Whether you want to add a deck to your house or learn how to do that faux finishing technique you saw on HGTV, this article gives you tips and pointers on various things you could do in your home to make it more personal and a home you can take pride in because you did it yourself.
If you don’t already have some, install some ceiling fans in all your rooms. You can use these to cool rooms and circulate the air, reducing the need to use your air conditioning unit. This in turn will save you money on your electric bill and most likely increase the life expectancy of your air conditioner.
If you have old shoe boxes handy, then you have extra storage for any room. Use any wallpaper you have left, or any fabric, to cover the boxes with. They make terrific storage containers, and they can even give your room a little extra drama.
Anything simple, like a lampshade, can look and be boring. With stencils, you can brighten them up. Use paint or an ink pad to add designs that be taken from a template, then add them to your boring lampshades. Not only can you match the color or theme of the room, but you can even match the design of rugs or other aspects to tie the room together.
When you are going to be doing home improvements, make sure you do things that will be viable. Making strange changes to your home that do not take its setting into consideration can cause problems when you want to sell. Be sure you stick with the improvements that are actually wanted and don’t overdo it. Keep the actual climate in mind.
Here’s a simple way of fixing gaps at the bottom of poorly fitted interior doors. Sandwich a section of timber (cut to the width of the door) between two pieces of paneling. Leave each piece of paneling sticking out beyond the upper side of the two by two by about one inch. Slip the extension over the bottom of the door and screw each piece of paneling into place against each side of the door.
Consider a truly “green” makeover to your landscaping. A popular new trend in landscaping is to make your garden fit the climate and area that you live in. Gone is the need for the perfect green lawn all year round. If you live in a dry climate, consider creating a landscape that are tolerant to drought and you will save money in watering costs and help the environment.
A well known rule for doing any kind of construction, repair, or renovation work is to measure twice and cut once. This age old saying still holds up today in every circumstance. Following this rule will allow you to avoid costly and time consuming mistakes associated with projects by using less materials and saving time and effort on labor.
Purchase draft excluders or sealant strips to stop air from getting out. For example, draft excluders sit under a door to keep it air-tight. Placing sealant strips around the frames can also help. Look for them in hardware stores.
If you’re one of the many people who are suffering from lack of space in their closets, have no fear. You can easily build simple shelving inside of your closet to create more space for your clothing and accessories. Hang your purses on pegs and put your shoes in small plastic boxes to be able to later stack them on the bottom of your closet. Whatever you’re not using and is out of season, consider moving them to storage or storing them under your bed.
As you can see, there are a variety of things you can do around your home, both inside and outside, that will put your personal stamp on it. It doesn’t have to be a major change, because even the smallest things can make a big difference if done correctly and strategically.