DIY Projects for Home Improvement—Part 1

Whether you’re looking to boost the resale value of your home or need to refresh your living space, making some home improvements can produce some pretty dramatic results. Remodeling the kitchen or knocking down walls may not be the type of home projects you feel comfortable taking on, and that’s okay! Not everyone is ready for a more complicated remodel due to time, commitment, and budget.
 
However, a full remodel or renovation isn’t the only way to modernize your space. With these simple DIY home improvement ideas, you can update your space to add more style and functionality to your home.

Repainting walls is a simple yet effective DIY home improvement idea. By painting your walls, you can easily improve the overall appearance of any room. Here are some tips to consider when painting:

• Be selective with your colors. Choose colors that complement your entire home—not just the individual space—and remember to include hints of your own sophisticated style. Opting for light, crisp tones for your kitchen will help brighten the space, while selecting soft, muted tones for your bedrooms create a relaxing, tranquil retreat, which is ideal for a peaceful night’s sleep.

• Take your time. You don’t have to be a professional painter to get the job done. However, paint can show your imperfections and mistakes, so be intentional and patient with the process, paying close attention to preventing drips from forming. It’s helpful to protect areas you don’t wish to paint with a drop cloth or painter’s tape. Applying painter’s tape around molding, windows, etc. can help you create effortless clean lines.

Similar to painting, installing wallpaper can really update a room’s décor. Whether you decide to wallpaper an entire room or add an accent wall, wallpaper adds a bold statement to your space and creates a great focal point. With so many options available for DIY homeowners looking to freshen their living areas—including permanent and temporary wallpaper styles—gone are the days of limited wallpaper choices. Temporary wallpaper is easy to apply and even easier to remove, and it comes in a variety of colors and finishes. With its peel-and-stick application, it’s so easy to add a pop of color and interest to any space, no matter the size.

Flooring doesn’t always have to be an expensive upgrade. If you have the option to refinish or paint your floors, you’ll discover how much your flooring contributes to your space’s overall appearance and feel. Regardless of which approach you choose, be sure to use products specified for floors and carefully follow application directions to ensure it adheres correctly. If sanding, refinishing and/or painting aren’t your hobby, there are a variety of peel-and-stick flooring options—such as tile or carpet—that are extremely user-friendly.

It’s amazing how simply swapping out light fixtures can refresh a space, without necessarily making any other updates or changes. Oftentimes, a home’s lighting can be very telling of its age, making a space feel outdated. Many home improvement stores carry DIY-friendly light kits that simplify the process.

The following are examples of popular lighting styles you may find in easy-to-install light kits:

• Pendant & chandelier lights. These lights offer as much style as they do functionality in spaces. We love incorporating pendants over kitchen islands and statement chandeliers in dining areas to add more style to the space, without taking away its functionality.

• Track lighting. These lights allow complete customization. By installing a track, you can direct your lighting whichever way works best for your space. They are particularly helpful in showcasing your artwork and photography or to illuminate shelving.

• Sconce lighting. These lights are often used in bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways. While this style of light has been around for some time, they now have way more variety and styles available. By opting for styles with clean lines and minimalistic structure, you can instantly modernize a space.

When thinking about updating your home, it’s easy to overlook the exterior. Your front door, for example, is the first impression your guests—and potential buyers—have when they visit. By taking the time to clean and update your curb appeal, you eliminate a lot of what ages the exterior of your home.
 
Here are some DIY home improvement ideas for updating your entryway:

• Paint your door. Painting the front door adds instant style to your home. Many people opt for bolder options to draw attention to the entryway and to add a pop of color to a more neutral-toned exterior. You can finish off the space by decorating with outdoor mats and planters to bring more life to the space.

• Modernize your house numbers. You can easily replace your house number from outdated, standard fonts to a non-serif style that offers clean lines. These are so easy to install, and you can likely find options in your local home improvement store. For an even more modern look, try installing your house numbers in a vertical position, rather than a horizontal position.

• Replace hardware. Your front door handle and locking system may also date your home. By swapping them out for a more updated finish and style, you not only update the appearance, but you also boost the security of your home, as well.

Improving storage organization isn’t often a consideration when thinking of DIY home improvement; however, the areas where you tend to store things—pantries, closets, laundry rooms, etc.—are heavily used and typically don’t work as effectively as they could. By improving the functionality of these storage spaces, you’re infusing the space with purpose.
 
One easy way to enhance areas like your closets is by installing shelving. Instead of opting for a standard one-rung closet, consider creating shelving and racks that offer more organization potential for items like shoes, hats, etc. Many home improvement stores carry closet organization kits, ranging from wire shelving to wood shelving, that make customizing your storage needs simple and stylish. These kits, though often designed for bedroom closets, can also be used to create more organized pantries and laundry areas!

Taking on a Bigger Renovation Project?
If you’re looking to enhance your living space with professional home renovation, consider working with Gonyea Transformations. Our team will work with you to ensure you have a quality home-remodeling experience, from beginning to end.

For more information on our services, contact Gonyea Transformations today!