Whether you’re looking to sell your home, or have just moved in and want to make a few adjustments to the décor, decorating and renovation projects have a sinister way of becoming all consuming. Ripping out floors, taking down walls, or adding space to the home may seem ideal, but the time (or the money) may be lacking. Luckily, not all home renovation and decoration projects have to be untamable beasts of months-long scope and thousands of dollars. In fact, there are a number of projects that you can accomplish—DIY—in just one day, allowing you to update an outdated bathroom, give a facelift to an aging kitchen, or add some spice and style to an otherwise bland space within the home.
Think hardware. When it comes to a day-long DIY project, replacing hardware is one of the best. So much of a room’s style and décor is determine by details, so that old towel rack in the bathroom or those “quaint” knob-pulls on the kitchen cabinets are perfect targets for replacement. Bring in a new look—brushed nickel, stainless steel, even vintage hardware—and you can change the whole feel of the room. Even plumbing hardware like faucets can be replaced relatively easily, and moving beyond builder-grade to something stylish can make a huge difference in a kitchen or bathroom’s appeal.
Think paint. If you’ve ever watched a home design or decorating show, you’ve learned that paint is the single cheapest and most effective design element in a room. Painting the walls can breathe new life into a tired decorating scheme, but why stop there? Cabinets can also get a second chance to shine by being painted—darken up a too-light maple, or brighten up cherry cabinets by going white. Combined with new hardware, painted cabinets can look like new for a tiny fraction of the cost of replacement.
Think light. One of the other easy, swappable style elements in a room is the light fixture. Dated fixtures—brass? frosted glass?—can be a huge style eyesore, and can drag down a room that’s otherwise in good shape. Modern fixtures can provide a snappy style update, particularly in entryways and in the bathroom, where light fixtures are one of the few features in the area. If you’re particularly handy, consider installing recessed lighting in the kitchen or bath, where they add dimension to the room’s look, while providing much-needed light for daily activities such as grooming or cooking.
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