Are you looking for some DIY Home Improvement Ideas that won’t break the bank?
I don’t know if I’ve talked about this much on our YouTube Channel or blog, but anyone who knows me on a personal level knows that I love learning new skills and I love to be frugal.
So, today I’m going to be sharing 6 ways that we have kept our homes looking updated over the years, without costing a fortune… and trust me, if I can DIY these projects, so can you.
If this is your first time here, welcome! My name is Lindsay and I‘m a proud Anthem resident and your local REALTOR® with the Wise Move AZ Team at Realty ONE Group.
Home Sweet Home
There is something about DIY home improvement projects that give me such a sense of accomplishment. We take a lot of pride in making our home a beautiful space that we love to spend time in. We always have a lot of fun brainstorming ways to update our home on the cheap, and I can’t wait to share some of the projects we’ve had the most success with.
Home Improvement Ideas
These six projects can breathe life into spaces that are feeling drab or outdated, and what’s even better is they can be done with a very limited budget. So, let’s jump right in!
Project #1: Add or Update your Hardware
When I say hardware I am talking about pulls and knobs on your cabinets, but also hinges and handles on your doors. When we moved into our home it had brass door handles and hinges, and we decided to switch those out to a brushed nickel. We ordered new door handles on Amazon. They weren’t expensive and they were easy to install. The instructions came in the box and we only needed a screwdriver. You need to think about the type of handle you need on each door. For example, which doors do you want to be able to lock, and which ones just need a handle.
With respect to knobs and pulls on our cabinets, we bought ours on Wayfair.com and they were pretty inexpensive. If you already have hardware on your cabinets, you may want to buy something that is the same size, so that you aren’t having to fill, patch, and paint holes. On the other hand, if you don’t have any hardware on your cabinets, you can pick anything you want. I recommend buying a knob and pull drilling template to make sure you get everything straight. I don’t know about you, but crooked drawer pulls would probably keep me up at night.
Make a List and Check it Twice
The one piece of advice I have for this project is to be like Santa, make a list and check it twice. Make sure you count all of your doors more than once so that you know exactly how many handles, knobs, and pulls you need. Order the right amount all at once. You don’t want to order too few, and find out they discontinued that model when you go to order the rest.
Project #2: Refresh Window Coverings
I am going to preface this one by saying that my husband and I have pretty minimalist contemporary taste, so in my opinion, window coverings need to be functional but shouldn’t make a statement. Additionally, I am an allergy sufferer, so I am not a fan of curtains, because they seem to collect dust quicker than I can keep them clean.
Our home had heavy curtains and valances in almost every room in the house when we bought it. But, for whatever reason, it took us YEARS to take them down. I couldn’t believe what a difference it made when we finally took them down and patched the holes. Taking down those heavy curtains and valances allowed more natural light in and totally updated the space. Instead we opted for blackout shades in the bedroom and blinds in the rest of the house. They’re bright, light, and easy to clean.
Alternatively if you love drapes and valences, you could consider getting new rods, updating the fabric, or even recovering the valances.
Whichever route you go, this project will take a bit of time, but it is doable. I bet this will make a huge difference in your home, too.
Project #3: Update your Bathroom Mirror
I am always blown away by how changing one small thing in the house can make such a big difference, and that is definitely true when it comes to bathroom mirrors. With your bathroom mirror you have a couple of options.
You can replace the mirror entirely with something new, or you can consider framing the existing mirror.
Replacing the Mirror
Replacing the mirror will be relatively easy, although it may require you to do a little drywall patching and painting.
Framing the Mirror
Framing the mirror will take a little more skill. I would recommend watching lots of YouTube videos before tackling this project. The key is that you don’t want to see the glue in the mirror, and you want to get a tight fit with the frame.
Either way, this can really make a statement in a bathroom that is looking a little flat!
Project #4: Create an Accent Wall
An accent wall can be SO much more than just slapping some brightly colored paint up on one wall in a room. I see so many cool accent and statement walls in my job. Accent walls can be created with shiplap, tile, paint, wallpaper or even wood paneling. Yes, I said wallpaper and wood paneling, and no I’m not talking about what your grandparents had in their house when you were little. It’s come a long way, and you can create some really sleek designs, that don’t cost a fortune.
Don’t Cheap Out
My best advice is, if you are going to be doing any painting, don’t cheap out. Higher quality paints are going to be easier to work with, and more forgiving for folks like me who don’t paint every day.
Have you ever created an accent wall in your home? If so, I would love to hear about it in the comments. We’ve been thinking about doing an accent wall in our bathroom and I’d love to hear your ideas.
Project #5: Update Light Fixtures
This is another one of those little things that made a HUGE difference in our house. When we bought our home it had cream colored frosted globes throughout. We switched these out for clear globes and vintage bulbs, and absolutely LOVE it.
The hardest part was picking what we wanted. The actual installation of the new globes and bulbs took very little time.
This is a project that you could probably bang out in one weekend
Project #6: Deep Clean Flooring
Okay, this one might seem like it doesn’t fit, but bear with me. Deep cleaning your grout and carpet can make them look like new. It’s amazing how dingy grout can look after years of traffic, and carpet can get so flat and shabby without us even noticing.
Use the Right Equipment
Consider renting a cleaning machine from your local hardware store and putting some elbow grease into it. If you can deep clean your floors and fall back in love with them, it will be a whole lot less expensive than replacing them.
So, there you have it! What DIY home improvement project are you going to tackle first? Let me know in the comments. I think our next project is going to be adding a built in shoe rack into our front hall closet. If it turns out well, maybe we’ll share it here! Wish us luck!
More DIY Projects
Also, if you’re on a DIY kick, you’re definitely going to want to watch this video on how to drain your water heater, or this video which highlights common home inspection findings. That can give you a list of ‘to-do’s’ you didn’t even know you wanted!
Enjoy those and I’ll see YOU next Thursday!
