Already have an account?
Get back to the
Home

14 Fun DIY Projects That Will Give Your Home an Instant Refresh

Tags:

While there are some renovating tasks that should definitely be left to the experts, there are plenty of home updates that you can easily tackle yourself. And it’s not as hard as you might think! From an art gallery feature wall to clutter-freeing wall shelves — here are some simple DIY projects that will totally refresh your home.

1. Paint the floors.

white floors

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

While it’s not a look for everyone (and it’s difficult to reverse if you change your mind), white wooden floors pack a massive punch. Preparation is key, so don’t skip the sanding and priming. 

2. Statement Lighting 

You can easily change the look and feel of a room with a new pendant light. New lights should always be installed by a qualified electrician, but you can get involved in the assembly and hanging. 

3. DIY Feature Wall

Got an unsightly wall that needs hiding? Cover it with a wall of plywood panels secured in place with a nail gun. You can keep it simple or arrange smaller panels in a more decorative stretcher bond or herringbone pattern. Finish by painting it your favorite shade. 

4. Gorgeous Grout

Often, we put so much thought into our tiles but don’t give the same consideration to the surrounding grout. The right shade of grout (think beyond the standard white or beige) can make a real feature of neutral-colored tiles. And it’s not as tricky as you might think, thanks to grout stains and colorants that paint onto your existing grout for an instant refresh. 

5. Refresh Your Joinery

Give your joinery a modern update without spending a truckload by replacing any tired and outdated door and drawer handles with stylish leather pulls. All you need is some leather strapping and metal studs in your chosen finish.

6. Wall Storage 

Round wooden wall hooks provide a stylish spot to hang those miscellaneous, hard-to-store objects like bags, scarves, and hats. 

7. Disguise your TV.

While we all love a night in front of the TV, a bulky screen sticks out like a sore thumb when it’s not in use. Help your TV camouflage into the background by drawing the eye elsewhere — think a textured finish on your walls — or hide it away behind some sliding doors.

8. Get artsy.

home gallery wall

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Gallery walls are a great way to showcase a bunch of smaller artworks. Try to have one common thread that ties them all together — color, subject matter, or frame style — and lay them all on the floor to get the arrangement just so before using paper cutouts to place them on the wall.

9. Hang a shelf.

Make better use of your walls with some classic bracket-style shelving, which can be used in myriad ways. Most shelves come as kits with all the necessary screws, but you’ll also need an electric or battery-powered drill, some wall plugs if you’re securing your shelf to a masonry wall, and a spirit level to make sure it’s not crooked. Go one step further and paint your shelves the same color as your walls for a streamlined look.

10. Style up a storm.

Breathe new life into those empty corners by creating an inviting nook. Cover the walls with a roll or two of wallpaper in a fun print, add an eye-catching artwork in an inexpensive frame, then create a vignette of items atop a hall table or bar cart.

11. DIY Bedhead 

If you’re handy with a hammer and nails, you’ll make short work of a timber bedhead. Have the timber cut to size by your hardware store to save time. Not handy? Use a rustic old door left natural or whitewashed.

12. Bathroom Refresh 

It’s one of the first rooms in the home to start showing wear and tear, but it’s also one of the most expensive to renovate. So in between renovations, why not give your bathroom a quick update with just a few simple changes — think new taps and faucets, towel rails, drawer handles, door knobs, mirrors, hooks, or a flashy new shower curtain. Most, if not all, of these ideas can be ticked off in a day.

13. Simple Styling 

For an alternative and effective way to display artwork, simply lean them against the wall. It’s cool, it’s casual, and you can change it up as often as the mood strikes. Cluster pictures of different heights, using the floor or any raised, flat surface as your base.

14. Paint a door.

Breathe new life into your home by repainting the doors. A brightly colored door makes a lovely feature and can be completed in a weekend. Start by choosing a water-based gloss or semi-gloss paint (for durability and easy cleaning) in the color of your choice. Paint your door in its frame or lay it on a flat surface, remembering to remove any hardware like knobs and hinges. 

This article was originally written by Homes to Love editors. For more, check out our sister site, Homes to Love.

More From FIRST

10 Common Living Room Styling Mistakes to Avoid

15 Sneaky Causes of Clutter You Can Conquer This Spring

8 Questions You’ve Always Wondered About Refreshing Your Home’s Interior

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.