All homes eventually wear out and go out of style. But reviving their former beauty doesn’t always take expensive contractors. With practice, some tools, and craft materials, you can improve your space and bring back its long-lost appeal.
In this article, we’re not tackling light fixture and hardware replacements, repainting, and all the other home upgrades that you can DIY. Instead, we’re challenging ourselves and trying our hands on more complex makeovers.
That said, here are four DIY home improvement ideas that make a significant impact:
1. Revamping Furniture
Changing furniture is typically an uneconomical decision. Fortunately, your old, dated ones can still be saved and turned into trendy pieces.
Built-ins, for example, are a statement in most homes today, but you don’t have to spend money to have them in your abode. If you already own bookshelves, reassemble them and turn them into built-ins. Ideally, you should have full-sized bookshelves to make the task quicker, but multiple shelves can do, as long as they can occupy the entire height of the wall.
The rest of your wood furniture can be revamped beautifully as well. If you’d paint them, prep the surface first by removing the hardware and filling the holes. Then, lightly sand the surface you’ll paint on. If you’d add furniture legs, this is the time to do so.
Apply primer next, and after letting it dry, proceed with the paint. Use painter’s tape to cover the areas you don’t want to touch.
2. Staining Wood
The worn look of wood may be appealing to many, but too much visible wear can reduce the coziness of your space.
Staining the wood may emphasize all its grains and color, but it can significantly change the ambiance of your home. It restores the vibrancy of old lumber and refreshes your furniture.
You can choose between water-based stains and oil-based stains. The former dry faster, maintain the color longer, leave a richer tint, and emit no fumes, among others. On the other hand, oil-based stains take longer to dry but leave a smoother finish. Also, it has a deeper seal, making it more resilient against the elements.
People who have stained wood may tell you to use a brush, but staining rags are a better tool. A brush is still necessary, though, especially for the tight corners and recessed areas. But for larger surfaces, the visible brush strokes can be an eyesore; hence, a very wet rag achieves a better finish.
3. Hiding Cords
Cords on the floor are trip hazards, and if you have pets and little kids, they may play with them. But thankfully, you don’t need to call an electrician to keep the cords out of the way.
You can use different tools to hide them. One is cord clips, which you can stick to the backside of a furniture piece. Have the clips hold your wires, matching them to the shape of your furniture to completely conceal them.
If you prefer seamless concealment, add built-in cable storage into the design of your TV stand. Gather the cords inside the notch; no wires will be visible at all.
4. Convert an Unused Closet into a Home Office
Now that working from home is seen to become the new normal, you’d need a dedicated workspace that’s not your living or dining room. If you have an unused closet, clear it out completely, and convert it into a home office. Be sure to prioritize the essentials, such as your desk, office chair, and storage. Put some adornments, too, to make the space cozy and inspiring.
These major changes usually require handymen, so practice your craft skills now to avoid paying for help. As a result, your home will look incredibly updated, as if you’ve splurged on a remodeling.
