We realise that not everyone has the time or money to tackle a big home renovation project, but most people can free up a weekend for a smaller project or two to add value to their home. Here are 10 easy and manageable home improvement projects to plan for a free weekend to really get your home looking great again.
Deep Clean Your Driveway and Pathways
When was the last time you gave your brick or cobblestone pathways a clean? This is something not many people give any thought to and it can actually be quite effective in making your home look newer and cleaner. Sidewalks, driveways and pathways slowly become stained by wet leaves, moss, mildew, dirt and leaks from your vehicles. Either buy or rent a power washer and give your pathways a deep clean, it doesn’t take a long time to do and you’re sure to be impressed with the results.
Wash The Outside Of Your Home
Remember how good your home looked when you first painted it? If you used a good quality paint then chances are that the paint still looks good a few years later, it’s just covered with dust and dirt. Use the same pressure washer you used in the previous tip to give the outside of your home a proper clean. You shouldn’t even need a ladder, the powerful jet will have no problem washing the built up dust and dirt from your walls, leaving your home look freshly painted again.
Make sure that you test it out on a small patch first to ensure that the paint is still well adhered to the underlying surface and won’t flake off.
Revive An Old Room With A Coat Of Paint, One Of The Most Effective Ideas For Home Improvement
As far as home improvement goes, few things can transform a room as effectively as a fresh coat of paint. Repainting a room with a bright and modern colour can really go a long way towards making it look like it has been completely transformed.
If you don’t have the time or money to paint the whole room, consider painting just a single accent wall. Choose a colour to compliment your room’s decor. Don’t choose a colour which is too dark as you’ll have to spend a lot of time and money if in future you decide to cover it up or go back to a lighter or more neutral colour.
Install A Modern Programmable Thermostat
If your home still has an old fashioned dial thermostat, then its definitely time for an upgrade. Installing a programmable thermostat may cost a bit initially but you’ll save a lot of money month to month. Modern thermostats are much more effective at regulating your homes temperature and have the potential to vary your homes temperature throughout the day and while you’re not at home in order to save energy. Here are some other ways in which to drastically reduce your home’s energy consumption and save on your electrical bill.
Deep Clean Your Carpets and Furniture
Get the family together for a day to help you move the furniture and rent a carpet shampooer to give your carpets, sofa and upholstery on your chairs a deep clean. Once you’ve moved the furniture, it shouldn’t take you more than 15 to 20 minutes to shampoo the carpets, so you could get through your whole home in a morning. You’ll be surprised by how much brighter your carpets look and how much dirt is sucked up in the water.
Upgrade Your Cabinet Hardware
Replacing your cabinet hardware is a great way to update your kitchen and bathrooms without spending a fortune. It usually requires nothing more than a screwdriver if your choose new hardware with the same mounting holes. If you’re replacing simple knobs with proper handles then you’ll need to drill an extra hole each and it saves time building a template first to make sure that all of your new handles are straight and in the same position.
Replacing the hinges also makes a big difference. Old hinges tend to sag and don’t offer as many adjustment opportunities as modern hinges. You’ll get all of your cabinet doors straight, aligned and not bumping into each other in no time. Here are some tips on getting your cabinet hinges properly adjusted.
Change Your Kitchen Or Bathroom Faucets
Old faucets not only look unattractive with a buildup of years of grime and mildew but also often drip or leak. Swap out your old faucet for a stylish and modern new design with an aerator, you’ll not only add visual appeal to the room but also save money on your water bill in the long run.
Upgrade Your Light Switches & Outlets
Replace your boring old beige light switches and cover plates with something more modern and decorative. Modern switches and outlets come in a wide range of designs and colours and often include additional features such as built in USB chargers.
If replacing your outlets and switches seems too expensive, you could also just remove the cover plates and give them a fresh spray of paint.
Add Smart Lighting To Your Next Home Improvement Project
Nothing says designer home quite like soft and warm lighting. Smart lighting systems used to cost a fortune and involved a big home improvement project, requiring your whole electrical system to be rewired, but simple modern smart bulbs have completely changed the way in which you are able to control the lighting in your home. Get yourself a smart lighting system, like the Philips Hue starter set and you’ll be amazed at how effective an adjustable lighting solution can be at making your home look more designer. You’ll also be able to impress your family and friends by having your lights turn on and off automatically, have them voice controlled by your Amazon Echo or control them with your mobile phone.
There is a wide rang of smart indoor and outdoor globes and light fixtures for you to completely transform your home’s lighting.
Beat The Squeaks
A house sounds old and un-maintained if the doors squeak when you open and close them or the floorboards squeak when you walk on them. Restore the peace and quite in your home by giving your door hinges an oil with a quick spray of WD-40 and stop the squeak in your floorboards by sprinkling talcum powder over the problem areas and sweeping it into the cracks.
Have you tried any of these home improvement projects? Let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear your tips, tricks and ideas.