Home improvement projects ramp up when the weather warms up, as you channel your inner weekend warrior and prepare to tackle those home to-do lists. Large-scale renovations can greatly affect a home, but smaller projects can yield impressive results and be completed over the course of a single weekend.
If time is of the essence, these weekend or one-day projects may satisfy your desire to fix up your space.
Create an accent wall. Painting a focal wall in a home can create a serious impact. The bo-nus is it will not take as long or require as many materials as painting an entire room. Accent walls frequently feature a bold color, so decide on placement and tackle this project in less than a day.
Dress up the entryway. An entryway is a guest's first impression of a home. Many entryways can use a minor overhaul, both inside and outside. Paint the front door a different color so it pops from the curb. Install a new mailbox or decorative house numbers. A new welcome mat can change the look as well. Inside, consider laying a new floor. Resilient vinyl tiles come in many different patterns and can mimic the look of wood, travertine or marble. Installing a floor can take a day or two. Sometimes adding a simple bench and some artwork will do the trick.
Install a new faucet. Instantly improve a kitchen or a bathroom with new fixtures. New faucets can provide aesthetic appeal and low-flow faucets can help conserve water.
Update kitchen or bathroom hardware. Replacing hardware is a fast and easy project, but one that can have immediate impact. Swap out tired or outdated hardware for newer brushed metals and more impactful shapes and designs.
Create a gallery on the staircase. Gather and arrange framed photos, artwork or wall ac-cents so that they ascend the wall of a staircase. This creates a designer touch and can dress up an often barren area of wall space. Tip: Keep the frames to the same color family for a uni-fied look.
Install stair runners. Dress up hardwood stairs with decorative carpet runners. Runners come in elongated pieces of carpeting or individual pieces that can be placed on each step. If carpet-ing doesn't fit with the home's design, painting individual stair treads also can create visual ap-peal.
Install a fresh light fixture. Improve drab spaces with a little illumination. We suggest replac-ing an existing fixture with something new and vibrant. If hanging a new fixture is not within one's skill set, free-standing table or floor lamps also can cast a new glow on a space. Another fun option to consider, try a pair of sconces with battery operated realistic candles. No wiring re-quired!
Add molding or wainscoting. Molding can add instant aesthetic appeal to any room in the house. Try a wider base molding where the wall meets the floor or a decorative crown molding at the top of walls where they meet the ceiling. A chair rail style, mid-wall, doesn’t have to be limited to dining rooms, think powder rooms, finished basements or mount it higher with a ledge to rest drinks in a game room. Consider framed molding on walls in formal living spaces. Wain-scoting gives a casual look to rooms and can be easily painted or stained. Look for kits in home improvement stores.
