There’s nothing as satisfying as a quick home fix! Instant gratification. And yet we often overthink and over-complicate what we can do to improve the way our home looks, feels, and functions. Luckily, there are many simple ways to make the most basic home improvements. The following 13 Easy Home Improvement Projects can be completed in a weekend – some in under an hour – whether you are tackling it solo or with someone else.

Let’s get into it!

~The following contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Should you choose to purchase through them, this blog makes a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy here.~

 

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13 HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

I’ve included a wide range of projects that can take anywhere from A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW HOURS TO A FULL WEEKEND to complete. Best of all? None require a crazy amount of DIY skills! 

 

1.  Declutter a Room

Never underestimate the impact of a decluttered room or space. The less cluttered a space is, the more peaceful and restful your home will feel.

Even the simple act of removing one or two “unnecessary” items will immediately improve the environment of your home.

A COUPLE OF TIPS:

–  To help you with organizing and clean-up afterwards, have 3 boxes (or bags) labeled “Donate,” “Relocate” and “Recycle” ready to be filled as you declutter.

–  Factor in extra time afterwards to donate, relocate, and recycle those items. Nothing is worse than having a bunch of decluttered items still ‘hanging around’ the house for days and weeks on end (trust me!).

Here are some helpful resources to guide you toward achieving decluttered bliss:

●   3 Steps To a Less Cluttered Home (+ FREE Checklist)

●   Simple Decluttering & Organizing Ideas to Get You Motivated!

●  17 Simple Ways To Reduce Visual Clutter

 

2.  Declutter ONE Small, Specific Spot

The biggest challenge to decluttering our homes is the notion that it needs to get done all at once. For some of us, this can feel downright overwhelming.

My best advice? START SMALL. Like REALLY SMALL.

Pick just ONE THING to declutter. Something that may take just A FEW MINUTES, but NO MORE THAN AN HOUR, to complete. 

Here are some spots that you can declutter IN 1 HOUR OR LESS.

–  a Drawer (like a junk drawer, nightstand drawer, bathroom drawer, etc)

–  a Shelf (like the top shelf in the hallway closet or bedroom closet, garage storage shelf, bookshelf, etc)

–  Under a bed

–  a Small Closet (like a small linen closet or hallway closet)

– a Kitchen Surface (like a kitchen table or kitchen counter)

–  a Cupboard (like a small pantry or any kitchen cupboard that needs to be tidied)

–  a Storage Basket

–  a Media Cabinet

–  a Buffet Table or China Cabinet (pick a drawer or shelves that need to be tidied)

–  a Craft or Sewing Table (or a box of supplies that needs sorting)

…the list is endless, but you get the idea.

Here are some small-scale decluttering guides that include my best tips for small-scale decluttering:

●   5 Quick Tips for a New Year Home Reset

●   How To Organize a Linen Closet & Maximize Space

●   Junk Drawer Organization & Decluttering Tips

●  No-Cost Closet Reorganization (in under an hour)

 

3.  Hide Ugly Wires & Cords

Have you noticed that MODERN CONVENIENCES come with a lot of MESSY (OFTEN UGLY) WIRES and CORDS? 

Computer cords, kitchen appliance cords, table and floor lamp wires, even bathroom tools like a curling iron or electric toothbrush all come with plug-in options that add a lot of ‘visual clutter’ to a space.

And even when you don’t have a lot of the usual ‘clutter’ – like books and papers, toys and backpacks – the mess of cords and wires in an otherwise clean and organized room can be a real bummer.

HIDING THEM CAN BE AS EASY AS:

–  Placing an object in front of it, such as a framed picture, small basket, or even furniture.

–  Bundling wires together using a twist-tie of the same colour and taping it under a desk or along the back of a table.

You can also buy some INEXPENSIVE ADHESIVE CLIPS, as I did here, to hide wires behind furniture.

If you have a bit more to spend, try this OUTLET CONCEALER/CORD ORGANIZER & POWER BAR that hides MULTIPLE PLUGS AND WIRES.

If you use extension cords and other plug-in devices that can be stored away, try hiding them in a beautiful basket, as I did here in our living room:

There are so many options to explore on Amazon for wire concealers here and other inexpensive wire clips here.   

 

4.  Update Your Door Knobs or Hardware

If you don’t like the finish of a door, closet, or cabinets, one of the simplest ways to update these is by replacing the hardware.

When I was looking for an easy way to REFRESH OUR FOYER, I decided to UPDATE THE DOOR KNOBS AND HANDLES. This took my husband and I approximately ONE AFTERNOON TO COMPLETE.

This included a/ SPRAY-PAINTING THE CLOSET DOOR KNOBS, b/ REPLACING THE PASSAGE DOOR HANDLE with this sleek black handle (see below) and c/ REPLACING THE FRONT DOOR HANDLESET.

This was a relatively easy project accomplished in under a day.

So whether you are making a major hardware investment (replacing all the hardware in your kitchen, for example) or buying a few pieces for an affordable upgrade (a couple of doorknobs, for example), this is an easy improvement project you can accomplish in a single weekend.

 

5.  Update Your Floor Grates

Like your hardware, upgrading your floor grates is another easy weekend project. 

We replaced all of our plastic floor grates on the main floor of our home with these pretty silver metal grates (see above) – and it took us just a few minutes to do.

There are SO many options to suit your personal tastes at Home Depot, Rona, and on Amazon here.

 

6.  Layer In a Rug or Two

Whether you have flooring you love – or hate – bare floors or wall-to-wall carpet, layering in a beautiful rug can add a lot of charm and warmth to your home.

Adding an AREA RUG, RUNNER, or SMALL THROW RUG can instantly GROUND AND ELEVATE the look of a living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, basement or hallway.

And for those who wonder if you can LAYER A RUG ON CARPET?: YES, you absolutely CAN!

Rugs over a carpet add instant warmth, coziness, and depending on the rug, eclectic charm. It’s also a great way to cover any unsightly stains or extend the life of your carpet.

Whether you layer a rug on carpet or on a smooth surface, be sure to add a rug pad, carpet tape or this inexpensive rug gripper (see below) underneath to keep your rug from moving around.

Interested in a washable rug for a high-traffic area? Check out MY REVIEW OF RUGGABLE RUGS:

●  My ‘Ruggable’ Machine Washable Rug Review, 2 Years In

 

7.  Add a Plant or Flowers

Something as simple as adding a single plant or even one small bouquet of fresh flowers can add instant charm to a room.

Adding AN ORGANIC ELEMENT, EVEN IF IT’S FAUX, can BREATHE LIFE into any space. 

Because we have a couple of mischievous cats, I tend to use more faux than real. Fortunately, there are LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL, LIFE-LIKE FLOWERS and plants these days.

I personally own and love this 4’ Olive Tree and this 6’ Olive Tree (which we added to our bedroom currently being updated. You can check out my MASTER BEDROOM PLANS here).

You simply can’t go wrong adding a plant or flowers to your home. It’s something the pros are always telling us and I tend to agree!

 

8.  Hang Art

Art has never been more ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE than it is right now. You can find a wide range of options online from originals to printables and from vintage prints to framed embroidery and textiles, too.

Whether you purchase a new piece of art, something thrifted, or finally decide to hang all that art you’ve been collecting (guilty!), the possibilities are endless.

So head out to your favourite thrift shop this weekend to find something unique, or go on a treasure hunt online with these BEAUTIFUL 50+ ART PRINTS here.

Once you’ve got some pieces you love, I’ve got some PRO TIPS FOR HANGING:

●  7 Beautiful Ways To Display Artwork

● The Modern Minimalist Gallery Wall Guide for Beginners

●  How To Lean & Layer Art for a Cool, Casual Vibe

 

9.  Add a Basket (or Two)

Baskets are a beautiful way to add both FORM AND FUNCTION to a space.

Choosing a WOVEN BASKET made of wicker, rattan, hyacinth or other natural material, for example, will add INSTANT WARMTH.

But there are so many other options to choose from, including ROPE or COTTON, WOOD, and FELT baskets, depending on your personal style and taste.

Coral your books, magazines, throw blankets, pillows, kids toys, and other odds and ends so that your home is neat and tidy, while adding instant coziness.

For those who wish to find new ways to incorporate woven baskets into a home, check out this post from the blog:  Easy, Natural Style Using Woven Storage Baskets.

 

10.  Paint

You’ve all heard it before: paint is a great way to improve the look and feel of your home. I can attest to that after deciding to update our foyer with a fresh, bright coat of warm white paint.

But it’s NOT JUST AN OPTION FOR YOUR WALLS: Painting the FLOORS, FURNITURE, and exterior and interior DOORS are great ways to refresh your home as well.

I’ve shared a couple of EASY, BEGINNER-FRIENDLY PAINT PROJECTS on the blog with lots of TIPS FOR PAINT NEWBIES, below:

● How to Chalk Paint (a perfect way to paint without sanding)

● How to Paint an Interior Door

 

11.  Cat-Proofing Ideas (and general pet-proofing products)

Ah, pets! They are the perfect little furry additions to our family. But, they also come with their own set of challenges in a home.

I’ve experimented with A LOT of cat-proofing, most of which have been utter failures – lol!

BUT there are a handful that have STOOD THE TEST OF TIME in our house that you may want to explore in your own home:

1/ A Scratching Post: Nothing helps keep little claws active and away from (most) furniture like a good old-fashioned scratching post. The bigger your home, the more posts you will need. Pet stores have them as does Amazon.

2/ Double-sided furniture tape protection: A great way to train your cats not to scratch upholstered furniture, especially new purchases. (In this post, I share my tips for using double-sided tape on a couple of new living room chairs we had purchased).

3/  Re-usable Lint (and Fur) Remover: This tool has been used copious times to remove fur that resists the vacuum cleaner on our furniture. See my tips on how to use it HERE (item #12 on the list).

4/  Urine Enzyme Cleaner: One of our current little fur-babies has a medical condition that causes ‘accidents’ from time to time. We use THIS PRODUCT and it has been a real ‘hero’ product that has saved countless rugs, wood and cement floors, and furniture, too. I cannot recommend it enough.

5/ Rug/Upholstery Cleaners: There are two (2) cleaners that have worked very well for us when it comes to any spills, including pet vomit (!). This one is great on thicker rugs and carpets while this one is a great option for upholstered furniture. 

6/ Yeowww Banana Catnip Toys: Several months ago, I went ahead and purchased some Yeowww toys for our cats (you can find several varieties online here and at most pet stores). I purchased their signature ‘banana’ shape and one other – the cats LOVE them. I purchased them solely on the recommendation of Jackson Galaxy, cat educator and expert of 25 years. Here is his video review (of several Amazon cat toys, btw) that convinced me! They are a great addition for our cats who needed a little more playtime fun. 

In addition to the list above, I recently came across this informative article listing 22 Pet-Friendly Plants That Will Liven Up Your Space. I’ve been thinking of re-introducing a couple of live plants indoors and will be exploring this list as I consider plant possibilities.

Here’s to finally adding some living plants into our space!

 

12.  Hang a Wreath (Indoors or Out)

Whether you enjoy making them or sourcing one locally or online, wreaths are a simple way to FINISH OFF AN EMPTY SPACE ON A DOOR, ABOVE A BED, ABOVE A TV, or any EMPTY WALL SPACE that needs a little decor.

I personally LOVE a wreath and have an endless number of uses for them in my home.

For those who love to craft or wish to get some visual inspiration on decorating with wreaths, I have written extensively about them and have MANY WREATH-MAKING IDEAS on the blog here for you to explore. 

There is nothing as satisfying as being able to say “I made that!”

 

13.  Get Organized

Whether you need to organize an entire room, a closet or one small drawer, WEEKENDS ARE THE BEST TIME TO GET IT DONE!

My best advice? DECLUTTER FIRST, THEN ORGANIZE. It really helps to break things down into ACTIONABLE, BITE-SIZE PIECES.

I’ve shared PLENTY OF HOME ORGANIZATION ideas for you to explore here. Most of what I share are simple tips and tricks for keeping the process realistic and achievable.

For me, progress, not perfection, is always the best way forward.

 

Find What Works For You

There are so many ways to improve the look and feel of our homes. And they need not be overly complicated! I hope these 13 home improvement projects give you a place to start when you’re stuck on how to update your home. We don’t always need to giver our homes a big overhaul. It’s often the little things we do to upgrade our homes that can make the biggest difference. 

 

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Need More Simple Ways To Upgrade Your Home?

● Decorating Tips for the ‘Cookie-Cutter’ Home

● 17 Simple Ways To Reduce Visual Clutter

●  10 Peaceful Home Tips To Create Your Perfect Nesting Space

● How To Enjoy Your Home Even When You Don’t Always Love It