Kat’s Money Corner: Give your house a weekend makeover
In my home, spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning. Not only do we take inventory of our closets and possessions, we also try to give our home a bit of a facelift. There are plenty of easy, affordable DIY projects you can complete in a weekend that will leave your house feeling brand new. They may also help increase the value of your home. These are just a few of the many projects you can undertake in a few days:
Dress up the entryway
The front door serves as your home’s first impression, but it’s often a neglected space. Stand back and evaluate the area. Could it benefit from some bright planter boxes or updated address numbers? Take a look at the door itself. Even if the paint is fine, think about transforming it with a confident color that complements the rest of your house.
Replace the dated backsplash and countertops
Swapping out countertops doesn’t have to be the big, expensive ordeal it once was. You can even buy kits to paint over your old laminate to make it look like granite. Installing a new tile backsplash has been a staple among do-it-yourselfers for years. You’ll be surprised how different your kitchen looks with brighter, lighter colors on the tile and counters.
Install new cabinet hardware
If your cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms are in good shape but just looking a little dated, consider swapping out the hinges and pulls with new ones in a different metal finish. Brushed chrome can bring a smile to your face if you’ve been secretly sick of antique bronze for years.
New life for light fixtures
If the lighting above your dining room or kitchen table is just kinda there, jazz it up. You can always install a new fixture, but you might be able to paint an old one or replace a shade to give it a breath of fresh air. Another lighting trend: hanging a flush-mount chandelier in the laundry room.
Transform a small bathroom
Small spaces are a great opportunity to choose a bold color. You might be too timid to have an emerald-green living room or tangerine bedroom, but your favorite bright hue can bring a powder room to life. Take the opportunity to buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels, and you’ll hardly recognize your old bathroom.
Every year my husband and I take on a new project. Sometimes they are DIY and sometimes not. We decided early on in our marriage that we were not going to go into debt to have a nicely decorated home, so each year we save and take on a new endeavor. Two years ago we redid our kitchen with new countertops and a backsplash. Last year we repainted the outside of the home and deck. This year’s project is new window treatments, and I’m loving the idea of these. Keep in mind, you don’t have to take on all projects at once. Over time, you’ll see the value in your hard work!
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little ones, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens or visit http://communityamerica.com.
This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Kat’s Money Corner: Give your house a weekend makeover."