Transforming your house doesn’t have to be expensive and time-consuming when you DIY. Here are some home improvement projects that only take a couple of days.
Landscaping
Whether you want to start a garden, pull weeds, or plant flowers, a weekend is plenty of time to give your yard a little landscaping love. For flower beds and boxes, a local nursery or home improvement store can help you choose the correct plants for your climate and type of soil, and can advise proper placement as well.
Patio
Our outdoor areas get neglected over the winter. Make sure your patio or deck is ready for warmer weather by giving it a facelift this weekend. Powerwash cement surfaces, including stepping stones and sidewalks. Give your grill a good scrub while you’re at it. The two most important patio elements are somewhere to sit and somewhere to set your drink. As far as the former goes, we love this Bovina Patio Chair, and for the latter, check out Wayfair’s lovely garden stools. A fire element, such as a fire pit table or chiminea can make your patio cozier. For shade, consider a giant umbrella or shade sails. Lastly, add some lighting, like these solar-powered outdoor string lights. Go ahead and grab some Command cord clips to help you hang them.
Mailbox Makeover
Just because most of your mail is mundane doesn’t mean your mailbox has to be. Make checking the mail great again by giving your mailbox a much-needed makeover. Perhaps the post is peeling or the box itself has seen better days. Replace, repair, or repaint the support post and box. The postal service’s current installation guidelines recommend a 4×4″ wooden support. If you’re handy with a Cricut, you can create your own name and house number vinyl decals. Otherwise, you can always order them on Etsy, or use stencils and paint or stickers instead.
House Numbers
Update your home’s curb appeal with modern house numbers. Michelle of 4 Men 1 Lady came up with this vertical DIY display, which can also be done horizontally.
Slap on a New Coat of Paint
It seems like there’s always at least one room that could use a new coat of paint. While getting out the paint trays, rollers, and drop cloths can seem daunting, the hardest part is picking out your paint color. Check out Valspar’s 2020 Colors of the Year here. Get inspiration by room here. According to PPG, “One gallon can of paint will cover up to 400 square feet, which is enough to cover a small room like a bathroom. Two gallon cans of paint cover up to 800 square feet, which is enough to cover an average size room.” Once you’ve got your gallons, you can watch Behr’s step-by-step tutorial on How to Paint a Room and check out the Home Depot’s tips for How to Paint Like a Pro.
Hang Pictures and Prints
Another quick way to freshen up your space is to hang up some new wall art. If you don’t have any masterpieces lying around, create your own with our 12 Easy DIY Canvas Painting Ideas. Mixtiles makes it easy to pick, print, and hang family photos. The 8×8-inch tiles are moveable, so its easy to mix and match until you achieve the look you want. For framed prints, create a gallery wall by cutting out wrapping paper in the same sizes as your frames to play with the arrangement. Use a fork to help hang a frame with wire.
Clean Gutters
You’re supposed to clean your gutters at least twice a year, once in the spring, and once after the leaves have fallen. Keeping your gutters free of debris is important so they don’t overflow and cause damage to your home’s roof, walls, foundation, or landscape. The Home Depot has a wonderful guide on How to Clean Gutters, which also offers signs that your gutters need to be repaired or replaced.
Refinish Exterior Window Trim
Sanding and painting your exterior window trim might take up two weekends, especially since you’re supposed to wash the windows first. The Home Depot recommends using TSP cleaning solution. This project may also require a tall ladder or scaffolding to reach second-story windows. Scrape off peeling, cracking paint with a paint scraper or putty knife, then sand, dust, tape, prime, and paint with a quality exterior trim paint.
Vanity Visage
Re-envision your bathroom vanity with a new coat of paint and updated hardware. If you’re not sure what color to use, go with a nice neutral black, white, or gray. Replace drawer pulls and cabinet handles with the same width as your existing ones.
Replace Bathroom Fixtures
You don’t have to be a plumber to replace a bathroom faucet or shower faucet, but you do have to know how many holes your sink has for the faucet (one, two, or three) and whether they are center-set or widespread when shopping for a replacement. Replacing the light fixture and exhaust fan is another quick update that makes such a difference.
Laundry Room Love
Add a wooden butcher block or plywood countertop over your front-loading washer and dryer to act as a folding station. DIY some open shelving and put laundry and cleaning supplies in cute containers.
Snazz-Up Your Stairs
These DIY decorating ideas will have you staring at your stairwell. Real Simple proposes painting your stair risers in descending ombre, adding quotes, or covering them in wallpaper. HGTV suggests stenciling a vintage tile pattern onto plywood boards (cut to size) and then installing onto your stairs with a nail gun.
Try Peel-and-Stick Tile
Peel-and-stick tile is a fun way to switch up your flooring without too much time, money, or commitment. This gray pattern covers 10 square feet for less than $10. It also works well as a backsplash.
Pretty up Your Porch
Actually step outside your house and look at your porch. What is it missing? Some pretty potted plants, perhaps? Could the front door use a good cleaning or new coat of paint? Do you need a cute new welcome mat? How about one that says “Hope You Brought Wine” from Target? Don’t underestimate the power of a porch swing. They’re less expensive than you may think.
