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10 DIY Home Improvements For a Fresh Look
Simple projects that revitalize your living space
Getty Images Spring isn’t just a time for cleaning. It’s also a perfect time to look at your living space with a critical eye – and to get creative. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. After years of being cooped up, working remotely and following lifestyle restrictions, your home may need refreshing with some simple DIY home improvement projects. People want to optimize their indoor living space, says Andra DelMonico, lead interior designer for the Trendey home design website. She expects more people to convert areas created during the , such as , into more flexible space to be used for multiple purposes. “They’re asking, 'Is this the best use of the space?’ ” she explains. Another trend, says Jessica Nickerson of the DIY blog House Homemade, is that people will continue to look to vintage and “to get the most bang for your buck and acquire one-of-a-kind pieces.” Here are 10 ideas to refresh the interior or exterior of your home: 1 Repaint the front door
“Painting your can give your house a totally new feel without breaking the bank,” Nickerson says. “That’s a pretty easy day project.” Consider a that makes a statement, such as an orange door for a gray house. It doesn’t take much paint, so DIYers can buy a quart for less than $20. 2 Replace hardware
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Jazz up a small space, such as a laundry room, with vinyl peel-and-stick floor tiles in bold geometric designs. Faux wood makes a mudroom or bathroom feel cozier. The tiles are easy to install, clean and replace. 5 Embrace outdoor living
Create a new outdoor seating space by simply placing a bench on your front porch or making a patio from pea gravel and then adding an outdoor kitchen or comfy furniture, says DelMonico, who lives in Tampa, Florida. Ann and Ernest DelMonico recently installed this glass tile backsplash in their kitchen. Courtesy of Ernest DelMonico 6 Make a statement with bathroom mirrors
Bathroom mirrors today are more than functional. Go modern with a round metal-framed mirror, retro with a starburst version or rustic with a wood-framed mirror. The Lozoyas, recently made their own wood-framed mirrors for less than $100. Yvonne, who used to make stained glass, cut a half-wall mirror to a smaller size, bought wood, stained it and bronzed it to make a frame. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe based on their kelvin temperature – designated as “k” on packaging – which is a scientific measurement for the color of light. Replicate daylight around 4,000 kelvin for kitchens, offices and bathrooms. Outdoors, add lights along pathways and driveways to and boost curb appeal. 9 Go green
Beautify the front of your home or patio by and greenery in large, decorative pots. Choose one large plant or several smaller plants in varying shades and heights, DelMonico says. Indoors, plants add color and scent to a home. They’re also good for your health: found that help purify the air of toxins by releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. DIY blogger Jessica Nickerson created a fence on the side of her house to hide messy yard items. Courtesy of Jessica Nickerson with Sheryl Jean using BeFunky 10 Conceal clutter
Many people have more stuff than they need. If you have or sports gear without a home, consider building a fence to hide it, advises Nickerson. It’s easier and less expensive than erecting a shed, she adds. Nickerson built a three-foot-tall movable fence to conceal a trashcan, wheel barrel and other items that didn’t fit in her Dallas-area garage. “It makes a huge difference to what’s seen on the side of the house, and it blends in with the house,” says Nickerson, who provides on her blog.
Make Your Front Door Easier to Open
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