As hibernation season begins and our time indoors increases, we naturally begin to think of ways to make our home more comfortable. Home improvement projects can help revitalize your space and create the perfect cozy haven. What’s more, completing these projects early in the season has an added bonus: your home will be refreshed before guests ascend for holiday get-togethers!
Whether your preference is new curtains for bedroom windows or fresh lighting in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered for all the little projects you can do around your home for less than $100—perfect for a weekend DIY when the weather starts to get a bit drab.
1. Organize your entryway
Proper storage is a key aspect of organizing your front hallway. Shelving units, bins and benches can improve the aesthetic of your foyer and keep your space clear when shoes begin to pile up. Consider adding a bench near the door to provide a spot to sit and don’t forget to add baskets or built-in shelving underneath where you can store footwear.
Use the video above to build your own entryway bench all for less than $15 (depending on the type of wood you purchase). Above the bench, you can also mount hooks where scarves, keys, and purses can be stored.
Another addition to consider is built-in shelving inside the entryway closet. Custom shelves are easy to install and provide more storage for all of the knick-knacks that end up near the door. Don’t be intimidated by the word “custom.” There are many ways to DIY these types of shelves, whether you’re repurposing furniture you already have, hacking IKEA furniture to fit your space, or building your own with inexpensive materials.
2. Create an accent wall
Venetian plaster is all the rage these days, but the price tag can be a little steep. Instead of this upscale remodel, add some depth and style to your living room with an accent wall. Accent walls don’t have to be just paint: think about adding a gallery, using wallpaper, or adding a full wall mural. These will all add a bit of personality to your space. When choosing which wall to update, experts say to pick one you see upon entering the room as well as one that doesn’t have an interruption, like a door or window.
In the case of paint, think about the overall colour story of your space and pinpoint architectural features that can help guide you to a good focal point. Balance a bright accent wall with neutral colours, like grey or beige. Painting your accent wall will run you anywhere from $20 to $80 and may take just a couple of hours to days to complete, depending on the paint you choose, the painting technique you choose to use, and the size of the wall.
If you’re looking to use wallpaper, use this accent wall as an opportunity to go bold. Striking patterns, strong colours, and bold shapes are at your disposal! You can use classic wallpaper or, depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you can choose peel-and-stick wallpaper that lets you change things up more frequently. Pricing for either type will depend on the size of the wall.
3. Upgrade the lighting in the kitchen
Considering how much time we spend in the kitchen, it’s the room that benefits the most from good lighting. Many small changes can be made without the need of an electrician or messing around with wiring. The best kitchen lighting is a mix of function and style.
Give your kitchen a modern dimensional look with pendant or recessed lighting, available at your local hardware store for around $70 to $100. Be sure to test out energy-efficient light bulbs to lower your electricity consumption and save you money in the long run.
Or consider adding accent lights around the countertops and heavily used areas to maximize the space’s functionality. LED strips under the cabinets can help when you’re prepping meals, and they’re also a great addition to the inside of your cabinets or pantry. You can get LED strip lights for around $20 a roll, and depending on how large your cabinets are (and how long the rolls are), it’ll probably take you a total of three to cover the cabinets and pantry.
4. Add a plant wall to an office space
Plants are a great way to breathe new life into your home office. Plant walls have increased in popularity over the past few years as they’re relatively inexpensive to make and can bring a freshness to a stale place. The first thing to consider when creating a plant wall is to find pots with built-in drainage. You may also want to think about how many plants you would like in general and how much care you’re willing to put into them. The next step is getting your hands on some floating shelves, which can be found at your local home retailer. Just install two or three shelves and fill your pots with small indoor plants like succulents, aloe vera, or jade. Keep in mind, different plants will require different amounts of light, so choose ones that work with what’s available to you and have similar requirements.
5. Dress up your window’s curtains
Another simple way to refresh your bedroom or living room is to replace outdated curtains or blinds. Curtains not only provide privacy and some insulation, they also add pattern, colour, and texture to a room. Although window treatments can get expensive, you can find ready-to-hang options for about $20 a panel, plus the hardware. You can also think beyond traditional curtain panels and use other materials—like a drop cloth—to create your own look. Supplies needed for DIY drop cloth curtains include canvas drop cloth(s), a glue gun, measuring tape, and an ironing board.
Longer curtains can give the illusion of a larger window, which in turn can help your space feel more welcoming. If you’re hanging new curtain rods, try and get them as close to the ceiling as possible and let the fabric run to the floor.
6. Kitchen organization solutions
If you’re someone who loves cooking or baking, kitchens can easily become cluttered with pots, pans, sheet trays, and other useful—but space-consuming—gadgets. Luckily, there are ways to optimize your storage without having to break the bank.
If pots and pans are becoming the bane of your kitchen existence, why not install a hanging storage solution? You can hang them between two cabinets (making sure the cabinet material is sturdy enough to hold the weight), or mount it directly to the wall above the stove or sink for easy access. Sticking within the $100 budget, pre-made racks can range from $35 to $100 on the nose.
If you’re feeling particularly handy, you can build your own using a metal or wood base and your preferred hook style. Some people opt to use a floating shelf as their base, installing hooks underneath, for even more storage on top. This option will likely cost you more as the shelves can be pricier, but it’s a great solution if you want the added storage. Just be sure your mounting hardware, and the shelf itself, can withstand the weight of whatever you plan to hang/place on it.
For in-cabinet storage, particularly sheet trays and baking pans, a few steel rounds from the hardware store can end up changing the game. Create a custom cabinet organizer with six steel round rods—approximately $8 a piece—and your existing shelves. Adjustable shelves are required for this particular project, as you’ll need to remove one and vertically drill the rods into the shelf. Once completed (the video above is a great guide), you’ll be able to store your pans and trays vertically, rather than trying to stack them and play kitchen Jenga when you need one.
Painting an accent wall, organising the entryway or adding plants to a small space are simple ways to help create the perfect fall vibe in your home.
So, why not give one of these ideas a try? We know you can do it!
Source: realtor.ca
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