When you are ready for a change in your home or have just moved in, there can be an overwhelming feeling of needing to do projects to make your home what you want. Make a list of what you would like to accomplish and tackle those projects one at a time. Put the professional projects in a category that may take time, experience, possibly a license to complete, and place the Do It Yourself projects in a category. Here is a list of the top projects you can complete on your home through DIY.
1. Painting Doors
One way to spruce up a home or change its look is to paint the doors. If you paint an outside door, such as a front door, make sure to use paint resistant to the elements. Do not use water-based paint that will peel, rinse off in the rain or fade fast. For a front door, you can choose a color that seamlessly fits into your home’s exterior, or you can go bold and paint an accent door. When painting outside, make sure to paint between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and ensure the humidity is below 70%. If you paint too late in the day, the paint won’t dry, so plan for this project in the late morning or early afternoon.
Painting the interior doors changes a home in a subtle but wonderful way. If you are painting interior doors, choose your paint based on the room. In a bathroom, you want a more satin finish that can withstand the humidity of a shower. For normal interior doors, you can choose colors that fit into your home, perhaps an off-white. Or go bold with black doors, which have recently become very popular in homes. You could also paint your doors a more wood color if needed. Put the paint on in layers and use a brush. Open the door and place a drop cloth under the door. Make sure to remove any handles or tape them well with painter’s tape. Decide if you plan to paint the edges of the door as well. Be prepared with your trim color so you can fix it if you brush some door paint onto the trim. Painting a door should only take you 30 minutes, and it will look beautifully finished. This is also the technique for painting over a door that looks worn or needs a fresh coat.
2. New lighting fixtures
Homes can start to feel dated with their lighting fixtures. They can also make a difference in how the ambiance in the room feels. Changing out lighting fixtures can be easy and a project you shouldn’t have to call anyone in for. You can use your own ladder for lighting fixtures that can be reached by a ladder. For lighting fixtures that are in high vaulted ceilings, you will need to rent scaffolding. Contact your local hardware store and ask if they have scaffolding you can rent for the day.
Before changing your lighting, make sure you have the new fixtures all together and all of the tools you need. Have the correct bulbs and wires out. When you remove the old fixture make sure you turn the electricity off to the house since you are dealing with electrical wires. Have someone hold the fixture next to you so you can wrap or plug in the new electrical wires. Make sure you have the correct brackets for your home, so your lighting fixture stays up. This can be done with or without assistance but is easier when you have another set of hands.
3. Paint garage doors faux wood
Recently, an upgrade to many homes has been garage doors that look like wood. This technique of painting is actually quite simple. You will need three colors of paint for your door. Start with your chosen deep wood color for the brown. Brush it lightly with a large flat brush. Then get the lighter color and use a less wide brush to brush in some light marks. Do the same technique with the dark. You can adjust the colors as needed since these are layers of colors. As you brush, you will start to achieve the wood door look. If you would not prefer the wood door look, painting your garage door is a great way to upgrade the outside of your home. Choose the correct paint for this since your garage door is in the weather elements.
4. Paint your deck
Buy some deck paint at your local hardware store and fix up that wood deck. Start by sanding the deck and getting off the dirt and debris. Then when ready, grab a large brush and start painting. The deck may need a few hours to dry between coats.
5. Paint your garage floor
Pull everything out of your garage, pressure wash it, and purchase the garage floor paint of your choice. You will use a roller for this with a pole. Roll the paint on and wait a day before attempting to step on it.
6. Stain cabinets
You can easily pull your cabinets off of your kitchen walls and upgrade them. Place them all in a location that will stay clean and dry while you work on them. First, start by sanding them all down. Once they are prepped for staining, choose your favorite stain color. Apply a few coats to get the desired color. Once done, you can place your cabinets back on the walls. Have an assistant for this since holding and hanging cabinets isn’t always easy.
7. Adding Shelving
You can make your own shelving or buy shelving from the store. This is an easy DIY project to complete. Make sure you have the proper tools for this project. Purchase or create all of the materials you need for the shelves. Use a leveler, so your shelves are straight. Have an assistant help hold the shelves as you drill them into the wall. Know that your shelves will hold items, so make sure to use anchor screws that can hold a good amount of weight. You can add shelves to a basic wall or your closet for that custom closet look.
8. Wallpaper
Wallpaper has made a comeback because of the beauty it adds to a home. Measure the location you want to wallpaper and make sure you purchase enough for cutting. You have to match the wallpaper many times on the edges, so you need more than you plan for. Have a helper for this so you can have an extra handhold the wallpaper while you place it on the wall. This is an easy way to upgrade the home and only takes 30-45 minutes.
9. Tile a space
Tiling is actually quite simple. It takes some preparation, but the process moves quite quickly. If you have a backsplash or small space that needs tiling, go for it. Measure the space first and make sure you have the right tiles for the job. Make sure you have the tools needed, including the tile measured for the space, caulk gun, grout, drills, grout sealer, spacers, and more. Lay out the tile and plan how you will place the edge pieces. Most tile comes in a mosaic and is easy to put on.
10. Replace doorknobs
Changing the knobs on your doors changes the look of your home. Make sure to purchase enough door knobs for your home and tackle them one at a time. You should only need a screwdriver for this, and it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes.
