DIY Home Improvement Projects for Beginners

Engaging in a home improvement project can be somewhat overwhelming. When you've been reading through interior design blogs or watching a true professional home décorating show, you might think it takes many contractors, thousands of dollars and a full-sized workshop to switch up space.

The reality is far more positive: some of the most effective steps you can take to improve your home are effortless, simple to learn and do, and can be completed with just a free weekend.

The hands-on approach to your space isn't simply a way to save on man-hours; it's a way to build confidence. You work on easy projects, understand how your home operates, personalize your home to your own style and taste, and in the process, you give it actual style and function.

A selection of home improvement ideas for first-time do-it-yourselfers that yield a big return for little effort.

Ultimate Visual Reset: A New Face for the Old House

This is a good old piece of advice for a reason: nothing can transform the feeling, size and cleanliness of a room quicker than paint. This is the ideal beginning project to start, since it’s one of the easiest DIY projects for beginners to start with.

If you are not sure that you want to paint a whole 4 wall room you can use the Beginner Strategy. An accent wall can bring a splash of personality to your living room sofa or behind your bed. But instead, make some contrast and paint your interior door a simple, elegant shade and keep the trim simple and white.

Change out the Cabinet & Door Hardware

If you think of hardware as jewelry for your home, you'll get the idea. Often, builders use the lowest, most standard handles and knobs, as this is the cheapest option to reduce costs. Simple hardware upgrades can instantly refresh the look of a space.

Matte black or brushed brass sleek T-bar handles are a great style tip if you have dated, run-of-the-mill oak cabinets - they'll make the room look modern!

Add Simple Under-Cabinet Lighting

A big kitchen can seem small and dark when decorating with dark colored countertops. Permanent hardwired lighting must be installed by an electrician, but modern LED technology has a great way for the novice around them.

The budget-friendly motion sensor or remote controls that control the colour temperature on these kits mean that you can switch from a bright, task-focused white for chopping up food for a meal to a warm-glowing low colour temperature for a relaxed evening ambiance.

Design a Smart & Functional Mudroom Zone

The entrance hall is a gateway to the home, and can quickly turn into an unruly shoe pile, key rack and bag collection. There is no need to open a wall or build any carpentry to create an organized “drop zone”.

• Install a Floating Shelf with Hooks: Use a simple stud finder to locate a strong stud in your wall, and attach a pre-made coat hook shelf to the wall with nails. This ensures that bags and jackets don't lie on the floor.

• Install a Storage Bench: A simple, clean-lined storage bench below the hooks. This is an ideal place to sit, take off your shoes, and the cubbies below can even be used to conceal all the shoe clutter.

Hang Floating Shelves, Greenery & Depth, to enhance your interior spaces

Vertical space that is left empty offers no possibility of both storage and warmth in the form of visual interest. You need a level, and you must attach the floating shelves firmly to the drywall, so it's a simple DIY project you will need to learn.

Buy a floating shelf kit with a concealed mounting bracket. If not in a wooden wall stud then a basic drill, level and wall anchors will be required.

• Getting it right against the wall: Hold the bracket to the wall. Use level to mark where holes should go. Drill holes. Put in plastic wall anchors. Secure with screws. Just slide the wooden shelf onto the bracket and you are ready to go.

• Styling: A trailing plant (pothos is a good choice), a couple of small books stacked horizontally and framed and some framed photos will all help to bring a flat uninteresting wall to life.

Before you begin:

• Buy a Core Toolkit: No need to buy power saws at this time. Get a hammer, a multi-bit screwdriver, a cheap cordless drill, a tape measure, and a 2-foot level.

• Take down your measurements in a notebook or on your cell phone before you go to the store.

• Don’t stress about perfection: You may have a slightly uneven caulk line or a small smudge on your paint line. This is a learning curve!

The combined effect of “D-I-Y”

The momentum of home improvement is what it's all about. Doing this and you'll see how easy it can be to install a floating shelf or paint an accent wall without the ceiling giving way and your point of view will change. Your house is no longer a passive environment you're viewing, it's a canvas that can be optimized.

Choose a small project from this list, spend some time and have fun transforming a house into a home for the weekend.