If you’re a homeowner and have DIY home plans for improvement projects this year, you’re not alone. In fact, over 50% of homeowners say they plan to spend money on home improvements this year. While you may have plans to improve your house, you may not be prepared with a lot of savings for bigger scale projects. This is where DIY home plans come in. There are quite a few projects you can do yourself that will still greatly improve the look and value of your home. Here are 15 different home improvement projects in five spaces of your home that you can take on this year.
Kitchen Updates
1. Deep Clean
The first and arguably easiest project you can put on your DIY home plans list is a good deep cleaning for your kitchen. Especially if you’ve recently purchased a home, you will want to make sure that you take some time to clean behind appliances, in and on top of cupboards, clean the floors, and basically every surface you see. Believe it or not, a deep clean is considered a home improvement project because it can prevent future problems, like pests, that would lower the value of your home. If the dirt is more than you can handle, you can always consider hiring a cleaning services company to come help with the toughest areas.
2. Upgrade The Cabinets
Replacing cabinets is an expensive and time-consuming project. There are quite a few different options you can try out in your DIY home plans that will save you time and money and will still give you a beautiful new set of cabinets. The first option is to refinish or restain your cabinets. Cabinet refinishing is the quickest way to rejuvenate the look of your cabinets. You can also consider painting your cabinets for a bigger change. This option does take some time as you’ll have to remove the cabinet fronts and will likely need to paint multiple coats. But it’s worth it for some beautiful new cabinets. Another popular option is to remove some of your cabinets and opt for open shelving. The best part about these options is you don’t have to hire a kitchen remodeler to complete them.
3. Replace Fixtures And Hardware
Another great project you could add to your DIY home plans in your kitchen is to replace the fixtures and hardware on your cabinets. The total cost for this type of project will vary depending on the material and style you purchase for your replacements. Switching from a typical chrome faucet and hardware on your drawers and cabinets to a matte black or gold is a small change that can have a big impact on the look of your kitchen. This project is great for any homeowner because you’ll just need a few simple tools.
4. Install A Faux Backsplash
If you’re looking for simple DIYs that can quickly change the overall look of your kitchen, installing a faux backsplash is definitely a project you should add to your list of DIY home plans. There are quite a few options for quick changes you can make to your backsplash, the first being a peel and stick wallpaper. You can find a lot of different styles for different prices. A popular option is to pick a mock subway tile or simple white tile style for a modern, clean look. You can also purchase peel and stick faux tile blocks that will add some texture. These options are easy for even a beginner to install, making them doable for all homeowners.
5. Add New Lighting
One fairly simple and inexpensive project you could take on in your kitchen is to add new lighting or alter your current lighting. If your home doesn’t have a lot of natural light, you might have the problem of a dark kitchen space. Without good overhead lighting, your kitchen can feel dull. Changing your light fixture can completely change the feel in your space by letting in more light. You can also change the fixture to match a new style you’re going for with your kitchen remodel. Like other projects, the price will alter depending on the lighting fixture you buy. You should also look into different types of lightbulbs. Some offer a cool, bright light while others give off a warm, yellow light. If you need even more light, you may consider installing battery operated lights under your cabinets for more light directly on your countertops.
Bathroom Updates
6. Countertops
If you’re looking to make a big change in your bathroom, one area you may focus on is changing out the material of the countertops. Custom countertops and expensive and often require a professional to install them, but there are options even homeowners can add to their DIY home plans. Similar to the faux backsplash in your kitchen, there are peel and stick countertop options you can use. There is a huge variety of styles, everything from marble look alike, to wood lookalike. These types of peel and stick paper are made to hold up to water and wear and tear, as long as you apply them correctly.
7. Paint The Walls
Another option you may consider to get a big change in the look of your bathroom is to change the color of the walls. White is the color most often used for bathrooms for its basic, clean look. However, you may consider adding an accent wall in another color for a new focal point. If your bathroom doesn’t have any windows, you should stick to lighter colors to open up the space. If your bathroom does have windows, you can play with darker colors as accent walls for some drama. All you’ll need for this is paint and paintbrushes, saving you a lot of money that you’d have to pay for labor with professional painters.
8. Fill Grout And Cracks In Tiles
If you have tile flooring in your bathroom or tile in the shower space, you’re lucky. This is a sought after material for most bathrooms. A great improvement you can make in your bathroom space is to either deep clean or refill the grout in between your tiles. This makes it appear newer and in better quality. You can also use a home kit to fill any cracks in your tiles to ensure you don’t have to do water damage repairs in the future.
9. Swap Dated Fixtures
Just like in the kitchen, a great DIY project you can take on in your bathroom is swapping outdated or dingy fixtures, such as the faucets on the sink and in the shower/bathtub. Again, the price of this depends on the type of replacement fixtures you choose, but this is a quick and easy project you can take on to make a beautiful change in your bathroom.
10. New Decor
The simplest and arguably cheapest project you could add to your DIY home plans in your bathroom improvement is the change up the decor. Home remodeling doesn’t have to consist of only major more permanent changes. Changing things such as the mirror that hangs over your vanity or the rug in your bathroom can have a big impact on the look of your bathroom space. Switch out old decor for something new for a quick and easy DIY change.
Exterior Updates
Roof Repairs
Roof repairs are one of the more expensive projects you’ll take on, but they will undoubtedly add great value to your home. This project can be a bit more dangerous as falling could cause serious injury, so if you’re going to add this to your DIY home plans, be prepared to take the proper steps to protect yourself. If you haven’t done roof repairs before, make sure to do some research on what the best materials and practices are. Keep in mind however that if your roof needs extensive repairs or even replacement, it may be more worthwhile and cost-effective to hire a professional team to get it done. Small tasks like replacing some shingles or resecuring loose shingles are more manageable for a DIY.
Fix Walkways And Driveway
If you’re making DIY home plans for summer, a great project to add to the list is fixing any cracks or potholes in your walkways or driveway. Cracks or holes are not only unsightly, but they also pose a threat to safety as anyone could trip or fall on them, especially once the weather gets colder and there is a chance of ice. Asphalt paving services can be very expensive, but if you have the proper connections to get the necessary tools and materials, you can complete this project on your own. Check into your local hardware store to see if they rent the necessary materials, do some research and preparation for the best way to fix cracks or holes depending on your walkway or driveway material, and then get going. Fixing these issues will also add to the curb appeal of your home, upping the total value.
Landscaping And Garden Work
Another great project to add to your DIY home plans during the spring or summer is landscaping your yard and garden area. Like fixing the walkways and driveways an aesthetically appealing yard will up the curb appeal of your home with equals out to a higher home value. If you’re planning to sell your home in the future, this is a great way to get more out of the sale. Even if you aren’t planning to sell your home, it’s nice to have a beautiful yard where you can spend time during the warmer months. This DIY project can be as simple as laying new sod, adding new plants around the perimeter of your home, weeding and removing old dead plants, or trimming back overgrown shrubs.
Fix or Replace Windows And Doors
Again this is a DIY project that will generally be more expensive than others, but again it will also add more value to your home and up the curb appeal. Old windows and doors can not only be unsightly but also cause energy issues and ultimately translate to a higher monthly utility bill. Upgrading windows and doors doesn’t have to equate to completely replacing them.
With windows, it may be as simple as fixing the sealing around the edge of the window. You can upgrade an old outdated door with a new stain or even paint it to add some color to the outside of your home. You can also fill cracks in a door or add a sweeper at the bottom of the door to block out cold air. However, if there are serious issues, this is an area where spending money to hire a professional team is worth it.
Install A Fence
Another great option to add to your spring or summer DIY home plans is installing a fence around your property or renovating your pre-existing fence. This will take more work and time than other DIY projects, but it will be well worth the time. Some homeowners may even consider taking welding classes if they’re interested in installing a metal or iron fence. Take some time to research your best options for materials and tools before starting.
In Conclusion
DIY home plans are a great option for homeowners who are looking to make home improvements without breaking the bank. Regardless of your skill level, these DIY home improvements should help you as you work to raise the value of your home for a sale or to simply change up the look and style. Best of luck in your DIY journey.