Top 5 Basic DIY Projects for Your Home

By Kathy Woodard

DIY projects for your home are becoming more popular than ever before. Homeowners are taking control of their most valuable investment, creating a more luxurious environment for their families on a tighter budget. And all it takes is a bit of elbow grease and some good DIY basic know how. Here are our top 5 DIY home improvement projects that you can get started on today!

1. Painting

Painting your home is one of the most common home improvement projects, and for good reason. No other project can make such a large impact on your space for such a small investment in time and money. Whether you choose to paint your exterior or interior, make sure you start out with a plan. Choose your colors within the theme or style of your home, and make sure your colors flow well from space to space. Learn about color combinations and values before you choose your colors. And remember the most important tip for painting your home; preparation is everything.

2. Installing new sinks and fixtures

You can quickly increase the value of your home by replacing sinks and plumbing fixtures with modern, updated choices. With basic tools you can disconnect the water supply and plumbing, replace the sink and faucet, and reconnect your water supply in a short time. You may want a helper for this job, so one person can be adjusting the plumbing while the other manages placement of the sink or faucet. Try to coordinate a look throughout your home with the same design, style, and finish.

3. Updating Window Treatments

Windows in a  home can often look cold and uninviting, especially at night. Decorating your windows usually should wait until you have a full decorating plan in place, but they are things you can do to avoid “tacked up sheet” syndrome that many new homes contend with. If you don’t already have blinds for privacy, buy curtains online...they install in minutes are it’s an easy do it yourself job. Soften your windows easily buy using clip top drapes. They attach to a curtain rod in minutes, and look updated and contemporary.

4. Updating kitchen cabinets

The most important space in any home is, of course, the kitchen. The kitchen is the most often remodeled home in the room, and the kitchen design affects the resale value of any home. However, one of the most dramatic improvements a DIYer can make in the kitchen is also one of the least complicated. Provided your cabinets are sturdy and sound, refinishing them can save you thousands of dollars, and add instant appeal. You can paint the surfaces, add molding, or use an antique finish to give your existing cabinets a one of a kind feel. While time consuming and a lot of good old fashioned work, refinishing kitchen cabinets can be well worth the effort.

5. Installing flooring

Installing flooring is perhaps the most difficult of the basic DIY home improvement projects, but easy enough to learn. With today’s wood laminate flooring, ceramic tiles and snap flooring systems, any DIYer can get this done in a weekend, with help from a good-natured friend. Consider taking a free class at a local home improvement center to learn the techniques and tools necessary. However, it is not often recommended that wall to wall carpet installation be considered a DIY project.

Once you obtain basic DIY project skills, you can tackle some more complicated projects.

While projects involving light fixtures can seem fairly straight forward, I always recommend leaving electrical projects to the professionals. A licensed electrician can make sure your new ceiling fan, chandelier or sconces are installed correctly, and more importantly, safely.

Most homeowners can drastically change the appearance and value of their home once they learn some basic DIY project instructions. Make sure you take the time to plan, review and learn about your project before getting started, and you are sure to be rewarded with the home of your dreams, not of your nightmares!

Visit Factory Direct Drapes and use their free Virtual Room Designer to help you choose the best draperies and curtains or valances for your home. Kathy Woodard is a freelance writer and home decorating expert. 

You can visit her at TheBudgetDecorator.com.

Decorating Tip:

With patterns and color becoming a more important interior design element. Keep the more expensive items, such as window treatments and furniture, more in the neutral tones. Add color, texture and patterns with pillows, throws, and cost effective area rugs.

Valances – The Crowning Touch

Valances will provide a designer’s touch to any window. Choosing the right valance for your style is the key in achieving the look one desires. Purchasing window toppers direct from the factory will insure a substantial savings. You receive the designer look, and not the designer price tag.

The pinch pleated valance is luxury at its finest. Whether lined or unlined this valance will spice up any traditional room with the statement of sophistication. The balloon and halo valances lend themselves to a more of casually elegant atmosphere.

The scarf valance is a free form yet graceful window treatment. The scarf is the most versatile of the valances because of the hardware. You can dress it up with very ornate hardware or have a more casual scarf by using a simple, cleaner lined hardware for whatever style your room is. Any of the window toppers will be the designer’s touch your room is begging for.

Buying multiples of the same valance, but in different colors, textures and patterns can offer a fresh face lift to your interior without an expensive redecorating. These soft valances will easily slip on and off your existing hardware allowing you to vary the color and style of your room. When shopping on the Internet, look for a company that is known for their excellent craftsmanship, high quality and lasting durability. Buying direct from the factory can save you up to 80% off of retail prices. It is so easy to have a designer look without the designer price tag.

Transform Your Room For Less

Sometimes making dramatic changes to the look of a room by re-decorating can be expensive. However, one way to easily transform or update your décor on a budget is to change the drapes or curtains. You will be surprised at the dramatic difference new drapes can make to freshen up your home. Creativity and knowing where to go for the best quality and price can also make this an easy and inexpensive project.

Begin by deciding if you will use the existing hardware (rods) or would you like to replace them with something more modern. Oftentimes, you can use the same rods in a different way to alter their appearance. For example, you can take a stationary rod/pole (non-traversing) with curtains on it and simply add designer ring clips. This will allow you to use a classic pinch pleated drape on the rod and save money to put towards other drapes. Adding a second rod behind your existing hardware will permit the use of a sheer drape or curtain as an economic way to change your window treatments. Or, purchase cost effective standard heavy duty traverse rods in a neutral off-white color that blends in nicely with practically all styles of furnishings. In many cases, the rod can be covered with a new valance leaving you the perfect reason to keep your existing rods.

Choosing a drape or curtain style to suit your environment should be exciting. With the number of options available, it is easy to get carried away with trendy brick-a-brack window treatments that can leave your windows over dressed and your pocket book empty. Pick classic styles such as pinch pleated or tab top drapes and add a stunning valance to define the style of a room. If you want to create a more formal look, include a pinch pleated sheer that can be opened and closed to create an airy look as well as adding privacy. Finish with simple tie backs in the same fabric as the drapes to hold the drapes or curtains back away from the window.

Many times, a valance with your existing window treatments will highlight the drape or curtain and “top” it off adding a perfect frame to your view. If you have mixed types of window coverings in a room, valances on all of the windows also provides continuity to really bring the room together.

The most important way to save money on home improvement projects is to buy directly from the manufacturer. Often, their websites offer free tools and ideas to help you pick the perfect options. Purchasing directly from the factory ensures you are getting wholesale prices without costly mark-ups. You can receive the highest quality by purchasing American made products.

The total impact of your drapes, curtains, and window coverings can be very enriching and add the perfect finishing touch to your décor. Doing it for less will enrich your bank account too! Buying direct from the factory or manufacturer will also save you the costly 50-80% mark-up many retail stores and decorators add onto the product cost.

DECORATING TIP OF THE DAY

Before painting any faux treatment on your wall, practice on samples boards to test colors and patterns.

DECORATING TIP OF THE DAY

Introduce layers of charm to your windows!!! Just by adding sheers and a valance you can give your windows a more complete look and a stylish decorator’s touch. This is a simple idea that is easy to accomplish!

DECORATING TIP OF THE DAY

Banish old and boring window blinds by adding the finishing designer touch of a beautiful valance. Valance and fabrics can introduce texture, color and warmth to your room. This gives you a more stated look and helps define your room design.

DECORATING TIP OF THE DAY

Filter harsh sunlight by adding sheers to your windows. Then add stationary drapery panels to either side of the window for a custom designer look.