If you’re thinking of sprucing up your home, but are working on a tight budget, don’t despair. Here are five small home projects you can tackle yourself that will enhance your home’s appearance and boost its value without hurting your bank account.
1. Create an inviting entrance: First impressions are always important and a front door painted in a cheerful color along with a few other accessories for your entry can do wonders when it comes to curb appeal. Fancy up your newly-painted door by adding new hardware, a welcome mat and potted plants to frame the entrance. If you need to replace the door, wood is always a classic, but there are stylish versions of steel or fiberglass that look great as well.
2. Style up your staircase: If you have a staircase visible when just entering your home, this is another great area to create a memorable impression. Take a look at the stair railings. Either replace them outright, or add a little paint and polish to make them stand out. Scratched and worn wood flooring on your stairs can be sanded, painted or stained to give it a fresh glow.
3. Kitchen on a budget: A complete kitchen renovation is out of the question on a tight budget. But there are a number of small projects that can help your kitchen feel refreshed and lovely. Replace outdated faucets with updated styles. Add eye-catching cabinet knobs, handles and pulls that complement your personal style. While you’re at it, if your cabinets are in good shape but just feeling a bit shabby, repaint them in a fresh, new color.
4. Get fired up: Fireplaces are natural focal points in a home. Make sure yours doesn’t leave you – or potential buyers – uninspired. Mantles are an easy place to start by replacing, repairing or repainting the one you have. Take a look at the material surrounding the fireplace – sometimes an easy and budget-friendly resurfacing is in order. Adding tiles, stone or marble veneers can make a beautiful visual statement and not put too heavy a hit on your wallet.
5. Get organized: Ever flinch when you open your messy closet? It’s a fact – closets look better when they are in order. Professionally-planned and installed closet organizers are great, but can take a hefty investment. For lower-cost organizing, head to your local home improvement stores and look for matching natural-fiber baskets, pre-made adjustable shelving you can install yourself and clever hanging solutions for shoes and handbags. If you have a spacious walk-in closet, adding a small chandelier you found for a bargain at that online design shop will add a touch of luxe that will make you happy to open your closet doors more often.
If you’re preparing to sell your home, or just in the mood to polish up your surroundings, these easy and inexpensive projects will more than pay you back by boosting the value of your home, and your enjoyment while living in it.