Looking for free or inexpensive ways to improve your home? These 50 DIY home improvement ideas will make your home look it’s very best…even if you’re working with a tight budget. You’ll find home project ideas ranging from decluttering, organizing, decorating, and basic home repairs.
Home is where the heart is, but being stuck at home can easily have you looking for projects to improve your house. Lately, I’ve found having one weekend DIY project helps me feel like I’m making the most of our time at home, and increases my pride of ownership.
You too can tackle some of these 50 free or low-cost home improvement ideas. Here you will find some great tips to help you declutter your space, organize your “stuff”, or beautify and add style to your home. You’re sure to find tons of ideas here to maintain your home and make you love it even more.
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Free And Low-Cost Home Improvement Ideas
1. Declutter a closet, or two, and donate clothes that you no longer wear. An organized closet always makes me feel lighter!
2. Change-up old light switch covers, outlet covers, and/or cabinet hardware. Or try freshening-up your current hardware with a copper or bronze spray paint.
3. Wipe away grime and mildew from window sills. Remove window screens and give them a wipe-down as well.
4. Switch out indoor light bulbs for ones with a softer glow to create a soothing atmosphere in any room. Try these Smart LED light bulbs – they are voice activated and can change colours and effects to suit every room in your house.
5. Organize appliance and instruction manuals in one go-to location, and toss outdated ones.
6. Tighten cabinet doors or handles that are loose.
7. Replace broken outdoor light bulbs. These dawn-to-dusk bulbs for outside are pretty handy – they turn on at night and off at dawn automatically.
8. Wash curtains and drapes to brighten them and remove dust.
9. Declutter your pile of cookbooks and organize recipes- use a binder and clear page covers to store loose recipes.
10. Wipe down kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers.
11. Paint or wallpaper an accent wall– this is free if you have extra paint or paper from another project.
12. Hang curtains on your porch for added privacy and shade from the sun.
13. Scrub away your bathroom grout with a non-toxic cleaner.
14. Clean out and organize your pantry (donate any unexpired food you don’t plan to eat).
15. Switch-out family photos for new ones, or reframe favourites to give them a fresh look.
16. Start some seeds. Your kids will love to help and watch the spring vegetables grow.
17. Upload photos of your kid’s art projects and save them in the cloud, or have them printed into a book.
18. Paint furniture that needs an update and/or replace knobs and handles with sparkly, new hardware.
19. Print out photos from your phone or computer and arrange into albums or books.
20. Paint your front door to make a good impression – It is the first thing visitors see and potential home buyers critique.
21. Declutter your medicine and personal care products. Toss practically-empty containers and old beauty products.
22. Rotate your home decor from room to room for a fresh take on your well-loved items.
23. Paint the inside of a bookcase or shelving unit a bright, cheerful colour.
24. Wash and clean-out your car. Add an air freshener and enjoy the new-car atmosphere for as long as your kids allow!
25. Pack-away unused toys in plastic storage bins. Tell each of your kids to fill one bin full of toys they don’t play with anymore – either to store away for later in the garage/basement, or to donate.
26. Power wash your walkways, porch, deck, or siding. You’ll be amazed how cleaner surfaces will look. This pressure washer is highly rated and a budget-friendly way to keep your home looking its best.
27. Get a head-start on spring gardening by clipping back branches and unruly hedges.
28. Rearrange furniture. Take a look at design magazines or websites for ideas on how to create more space.
29. Clean and organize your garage.
30. Hang a pegboard to organize tools, kids clothing items & backpacks, or even keys.
31. Get your lawn and garden tools prepped for spring.
32. Create a gallery wall using photos and artwork that you already have. Plan out your arrangement first and then hang with these picture hanging strips.
33. Go through your files and shred bank statements or insurance forms you no longer need. This shredder is great-quality and inexpensive.
34. Minimize your shelves and style them like the pros. Pack away extra items to remove clutter. Vary the height of objects and place in groups of 3 or 5. Add greenery – either real or fake.
35. Create a cozy reading nook or breakfast area. We just bought this banquette, that looks high-end, but was much more affordable than adding a built-in.
36. Hang outdoor lights on your deck, patio or porch to create an inviting place to visit with friends.
37. Switch out clothing for the new season. Clean and store your winter wardrobe if you’re heading into warmer weather.
38. Organize your shoes and donate pairs you no longer wear. My favorite way to do this is with a hanging shoe organizer in our front hall closet.
39. Welcome friends and neighbors with a new doormat. Or put a smile on your face when you arrive home with this funny mat.
40. Add a new luxurious-looking (but affordable) throw to your living room sofa or bedroom. Or just wash your current blankets so they smell fresh.
41. Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
42. Declutter your bathroom with these storage bins – perfect for hiding away hair products and kids bath toys.
43. Invest in new throw pillows or cover your current set with inexpensive pillow covers.
44. Freshen carpets and rugs by hanging them outside on a sunny day.
45. Plant a container garden to add life, and fresh air, to a room.
46. Stop tripping over shoes in your entranceway. Add a boot tray, hooks for jackets, and a tray for keys and mail.
47. Touch-up paint on walls where needed. Paint stores can colour match to your current shade so you don’t have to repaint an entire room.
48. Clean the dust and crumbs out from behind your couches, furniture, and fridge.
49. Create a kids crafting area. Use this children’s craft organizer for easy clean-up and storage of art supplies.
50. Gather all your bills, pay stubs, bank statements, tax slips and create a family budget using this family budget planner. Make plans now to save for any pricey home renovations you’d like to do later.
I hope you enjoyed these 50 budget-friendly DIY projects to improve your home. If you have any that I missed, please comment below. I’d love to hear your ideas.
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This is really a helpful list for home improvement ideas and hopefully it will help people so I will share it with my contacts. Thanks and keep posting more!!!