DIY home improvement is becoming the standard, rather than the “weekend warrior” image that it used to conjure up. The housing market has us living in our homes longer, and the economy has less money for all, so this is the perfect economy for people to learn to do it themselves. In this post I want to share some projects that are perfect for those that are just starting to get their feet wet with the DIY mentality, but want to make a big impact in their home.
Changing out the ugly brass doorknobs that came with your home is just about the easiest project around. They are extremely easy to replace, and new ones make a huge impact. You can find the knobs that fit your style online, or if you’re the “old school” type, vintage doorknobs are also pretty easy to find at antique stores.
Another project that will help out your wallet and the planet is to install weather stripping on the windows and doors. Rubber weather stripping is very affordable and comes with an adhesive side that makes it super easy to install. This project will lower your energy bills by reducing the amount of air that leaks out of your doors and windows, thus keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. You can find rolls of this weather stripping at your local hardware store, and if you need to buy a lot of it bulk pricing is easy to find online.
An easy way to improve the lighting in your bathroom is with new light fixtures. These are much easier to install than you might think, and only take basic knowledge of wiring and electricity to complete. The key to making it as simple as possible is to get fixtures that are the same size as the current ones so no modification is necessary for the wall.
DIY home improvement isn’t a trend, it’s how everyone is going to do things in the future. Only highly specialized projects will go to the pros and the rest will be left to you and me. What better time to start learning than right now?