Homeowners who live in Northern Virginia and the area surrounding the nation’s capital know how important regular maintenance is to a home’s comfort, functionality, and potential future resale value. Despite that awareness, many homeowners don’t have the time or know-how to do a lot of projects on their own. There are countless inexpensive projects that anyone - from the newest first-time homeowner to experienced DIYers and long-time homeowners can do that will add to the comfort and aesthetic value of their homes and also provide functionality that can lead to a substantial reduction in their utility bills.
We came up with a variety of DIY projects that cost no more than $50 and are suitable for homeowners of all skill levels. We encourage you to use any of these suggestions and to tweak them to suit your personal taste or household needs.
Floating Shelves
Floating shelves offer a practical way to display pictures, trophies, awards, mementos and other lightweight objects. Some of the greatest advantages to floating shelves is that they come in many sizes, they add interest to bare walls, and they don’t take up valuable floor space in small rooms.
Proper installation requires that anchor screws be drilled into wall studs. Use a level to ensure that the position of every screw is even. You can buy floating shelf kits at most home improvement stores. Kits include instructions and screws and anchors.
Add Cubbie Holes to an Existing Bookshelf
Repurpose or transform an existing bookshelf into a shelf with cubbies for added or more organized storage. The only supplies you’ll need are wood glue, nails, a full sheet of ¾-inch plywood and 1-inch by 1-inch strips that are the same length as the height of the bookshelf.
Cut the dividers so they are ¾-inch narrower than the depth of the bookcase. The 1 x 1-inch strips will fill the space for a more polished look. Before you install the cubbies and add the finish pieces, paint or stain the wood to match the existing bookshelf. Mail the dividers to the shelves at the top and bottom of each divider. Glue the 1 x 1-inch strips to the dividers running the length of the bookshelf. Then nail them in place.
Change the Look of Kitchen Cabinets
Do you often admire the transformation of kitchen cabinets we see on Pinterest, home improvement sites, and favorite HGTV shows? Many of those projects are easy enough that you can do them in one afternoon. The best part is that if you have to spend money, it won’t be very much at all.
If your kitchen feels enclosed or crowded, a simple fix will yield a massive transformation, and the result will give you a brighter, more open and fabulous looking kitchen. Remove the doors on some of your upper kitchen cabinets. If you don’t want to have open and exposed shelves, you have a few options.
After removing the cabinet doors, measure the center panels of each door. Use those measurements to create a template. The templates will guide you when you cut the chicken wire to fit the center panels they’ll replace. Measure the chicken wire and add two extra inches to the height and width of each wire panel you will cut using wire cutters.
Stretch the chicken wire across the back of each cabinet door. Use a staple gun to secure them to the doors. Use pieces of crown molding that you’ve cut with a miter saw to cover the raw edges of the chicken wire. You can sand the cabinets and doors before staining or painting them in a darker or lighter stain or paint color.
If you want to add some color to a neutral kitchen, paint the inside of the cabinets. You’ll be able to see the color through the chicken wire. If you decide to remove the doors altogether, the color will add a unique decorative element to your kitchen.
Add Dramatic Definition to Your Walkway
If you’re looking for a fantastic way to add an elegant touch to your walkway while adding a ton of charm to your curb appeal, consider creating a floral border all along the walk from the curb to your doorway. You might want to add edging to both sides or your flower border to keep the dirt in place, and to give yourself a barricade, so you don’t mow the lawn where the flowers are.
Choose annuals that you can change according to the season. Look for flowers that are best suited to the amount of light you have along that path. You can choose flower colors that work well with the colors of your front door, house trim or house color.
There is no shortage of DIY projects you can do to add rustic elements to your home, add storage where it’s lacking, or create places where you bring the outside in - by building window boxes and installing them under the exterior window sills around your home.
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