50 DIY Home Improvement Projects Under $50

Choose a fringe-style curtain for a boho look, go bold with large, moody florals or opt for a soft, modern ombre like designer Kerra Michele Huerta did here. We also love how she upped the drama by installing a shower curtain on each side of the tub. Make a small bedroom look larger by adding mirrors to plain closet doors or the back of a bedroom door. Simply pick up a couple of cheap, framed floor-length mirrors for less than $10 at your local big-box store, then paint the frame to match your space. Attach to your closet door with construction adhesive for a permanent look or use removable picture-hanging strips if you’re renting.

• To quickly and easily rehabilitate your existing fireplace, a gas or wood-burning insert adds energy efficiency to your home without tearing apart your hearth and mantel.
• They are pricey, they last much longer than incandescent or CFLs and they are more energy efficient…
• “The process is simple,” says Mike McAllister, owner of Riverside Kitchen Center in Mount Vernon, Washington.

It also comes with a long list of things to do to keep the home in working order or improve our surroundings. Calling a contractor to repair or improve every single thing gets expensive fast. What if there were a way to know what they know about home improvement? Here are 17 of the best time and money-saving home improvement and care hacks that only a contractor would know about. Many homes in rural parts of the U.S. rely on well water rather than city water. But well water has pros and cons that city people may never have considered.

A well-made light fixture looks better, lasts longer, and gives clearer light, so inspect your fixture’s construction the way you would a piece of furniture. It’s even easier to add a new light fixture into ceilings connected to attic space, says Daryl Berg, a journeyman electrician in Longview, Washington. “Just cut the hole for the fixture and run the wires through the ceiling joists to a new circuit.” Transform the mood of the kitchen with a bold new backsplash in ceramic or glass tile. Just make sure the wall is sound before you start the installation. Choosing one color and clean-lined tile for the backsplash in a small kitchen keeps the look uncluttered and roomy.

Nvesting in a home renovation no matter the size is an important decision that will affect the value of your home as well as your quality of life. In House Home Improvement does not take that decision lightly. Our knowledge and experience will ensure your custom project is completed on time, on budget and as you want it. With IHHI’S attention to detail and commitment to building long term trusting relationships you can rest assured you’ve made the right decision. Similar to cool-toned walls, a lighter-colored floor can make a room feel bigger by better reflecting natural light.

Hanging mirrors in your small home will reflect light, as well as the room itself to make it feel bigger. Built-in shelves require very little work and are endlessly customizable to your space. America’s no. 1 hardware store, Home Depot, offers this guide for custom building built-ins in your home. Select affordable brick, concrete, or clay pavers to create a livable patio space. The key to perfecting this DIY project is making sure that the ground is level, then follow Oregon State’s detailed tutorial on how to lay down pavers in your yard.

Patience and a designated project day will save you anywhere from $500 to $3,000 when dreaming of your very own marble furniture piece. Expand your storage space and learn the basics of home improvement woodworking by building and hanging custom shelving in your garage. Each garage is unique to the home, and storage needs are unique to each homeowner, so custom shelves make the most of your space. Twenty-three percent of homeowners want to spend the colder months taking care of home renovations.

Keep Trees and Shrubs Away From the House

Earlier, we talked about repairing your own plumbing. Part of the trick in plumbing is to avoid scratching fragile chrome or brushed nickel finishes on faucets or exposed drain parts. Plumbers use smooth-faced pliers and wrenches to achieve perfect results. You can avoid buying special tools for one-time use by wrapping your soft-leather work glove around the fitting and using your standard pliers or pipe wrench over the protective cover. A common DIY home-improvement mistake, especially when finishing a basement, is making access to essential plumbing valves difficult. When you remodel, leave space or an access door to the main water valve, exterior spigot valves, water heater valves and any others your home may have.

Our Small But Mighty Kitchen Is Done!

To create a curvy top edge, use your mirror to inspire the outline of your design. Tape the pattern on the decorative paper applied to the wall; use a crafts knife to cut around the template and peel away the paper above the cut. Inject elegance into your daily life with a faucet that ups the ante in looks and quality. Just make sure the configuration matches your existing sink, or you might end up replacing that, too. If you’re planning on buying a new sink, it’s easiest to install a faucet and other hardware on a new sink before the sink is put in place.

Maximum Value Mechanical Projects: HVAC

Get free, objective, performance-based recommendations for top real estate agents in your area. Pegboards are simple to hang, and can be easily customized with paint and can be cut to fit the size of your wall. If cupboard and storage space is limited in your kitchen, just look up. Overhead pot racks can hold your bulky kitchen items right where you need them while making a rustic design statement in your home. Small homes come with even smaller nooks and crannies that feel dark, dingy, and end up making the room feel smaller when they’re ignored.