Renovating your whole house in one shot can be a multi-step, long ordeal with big upfront costs. Instead, consider easy upgrades and quick do-it-yourself projects to spiff up your space. To get you started, here are some wallet-friendly and time-friendly weekend DIY project ideas for transforming your space from floor-to ceiling.
Every space needs a proper foundation, and that starts with a food subfloor. Especially in basements, it can help with warmth, prevent squeaks, absorbing sound and most importantly, a good subfloor helps protects your finished flooring from moisture. With DRICORE® Subfloor R+, a typical 500 square foot room installs in one afternoon. Check out these how-to videos for finished flooring installation with DRICORE.
Emphasize your interior doors by turning them into bold statements. Wallpaper a door by dressing up the door panels or use applied moldings to make a bold statement around the trim. You can even add a shelf above a doorway, paint it to match the trim and use it to display small pottery. Or, consider swapping out your standard door for a detailed antique one.
With paint, wallpaper or reusable decorative cardboard tiles, you can easily update the texture and look of a room without too much effort. Self-adhesive wallpaper can be easily applied, removed and reused. Taping off stripes or stenciling a pattern on a wall in the same colour with a different finish (shiny on matte) can create a neat two-tone effect.
Give your windows a new coat of paint to help to prolong their life and update the appearance. Installing new window hardware is also an inexpensive way to improve your home’s security and change the look of the room. Opt for new pulls and locks in modern or antique styles depending on your theme. Keep in mind solid brass or nickel and chrome is better than brass-plated hardware as it will last longer.
Accent ceilings are the new accent walls. In a basement, the best way to go is with suspended ceiling tiles so you can still access the electrical and plumbing systems. Install a ceiling medallion to highlight a hanging light fixture. Decorative medallions come in all different shapes, sizes and styles. If you have a coffered ceiling, pick a vibrant colour and keep the trim white for bold visual contrast.