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June 16th, 2009 10:49 AM

15 Do-It-Yourself Ideas

Here are fifteen home improvement ideas for people who love to putter.

1. Install a tile backsplash. It's a small enough project for the first-timer, but one that can make a big difference. This is also an opportunity to really personalize the look of the room by selecting decorative tiles. If you really want to go all the way, you can even dictate your own tile design. Sure, it will cost more, but you don't need to – and shouldn't – use a lot of decorative tiles. Just make sure you place them strategically in your overall scheme. In this case, less is more.

2. Install a wine cooler in your kitchen. Often it only means removing an existing cabinet. Or building it in under a cabinet. It's surprising how much pizazz something so simple adds to a kitchen.

3. Replace the knobs and handles on all of your kitchen cabinets with new and dramatically different ones. If your cabinets are knob- and handle-less, drill the necessary holes in the cabinets and install knobs and handles.

4. Change the knobs and handles in your bathroom(s), too. And while you're at it, buy new towels in a totally new color. People should also consider monogrammed towels. It's one of those subtle changes that can create an entirely different – in this case, entirely elegant – look.

5. If you're looking for a "rainy-day" activity that the children can participate in, stencil your walls.

6. Use the same stencil pattern (but in a contrasting color, or colors) to decorate the lampshades in the room.

7. If you're looking for an outdoor project, put shutters on your windows or give old shutters a new coat of paint.

8. Another cool-weather, outdoor project: Paint the trim of your house a different color.

9. Or, paint the inside of the window frames a different color than the trim color you've chosen.

10. Finally, outside, change your mailbox.

11. Make a screen by hinging three doors together. Then paint them. The sky's the limit; for the artistically challenged, at least paint each panel a different color – even if it is subtle variations of the same color. Oh, go ahead, push the envelope, and use different colors even on the flip sides, making it a total of six colors. Now position the screen so that it creates a divider between a multi-use room. For example, living room/dining room or bedroom/home office.

12. Separate a combination living room/bedroom by making your bed "disappear." Hang three dowels (paint them first) from the ceiling (at the two sides and foot of the bed); then hang drapes (anything from a heavy velvet or tapestry to a sheer organza) from the dowels.

13. Create an "eat-in" kitchen with a folding table by making (or buying) a tabletop and hinging it to a wall. If you don't have the wall space in the kitchen, find the available wall space closest to the kitchen.

14. Change the whole appearance of your bedroom almost instantly – and inexpensively. Simply buy two matching flat sheets, sew three sides together; then put your existing comforter, or a blanket inside. If you want to get fancy, buy grosgrain ribbon, in a complementary color, and sew strips to the open side to use as ties. Voila! A brand new comforter and a totally new look.

15. Wall paper borders are easy and really dress up a room. Remember they don't belong only at the ceiling; they also make excellent chair rails.

Posted by Lynn Merritt on June 16th, 2009 10:49 AMPost a Comment (0)