Owning a home requires a lot of work. Fixing up the house can also get expensive. Tackling a few DIY projects is a great way save a lot of money and add value to your property.
Storage, storage, storage
A common complaint among homeowners is that there is never enough storage. One easy solution to maximize the spaces in your home is to look up. For example, there’s usually a lot of empty space in the laundry room above the washer and dryer. Hang galvanized pipe fittings from the ceiling so that you can hang clothing. After cleaning and spraying the fittings with metal primer, paint them to match the room and then attach them to the ceiling. Other ways to use high areas of your home include building shelves where there was previously unused wall space.
Don’t forget your patio
The summers are the perfect time to start an outdoor project. There are thousands of DIY patio projects online, including tips for how to build a trellis or a fire pit. Some projects are more labor intensive than others, so be realistic about how much time you have to devote to executing your idea.
Plant some bushes or trees
DIY projects can be extended to the garden. Plant a row of evergreen shrubs or trees along the side of your house for privacy or as a windscreen. Many shrubs or trees grow many feet per year, which means that within a couple years, you’ll have one of the most enviable homes on the block.
Outfit your kitchen to your style
Thankfully, there are plenty of DIY projects that not only can improve your home, but the results are just as attractive as big-name pieces, such as a bamboo knife block for your kitchen. All you’ll need is a piece of reclaimed lumber, and then you stain it.
Add insulation to your attic
Although it might not be the most impressive project, adding insulation to your attic can save you an enormous amount of money for years to come. Laying insulation is a very easy DIY project. The materials are inexpensive and can be purchased at most home improvement stores.
Turn up the lights
Although it’s easy for homeowners to grow accustomed to sitting in dimly lit areas, adding lighting to brighten up a space is a no-brainer. You can add some lamps, or for a relatively simple project that takes only a few minutes, install a dimmer switch.
Install wallpaper
Painting is passé and wallpaper is in vogue. Wallpaper can be a great investment for a living room or bedroom. There are more designs than ever available on the Internet. That said, although painting isn’t currently in style, it also never gets old. A simple paint job over a greying white wall really brightens up a space.
Add some flair to your door knobs
Although a doorknob doesn’t sound like the most interesting element of a room, it can easily become a beloved art piece. Decoupage is a colorful old-world look, but it’s also expensive.
Turn a closet into a room
While most people feel they don’t have enough space, there are some folks who have unused closets. It’s easy to take a closet door off its hinges and convert the space into a small office. Paint the walls a bright color, add shelves, great lighting and a small desk. Voila, you’ve got the home office of your dreams!
Paint your front door
Make your home as inviting as possible by painting your front door a color to match your personality. If your home is light grey or white, consider a bright red or blue door to make it really “pop.” For darker-colored homes, try canary yellow.