you more light inside while lowering your energy bills. Installing new blinds or curtains can protect your furniture, block more UV rays, and keep your house cooler. Cleaning on a regular basis can remove dust and dirt so you'll breathe cleaner air. So get to work on simple changes; you'll be surprised what a difference they make.