In the whirlwind of daily living, it’s easy to focus solely on immediate tasks – getting the kids to school on time, doing the grocery shopping, making sure you have a birthday gift for a friend. Home improvements – even small ones – can slip further and further down on the to-do list. However, some projects are so quick and easy, you’ll wonder why they took you so long! If you have just a bit of extra time this weekend, here are a few budget-friendly home improvements that will help you create the cozy, welcoming home you deserve.
Mini Room Makeovers
Adding personal touches to your home gives it character and warmth. From bits and bobs picked up on holiday, to inherited furnishings that remind you of beloved family members, these pieces make a space uniquely yours. However, even with these personal touches, over time your space may begin to feel outdated, stale, or simply uninspiring.
A simple refresh can completely transform a space, whether you tackle this project every few years or (like me!) with every change of season. I love to update my decor every few months with a collection of seasonal accents – colorful glass pumpkins and gourds in the fall, rustic birds’ nests and bunnies in the spring, and crystal bowls filled with seashells in the summer.
However, if seasonal décor isn’t your vibe, you can still rotate cozy throws, stylish cushions, or go for custom window treatments. I switch drapes for spring/summer and then again for fall/winter. And because curtains and drapes take up so much visual “real estate,” it really makes a difference in the feel of a room.
These changes help maintain a fresh, inviting atmosphere while ensuring your space remains true a reflection of your personal style.
Add Lick of Paint
For me, painting is one of those chores that seems to be required more often than I could have predicted. As soon as I complete one room, I realize another looks woefully drab, or (in my busy house) has suffered with serious scuffs and scratches on the walls.
Luckily, painting is an easy fix and makes a tremendous impact. Paint is also relatively inexpensive compared to other home improvements. (I like Farrow & Ball for long-lasting, complete coverage and incredible colors.)
But, painting a room is a task you either enjoy or one you dread. For the quickest fixes, examine what part of the wall needs the most help. Can you get away with just painting above (or below) the chair rail? Is a scuffed and nicked baseboard bringing down the whole room? Or, if one wall suffers the most damage, could you add an accent wall in a contrasting color to the room (I recognize that the design world is seriously divided regarding accent walls, and many consider them passé. However, they can offer a temporary solution until the whole room can be repainted.)
Weekend Home Updates in the Garden
Just like regular cleaning of the bathroom or kitchen, regular upkeep of the garden is essential to creating a lovely, relaxing outdoor space. And, many garden tasks can be completed in just a few hours.
Instead of waiting until spring, when the number of projects will feel overwhelming, tick a few off your list in the weeks until then. For example, pruning unruly branches will instantly make your outdoor space more inviting. Since most plants are dormant during the winter, this is the perfect time to adjust the shapes of many trees and shrubs.
Other quick fixes include raking leaves and debris, adding rock or brick borders to garden beds, or add installing outdoor lighting.
Clean the Carpets
You keep the kitchen spic and span. You regularly round up clutter and relegate it to the dustbin. Your bathroom is sparkling. But, how are your carpets?
If your carpets have suffered with extra foot traffic, snow, and mud over the course of the fall and winter (kids! dogs!), now is a great time to clean them. And, you no longer need to rent a massive machine! DIY carpet cleaning solutions are readily available, easy to use, inexpensive, and effective for small spots or heavily trafficked areas such as hallways.
Of course, for larger tasks, a carpet or steam cleaner will make short work of dirty flooring, reviving the original color and pile of carpet, bringing it back to life.
Cleaning the carpet (and really anything in your home) has an unexpected side benefit, too. According to author Franchell Richard-Hamilton M.D. in the article “Why Spring Cleaning Is Good for Your Health” for Psychology Today, “Leading psychological research has discovered that housekeeping has a positive benefit on your mental health. Research showed that every hour of cleaning you do each week is associated with a 53% boost in happiness.”
Put Up Those Shelves, Add Storage, Corral Clutter
There are almost always those home improvement tasks that we continue to put off, if for no other reason than they feel overwhelming. But, adding storage provides multiple benefits.
Shelving, whether wall mounted floating shelves, over the lintel shelves for display, or even freestanding shelves and bookcases can look charming in any room. In addition to providing a lovely display space shelving helps keep you organized, cuts down on visual clutter, and uses vertical space in a more efficient way.
Even small changes can make a big difference when it comes to refreshing your home. Weekend home updates, from swapping out decor, to adding a fresh coat of paint, to clearing the garden can breathe new life into your home, all without requiring time intensive or pricey renovations.
These budget-friendly home improvements sound like a weekend well spent!
Thanks so much for visiting! While you are here, please take a moment to enter one of our new style giveaways. And, if you enjoyed this Weekend Warriors: Budget-Friendly Home Improvements You Can Do in a Day post, please visit Fabulous Interiors for even inspiration.
NEED A PRODUCT REVIEW? Have a fashion, beauty or style product line and want an honest evaluation? Want to create a giveaway or promotion? Please contact us!
Susan Said… WHAT?! is your guide to a life filled with style and was named one of the Top 50 Beauty Blogs in the World by RebateZone. You’ll find everything from fashion, jewelry, beauty and accessories, to gorgeous gardens and stunning interiors and DIY projects, plus the latest ideas events of all kinds. Susan Conforte McNeill is an author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the literacy organization Success Won’t Wait!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.