Design on a dime: Home improvements that won't break the bank
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Marquette Reddam
After spending 17 years proudly representing the public school districts of Texas, Marquette retired from the practice of law in 2016 to give her left...
After spending 17 years proudly representing the public school districts of Texas, Marquette retired from the practice of law in 2016 to give her left...
Suffering from a shortage of time but craving an update to your personal space? The spring is a perfect time to give your home a refresh.
There are tons of DIY fixes that you can complete in a weekend. We reviewed the trendiest DIY hacks & projects to come up with this list of home projects that we think add value to your home without taking too much time or busting your budget.
Plus, many of these home improvements can help attract a buyer if you are trying to sell your home.
We're eager to see what you come up with. Send us a before and after picture of your project, and we'll feature it on our Facebook page.
Paint a room or accent wall
Painting a room or wall may sound like a tough job, but it can make all the difference to your space. And most paint jobs can be knocked out in a day. For an accent wall, anything goes. When it comes to major walls, however, we are partial to Benjamin Moore's "Revere Pewter." It's the perfect greige.
If you're thinking of selling your home in the near future, be sure to check out our related article on paint colors that can make or break the sale of your home. We identify colors with a high return on investment and which colors to avoid.
Update your cabinets
This one may sound too easy, but we promise it can be the thing to turn your kitchen or bathroom from average to awesome. If you aren't sure where to look, try My Knobs for an assortment of decorative hardware.
On the more challenging side, you can also resurface your cabinets or give them a fresh coat of paint. Considering that a Realtor.com survey showed that 80% of home buyers placed the kitchen in the top three most important spaces, this update may be worth it if you're thinking about selling your home.
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Hang some wallpaper
Wallpaper is back in style! Wallpaper can also be a great way to make a statement and give your home more texture and detail.
If you aren't ready to commit to a permanent pattern, there are lots of temporary wallpaper options that still look great. For temporary wallpaper, we are fans of Chasing Paper and Walls Need Love. The hard part is picking your paper, but once that's done you'll be able to conquer this task in just a couple hours.
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Change out your faucets
There are so many options when it comes to bathroom and kitchen sink faucets. If yours is starting to seem a tad dated, it may be time for an upgrade.
Unless you're super handy, this one may require the help of a plumber, but in most cases it can still be done in day. If you want to see a lot of brands at one time, check out Faucet Direct.
Apply a removable tile
Peel and stick tile? Sign us up! This one is great for the experimenter who wants to really try something new in their kitchen or bathroom. You can get the look of a marble backsplash or subway tiles without the cost and labor charges of the real thing. It's versatile without substantial commitment.
There are tons of quality-looking choices too. A quick search for "peel and stick wall tile" on Home Depot's website turned up over 600 options!
Re-paint a furniture piece
Have a vintage chair lying around? Or pick up something eclectic from a garage sale this weekend? Grab the sandpaper and a paintbrush and give a piece a furniture some new flare!
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint doesn't require primer and produces a beautiful finish.
Change the legs
Swap the legs out on your old chairs, coffee table, or end table for a new look. This simple change can completely alter the appearance of a piece of furniture so that it feels fresh and new. Plus, this simple fix will only take you close to 10 minutes.
Hang Shelving
With the right tools, hanging shelves can be a breeze! Bring that empty wall to life with some cool shelving to showcase your mementos. We've found that most of the Pottery Barn shelves are pretty easy to hang and don't pull away from the wall.
We love to see what you're up to. Let us know how your project turns out.
If you are thinking of selling your home in the near future, let's talk before you dive into a big project. We're happy to share our experience and give you some insight into what kind of projects yield the highest return on your investment.
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