Bench Drop Zone
A small bench inside a garage or entryway provides a convenient catchall for grocery bags and drop zone accessories. Add hooks above the bench to hang hats, coats, and seasonal gear within easy reach.
Improve Air Flow
Swap out a standard floor grate with a more impressive -- and possibly more efficient -- wood or metal register grille. An inferior grate might not channel air in the best direction for optimum flow.
Mend Your Walkway
Cracks and gaps in sidewalks and walkways can quickly expand throughout the year. Not only will a patch job make your pathway look nice, it'll also make it safer for visitors and passersby. Fix your sidewalk with a patching compound specifically made for cement.
Tackle Trimwork
You might not be able to install new trimwork in your home for $20, but you can make improvements to what you already have. Replace mismatched, missing, or damaged moldings , end caps, baseboard, or quarter rounds. Curved areas might require a special piece or trim made of an alternate material.
Add Hanging Storage
Free up valuable floor space in your basement, garage, or entryway with hanging storage . Seasonal items, such as bikes and sleds, are difficult to store and take up lots of space. Add hooks to an unused wall or ceiling area and discover space you didn't know you had.
Video: Make a Grab-and-Go Wrapping Center
Watch how to save steps and time by gathering your wrapping paper, ribbon, scissors, and more in one convenient location.
Update with Paint
Breathe new life into an old piece of furniture with a fresh coat of paint . For wood pieces, remove dirt or wax buildup with a household cleaner and rinse. Sand rough areas and wipe away dust. Apply two coats of stain-blocking primer and allow it to dry between coats. Roll or brush on two coats of latex paint in the direction of the wood grain, and use a brush to finish the surface with smooth strokes.
Recaulk the Bathroom
If the caulk in your bathroom is looking dingy, discolored, or cracked, it's time to remove it and start fresh. Whether it's around your sink, bathtub, or shower, old caulk can grow mildew and cause damage by leaking water -- especially between the tub and bathroom floor. Remove the old caulk, clean the space well, and replace it with a new layer. A good caulk seal will last up to 10 years.
Spruce Up Shelves
Give shelves a charming and cohesive look with an exciting backdrop by applying contact paper, scrapbook paper, or fabric to the back of a bookshelf. If you don't want to commit to a particular design or color scheme , measure the bookshelf's back panel and mount the background material on poster board cut to the size of each shelf.
Add a Divider
Drawer and cabinet dividers are a must when it comes to keeping pans, lids, cooking utensils, baking sheets , and bag clips in their respective places. Some units match your kitchen cabinetry design for a completely integrated and customized look.
Install a Window Box
Dress up your windows with an herb or flower garden . Terra-cotta units are an affordable option, or construct one from cedar planks . Attach your planter with brackets below a window.
Replace Switchplates
Replace a plastic switchplate with a wood, metal, or ceramic cover to make a visual statement. Some switchplates are even textured to blend in with marble, tile , or stone surfaces. Do this for light switches, electrical outlets , and phone and cable jacks.
Put Towels & Robes Within Reach
Bid floor puddles good-bye by keeping after-bath accessories within reach. Add a towel bar or robe hook near your shower or bathtub, or move the one you already have to make it more accessible. Find bars or hooks that match or complement existing hardware in your bathroom .
Step Up Storage
Plastic bins are a versatile and inexpensive way to restore order in almost every in-home trouble spot. Using clear bins for storage in a garage or for a closet gift-wrap station, for example, is an easy way to take inventory and identify items at a glance. Use labels to ensure everything stays tidy and easy to access.
Replace a Window Treatment
Has the window shade above your kitchen sink been marred by repeated exposure to splashes and cooking liquids? Replace a stained window covering with an inexpensive fabric treatment and see your kitchen in a whole new light.
Streamline Your Sink
Add an integrated soap dispenser to your kitchen or bathroom sink to ease cleanup and eliminate the clutter of a freestanding bottle. Mount the unit on your existing faucet deck or sink following the directions that accompany the pump.
Organize Your Entry
Enhance the style and storage of your entryway with a designated place for important drop-zone items. Create a mini hang-up station for house keys and outgoing mail on the back of a cabinet door. Use magnetic strips, Peg-Board or an old ceiling tin and add hooks to store items in one convenient location near the door.
Update Door Hardware
All it takes is a screwdriver and few minutes to give your front door a facelift. Change clashing or poorly operating door hardware , make house numbers more readable, or add a doorknocker.
Revive Outdoor Furniture
Capture the feeling of a sunny summer day with colorful outdoor furniture . In less than a weekend, you can give outdoor furniture a color makeover with paint. Find a set of inexpensive deck chairs, or recoat faded, chipped, and drab-looking outdoor furniture. Many deck and siding paints come in a variety of colors and finishes. Choose a paint that can endure weather and temperature extremes, as well as UV rays.
Create Eye-Catching Curb Appeal
Amp up your exterior color palette with a punchy door color that complements your home's character. Painting an exterior door is an inexpensive, instant update that can be changed with ease. A cheerful, glossy red door extends a warm welcome to visitors and ensures the yard has year-round color.
Get Stylish Underfoot
Try your hand at a fun paint technique and update concrete with a faux floorcloth. Using a stencil and paint, you can create a fun, personalized focal point in your backyard without much time or money. Tape off blocks of color with painter's tape and stencil your design with acrylic paint. Protect your outdoor rug with clear satin concrete sealer.
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