With quarantine in full swing, most people are spending more time at home and craving a change of scenery. While boredom and restlessness begin to set in, it is only natural to take on a project or two to help make the most of this time. We’ve got you covered with 10 easy DIY home projects you can tackle during this time.
Refinish Furniture
So you have some older pieces of furniture that are past their prime? Refinishing those pieces would give your room a whole new look without having to buy brand new furniture to replace it. Some pieces of furniture may only need paint and primer, while others require stripping off the existing finish and sanding it down before painting. Make sure you have everything you need including any strippers, sanders, stain or paint and more. Research newer products that offer combination uses, such as 2-in-1 paint and primers for added convenience.
Repaint
A fresh coat of paint is sometimes all you need to liven up your space. Painting is also a low-cost, highly effective way to get noticeable results. A few ideas can be painting your front door a new color, painting a fun accent wall in your living or dining room, or just doing simple touch-ups on door frames and baseboards. It is best to purchase non-toxic, eco-friendly paint, especially if you have poor ventilation in your home and small children or pets that will be exposed to any fumes. Plan ahead and paint on days with fair weather, moisture in the air can deter paint from drying correctly and dampen your efforts.
Add Floating Shelves
Storage is always a valuable investment and now is the perfect time to add more shelving and other solutions to make the most of your home. Floating shelves are a classy addition to any home and highly customizable depending on what you place on them. They are also relatively easy to install. It is best to find the strongest, most solid section of your walls to hang and secure them. You may need an anchor if you want your floating shelves to hold a heavier weight.
Replace Your Hardware
Replacing hardware is an inexpensive project for those that are hesitant to repaint. Hardware updates can make old doors, drawers, vanities and more look new again. They can also effectively alter the overall style of the piece. You can transform a solely traditional piece of furniture into a transitional style with modern knobs and pulls. Or you can give doors a vintage or retro look based on the handles you select. For those who enjoy art, you can even find hand-painted knobs to give a plain piece of furniture an artisan feel.
Peel and Stick Backsplash
A fun peel and stick vinyl backsplash is a quick way to update spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. It’s also a great way to test out a new design before going through with installing a real backsplash. Administered much like wallpaper, it does require some time and effort to administer but is still much cheaper and quicker than tile or stone. The best part about this DIY home project is that it’s removable so you can easily change things up the next time your space needs an upgrade.
Try a New Furniture Layout
It’s easy to get in a rut with the same furniture set up from the start. Try mixing up a few pieces for a new look. Move your armchair to the other side of the room, swap out rugs from different spaces, adjust your couch to a new position. Even rearranging decor pieces and lamps can make a difference in the look and feel of your living space.
Spruce up your Outdoor Space
Spring has sprung in most areas of the country, making it the ideal time to update your outdoor space. Start by cleaning off any dirt or dust from your patio and then clean up any leaves, pinecones and stray sticks leftover from winter. Clean up your flower beds and cut down overgrown bushes and small trees. Get your planters ready for new flowers and plants and plan what you would like to put in them. Finally, wipe down and scrub your patio furniture, you would be surprised how much dirt accumulates on them.
Organize your Closets
Most people’s spring cleaning includes cleaning out closets. This includes tossing old clothes, shoes, and more random items you have accumulated since your last purge. Introduce new storage solutions like baskets and shelving to help organize the things you decide to keep. You may even want to create labels to make it easier to find items you don't regularly use on a day-to-day basis.
Create a Gallery Wall
You’ve seen those beautiful photo arrangements online and in other people’s homes, and now it’s time to make yours. Gain inspiration for neat, modern layouts by looking at photos online and then decide what pictures you want to include. Make your favorite photos larger so they will become focal pieces of your gallery wall. Select frames that are simple and compliment each other. Enjoy the nostalgia as you go through pictures and decide which ones you want to showcase on your wall. Already have one? Maybe it’s time to rearrange and straighten your pictures and artwork for a fresh, pristine look.
Plan for Larger Home Renovations
As you move forward with small, easy DIY home projects, you may notice bigger projects you would like done in the future that require an experienced contractor to handle. Go ahead and start planning for when you would like to do these projects. Plan to set aside money for a renovation budget and look at similar projects for inspiration. Go ahead and research local contractors and see what references you can get on their work so you will be ready to get the process started when the time comes.
If you’re near the Bucks County Area, take a look at our renovation project portfolio and consider us for any future renovations or remodels. We wish you strength and good health during this time.
