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By Hope Griffin
Whether you’re looking ahead to more weekends at home, or you want to be constantly boosting your home’s value, we’ve got enough quick home improvement projects to keep your hands busy — and your property value rising — for the better part of a year.
From painting to decluttering, boosting curb appeal to lowering energy costs, no project is too small. Take on these simple tasks for your yard, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living areas to make your house look and feel more like home.
Plants add to the appeal of any home. The right blossoms, buds, pines or perennials suggest vibrance and prosperity — and breathe life into your front and back yard. For prospective buyers, well-tended greenery also indicates an owner who cares about the home and keeps it up.
For the best horticulture results, incorporate plants of different heights and textures — and choose colors that will enhance your home’s exterior palette.
One of the fastest ways to transform your curb appeal is to give your front door a fresh coat of paint.
If you're putting your house on the market, you might find that neutral colors keep your options open. But if bright hues are more your style, a pop of color — like a bold red or a royal blue — will draw the eye in and offer a warm welcome to anyone who comes to your door. Can’t decide? Take a two-tone approach, and use a brighter color on your door jamb or around your panels.
Related: Exterior house color ideas for front doors, roofing, siding & more.
Installing or updating outdoor lighting can be done as a simple weekend project. Not only is a little outdoor lighting warm and welcoming, it also makes it easier (and safer) to navigate your property at night.
Make sure you take the proper precautions when installing new lights. For example, work during the day, and turn off the electricity from the main circuit breaker before you start.
Related: How much does it cost to install light fixtures?
Installing storm windows is a fairly simple task that will keep your house warmer during the cold months — and cooler during the warm ones.
You'll see and feel the savings. On average, homeowners save $350 per year on heating and cooling bills when they install storm windows over single-pane clear glass, according to the EPA.
Related: How much does it cost to replace your windows?
Power washing the outside of your home is a surefire way to transform the look of your exterior in a single day.
A good power wash will make your home look newer and cleaner, getting rid of all that dirt, grime and mildew that has likely built up since…well since the last time you had a power wash. Rent your own washer and take the hose in hand yourself, or hire a pro to do it for you. Either way, it's worth the effort to help your home shine.
Related: How much does it cost to hire someone to pressure wash?
If you want to maintain a healthy lawn, mow it on a regular basis (more or less depending on the season and the climate where you live) to keep it from looking unkempt and overgrown.
Don’t stop with your grass. Trimming your trees, tidying up your shrubbery, replacing mulch in the summer and yanking weeds regularly will turn your home into the envy of the neighborhood.
Related: How much do lawn care services cost near you?
Bring some landscape lighting to your lawn. Tap into your inner designer to determine which features to highlight.
Maybe you want to illuminate your trees and shrubs — or create a lit path along a concrete or gravel walkway. You can install lights on your deck or porch, around your swimming pool or at the corners of your home for increased safety.
Related: Best landscape ideas for backyards and front yards.
A new walkway can provide a sleek, attractive addition to a home’s exterior.
It’s easy to create your own walkway using sand, gravel or pavers found at any hardware store. You might be surprised at how much variety you’ll find to suit your personal taste. If you still don’t know where to start, hire a landscaper to design the perfect path to your front door.
Related: How much does it cost to hire a landscaper?
Give your foyer an upgrade with a fresh coat of paint — and delight your guests the moment you greet them at the door.
After the paint has dried, consider adding a few functional accessories to create that perfect transitional space from outside to inside. Consider an entryway runner, coat rack or umbrella stand to keep things tidy and organized.
Related: How much does it cost to paint a room?
The lighting inside your home matters. It affects mood, sleep quality, energy level and overall ambiance — not to mention the quality of your family photos.
Having the best lighting in the right places will make your home more efficient and welcoming. For example, if you’re looking for a cozier atmosphere, switch out your bright LEDs with bulbs that have a softer glow. Put your lights on dimmers so you can take things down a notch at the end of the day.
Related: 20 brilliant ways to brighten up your home.
Add functional storage to your entryway with a few attractive furnishings you can use the moment you walk in the door.
For convenience, install a shelf with hooks on it for coats, hats, keys — and even purses and backpacks. Consider a bench or shoe storage with cubbies in the back. This provides a decorative landing spot without cluttering up the entryway.
It may seem like a daunting undertaking, but there’s nothing quite like the sense of accomplishment that comes after a good declutter.
Take things one room at a time — and if it helps, just stick to one room per weekend. Go through every drawer, cabinet, closet, end table and bookshelf. You'll be surprised by how much space opens up to reward you for your efforts.
If getting started feels overwhelming, consider hiring a professional organizer.
It’s not often the first home improvement people think of, but adding decorative molding to your walls is a quick, easy way to create a new sense of sophistication and completion for your home.
There are many different types of molding — including trim, crown, casing and baseboards. Add intricate crown moldings between your walls and ceiling. Install baseboard trim along the bottom edge of a wall or casing around your windows and doors.
Related: How much does crown molding cost?
Painting an accent wall is a great way to add a pop of color to an otherwise uninspired room. You can pick a color from your room's existing palette — or even choose a bolder one.
The best walls to accent are the ones that face you directly when you first enter a room.
Related: See top-rated interior painters near you.
Backsplashes are a good way to add a little personality to your kitchen while protecting your walls. A lot of people go with subway tile or create a herringbone pattern, but there are other options out there if you’re after a new look that doesn’t require too much time.
For example, peel-and-stick tiles are a great option if you want a quick and simple backsplash project to complete over the weekend.
Related: How much does it cost to install a tile backsplash?
Choosing to refinish rather than replace your kitchen cabinets will save you money. There are a variety of different finishes you can apply to cabinets, but a fresh coat of paint is by far the easiest and cheapest option.
Keep in mind that the more cabinets you refinish, the more weekends you’ll need.
Related: Find a kitchen cabinet refinisher near you.
If you're looking for an easy home improvement project this weekend, consider changing up the hardware — cabinet handles, knobs and towel bars — in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Find a new style that suits you (and your refinished cabinets or refreshed backsplash), grab a screwdriver and you’re halfway there. You can swap out your old knobs and handles with those shiny new pieces in just a few minutes.
Related: Top home, bathroom and kitchen trends for 2022.
Faucets wear out over time, and if your home has hard water — which is water that has a high level of mineral content — it can lower your faucet's life expectancy. If you find that the water isn't flowing as efficiently as it once did, it may be time for a new one.
Replacing your faucet may actually improve your water bill. And, with the right tools, the installation shouldn't take long at all.
Ceiling fans don’t just improve the airflow in your home — they reduce the time you need to run your AC so you can save big on energy bills.
Upgrading old or mismatched ceiling fans can improve your home’s overall sense of comfort. Choose a style that works in every room of your house to create a feeling of coziness and consistency.
Related: Find pros near you who can install ceiling fans.
Nothing transforms a home more completely than new flooring. Be forewarned, however: installing new flooring is far from the quickest project on this list — and depending on how much of your house you’re planning to cover, you may have to split the job up over a few weekends.
If you are up to the task, however, laying vinyl plank flooring is a relatively easy undertaking for the average homeowner. This type of flooring can brilliantly mimic the look of real wood. Plus, it’s very durable, water-resistant and can last up to 25 years when properly cared for.
Related: Best flooring ideas for kitchens, basements, bathrooms & more.
Often, replacing an interior door is all you need to do to improve your home's look and feel. You can find many stunning door designs at your local home improvement store — or even shop around for reclaimed or refurbished pieces to add some pop. Bathroom doors are a good place to start because they often have hollow cores and can be replaced quickly.
Related: Find pros near you who can install interior doors.
Area rugs are arguably the fastest way to add character and comfort to any room. You can choose from many different styles, sizes, colors and pile heights.
Pile height refers to how thick the strands of wool are in an area rug. The thicker the pile height, the more comfortable your feet will feel on top of it. Thick piles are often recommended for high-traffic areas. However, shorter pile rugs are more durable and less likely to trap hard-to-clean dirt.
Not ready to invest in a whole new rug, but want to brighten up your living space? Shampooing your carpets once to twice a year can significantly improve the comfort level and cleanliness of your home.
You can buy or rent a carpet shampooer and do it yourself — or hire a professional to clean several rooms at once.
Related: How much does carpet cleaning cost?
Vintage, antique and heirloom furniture can work wonders for a room if it has the right finish. So instead of replacing your grandma's old chair, give it a simple refurb.
Reupholstering a worn-out couch or chair is a fairly simple process as long as you bring careful measurements and a modicum of patience to the job.
Related: How much does reupholstering a couch cost?
There are many creatives ways to accentuate your home's desirable features. Want to make your living room or den feel more welcoming? Open up more spaces for natural light to stream in, or rearrange your furniture to facilitate entertainment and conversation. Want to create the illusion of height in a room with low ceilings? Hang some plants from the ceiling.
26. Level up your deck game.
One weekend is all you need to give your deck or porch new life. Take the time to paint or stain your wood with a waterproof sealant, and you'll be able to use your deck all year long. It's a great weekend project to get you ready for outdoor hosting.
Related: How much does it cost to stain a deck?
Reserving some space in your backyard to entertain and unwind after a long day is an inexpensive way to transform your home. All you need is a designated area, patio furniture that complements your interior home decor and an outdoor rug. You'll be entertaining friends — or relaxing with a book on a beautiful day — in no time.
Outdoor lights are not just for the holidays. The right string of lights can add a breathtaking ambiance to your backyard. You don't need much to get them up — just break out your favorite string of lights from your local home improvement store, a hammer and some hooks.
Starting your dream garden is the perfect weekend project to take on in the early spring. Choose an area that gets plenty of sun and has good drainage, then buy some native plants at your local garden center. Plant them, water them regularly and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Related: Plant care 101: Best indoor and outdoor plants.
Building a firepit is easier than it sounds, as long as you have the space and the right materials. You can use stone, concrete pavers or brick.
Before you get to work on the installation, just make sure you check out your city’s laws about fire pits. For example, there may be regulations about how large or how far from the home it should be.
Related: 20 home projects with the best ROI.
With a little bit of vision, motivation and help from Thumbtack, there’s never any reason to wonder how you’ll spend the weekend. Hire pros for your upcoming projects — and start spending some quality time with your home.
Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll show you pros right for the job, with prices.