DIY Home Renovation Projects For Summertime
Key Takeaways
- DIY home renovation ideas are more abundant than most homeowners are aware of.
- While there are tasks better left for a professional, there’s no reason a savvy homeowner couldn’t conduct their own DIY renovation.
- DIY projects can add value to a home without breaking the bank.
There are countless DIY home renovation projects for homeowners and investors to consider. However, the idea isn’t to take on a renovation project because you can, but rather because it ultimately has a purpose. In other words, it’s not always in your best interest to take on new DIY projects simply because you can. Each DIY renovation should meet a specific need. Now, whether that need is to add value to a home or to simply make it more enjoyable in the eyes of the beholder will inherently vary from person to person, but the concept remains the same: improve the property with purpose.
DIY Home Renovations On A Budget
DIY home renovations have grown in popularity as the amount of reality television shows centered on rehabbing continues to increase. That’s not to say there are too many rehab shows on television, but rather that there are a lot of creative ways to rehab a home. The sheer volume of home improvement projects the average homeowner can take on themselves, without the help of a professional, is more apparent than ever, and the sooner today’s homeowners realize that, the better. If for nothing else, there’s no need to hire a professional for every single project. Of course, there are certainly projects better left to professionals, but if there is one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s that you have the power to make some important renovations of your own. The right improvements will make all the difference, which begs the question, what are the best DIY home renovation ideas for your own property?
DIY Home Renovation Ideas
Here are a few of my favorite DIY home renovation ideas that won’t break the bank:
- DIY Kitchen Renovation
- DIY Bathroom Renovation
- DIY Furniture Renovation
- DIY Staircase Renovation
- DIY Shower Renovation
- DIY Fireplace Renovation
The Best DIY Projects For Your Home This Summer
As I already alluded to, there’s a difference between DIY projects and the right DIY projects. Do not simply initiate a DIY project for the sake of doing so, but instead, do so with a purpose. If you are an investor, your sole priority is to add value to a property. However, homeowners are usually a bit more arbitrary. Whatever your intentions are, make sure the DIY projects you choose to implement meet them. If you are unfamiliar with where to start, here’s a few of my favorite ideas:
DIY Kitchen Renovation
There is absolutely no doubt about it: kitchens deserve to be prioritized above any other room in the home. If for nothing else, there isn’t another room in any house that can do more with a single renovation than the kitchen — it’s as simple as that. Kitchens should be at the top of your DIY projects list. A proper kitchen, after all, can make or break a home’s perceived value. It’s true what they say: kitchen sell homes. And if you make the right renovations in your kitchen, there’s no reason it couldn’t do the same for your property.
It is worth noting that most kitchen renovation projects are better left to a professional; however, there’s no reason you can’t work on a project of your own. Namely, there are two kitchen DIY projects I recommend: replacing light fixtures and adding a countertop backsplash. Neither of these projects require a degree in rocket science, but they can go a long way in adding to the room’s value.
Provided the current lighting in your kitchen is outdated, consider replacing it with a more modern looking light fixture. Of course, mind due diligence when working with a home’s electricals and take the appropriate cautions by turning off the right circuit breaker (and making sure it’s off). From there, simply make the swap and watch the transformation in a matter of hours, if not minutes.
Kitchen backsplash, on the other hand, represents another easy opportunity to add a breath of fresh air to any kitchen. Simply choose the backsplash you would like to see installed, making sure it matches the tone of the room, and get to work. In a matter of hours, a simple backsplash can make an outdated kitchen look brand new.
DIY Bathroom Renovation
Second only to the kitchen, bathrooms deserve their own fare share of attention. Not unlike their kitchen counterparts, bathrooms add a considerable amount of value to a property, both perceived and objectively; that’s why it may be in your best interest to pay special considerations to some of the easier DIY home renovation projects that come complete with an attractive return on investment. It is, therefore, safe to assume that the better the bathrooms in a home are, the more value it’ll hold.
If you want to add value to some of the most important rooms in your home with a DIY bathroom renovation, look no further than the vanity. For no more than a few hundred dollars, homeowners can simultaneously replace their vanity and transform their bathroom. The right vanity, for that matter, could very easily be the only thing you need to take your bathroom from average to amazing, and you can do it all yourself.
DIY Furniture Renovation
While it may not count as a legitimate remodel, a DIY furniture renovation can go a long way in sprucing up your summer home. What’s more, there are few DIY projects that can change the look of an entire home with less effort. Often times, all you need is a free afternoon and a little motivation to change a drab piece of furniture into a centerpiece worth the attention. Better yet, some of the best furniture renovation projects need nothing more than a brush and some stain.
If you are looking for an easy and affordable DIY home renovation project, set aside an afternoon to work on the furniture you already have in place. Sometimes a coat of paint on a table can transform a room more than knowing down a wall or adding a light fixture. What’s more, most furniture DIY projects won’t break the bank. More importantly, don’t assume updating your furniture won’t update the look of your home.
DIY Staircase Renovation
Often ignored, staircases represent a missed opportunity for most homeowners and investors to add a welcome “touch” to a home’s interior. Yes, stairs tend to serve a more functional purpose, but there’s no reason they can’t look good doing so. Having said that, now may be the perfect time to consider updating that banister you have been wanting to. There’s a chance all it needs is a fresh coat of paint or stain, but there’s no reason you couldn’t replace it altogether.
Of course, replacing a banister is a bit more complex than the DIY projects I have discussed up to this point, but those with adequate skills could find it a lot easier to do themselves instead of hiring someone. If your banister has never been replaced, try bring it into the 21st century. If appropriate, perhaps you could add a glass banister; you be the judge. There’s just one takeaway I want you to understand in this section: the stairs don’t have to be ignored. Far too many people look right past them, when — in reality — they offer one more opportunity to improve a home’s aesthetic appeal.
DIY Shower Renovation
While showers could easily be included in the bathroom renovations I discussed earlier, they are important enough to warrant their own section. In fact, of the home renovation ideas I have already gone over, few are more impactful than fixing up the shower. Not unlike the kitchen, showers can very easily help sell homes; they are an amenity buyers prioritize. What’s more, you don’t even need to be an expert plumber to take on a DIY shower renovation; you could easily retile a shower to change the whole feel of a bathroom. It is worth noting, however, that if you are handy with plumbing, that rain shower heads are more popular than ever. By installing a shower-head on the ceiling, it’s entirely possible to turn a boring shower into one that is reminiscent of an expensive spa.
DIY Fireplace Renovation
Last, but certainly not least, is that old fireplace in the center of your living room; if you are like most homeowners, you haven’t ever taken the time to update it. However, there are few DIY projects more worth your time. Since the fireplace is often the centerpiece of whatever room it’s in, it should deserve a lot of attention. Are you tired of the brick? It isn’t as hard as you think to frame out a new fireplace and replace it all with tile, or something else you would prefer. My point is this, however: the fireplace offers a great opportunity to completely transform a room. If you are looking for a relatively small DIY home renovation that will make a lasting impact, you could do a lot worse.
DIY home renovation projects don’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of home improvement projects you could do yourself, all while realizing an impressive return on investment. That said, you need to make the right improvements if you are to add value to a property.