Great DIY Indoor Updates for Your Home: Part One

[HeatherNYC]

Okay, so maybe we're all a little preoccupied today with heart-shaped chocolates and roses and those candies with messages like "Be Mine" and "I [Heart] You" on them...but how about showing your house some much needed love? I'm sure there are a few things here and there you can update or redo, thing that not only keep your home healthy but also improve the value of it -- something that makes our Family Piggy Bank's heart go pitter-patter.

Since it is a bit chilly out, we'll focus on some indoor DIY improvements upgrades to make. But remember, not all home improvement tasks are equal...some will give you more bang for your buck. Today and tomorrow, I'll round up the best updates you can make around your abode, some small, some a little bigger, all will add to the overall price of your home. 

-- Paint a room - or just a wall. You can't find one thing that makes more of an impact than paint. According to HomeGain.com, you get a 250% return on your investment in those few cans of $30 paint. Have fun with it and explore different ways to bump up the beauty of a room. instead of doing the whole room, consider painting an accent wall a more intense color than the rest of the room or doing a contrast color on the moldings.

-- Replace the front door. They spot it when they pull up to the curb. They walk through it. It sets the tone of the rest of your home. If your front door is dated, old, and tired-looking, think about replacing it. An average door costs from $250-$500, but the boost to your home's appearance is priceless. Another thing to think about is getting an energy-efficient door, which will help your heating bill, as well as give an added sales bonus for prospective buyers.

-- Change wall fixtures and add dimmer switches. Look at those outlet covers and light switches. Kind of blah, detracting from maybe a great-looking room. Adding fresh, modern covers (they come in all colors as well as wood textures) or ones that are childproof can bump up the "oomph" level to any room. Another cheap and easy update is adding dimmer switches to your lighting. It is a cool improvement that adds style and saves you money on the electric bill.

-- Redo those closets. Think beyond the one top shelf and that lone rod. Head to any home improvement store and for less than $100, you can redo your closet to make it drool-worthy and more useful for you. They have computer programs that let you fool around with shelving and drawer combinations -- see the endless options and pick the right one for your space. You may just be able to get rid of some dressers and rework a whole room just by reconfiguring that closet.

-- Decorate. Recovering throw pillows or reupholstering a chair can drastically change the vibe of a living room from outdated to new and fresh. Do It Yourself Divas show how to transform a La-Z-Boy with some basic fabric, and To Be Charmed re-did a super boring office chair in to a cool desk chair for a tween.  

What is on your update list for your home?

[ReesesPieces]

I just (as in yesterday) touched up the paint throughout the house. We always save the extra and because we get eggshell finish, we can just touch up one spot without having to paint the whole wall. It really spruced up the place. It's amazing how wall scuffs and chips impact the room over time....not to mention all those finger prints. Even wiping down the walls with a soft damp rag really helped.

I do need to work on the closet in the boys' room though - needs more shelving - badly!

[ReesesPieces]

And I REALLY want to paint our front door.

[Amy127]

I just redid our living room decor And thoroughly dusted. There a few repairs we need to make but no hurry.

[MamaBear2cubs]

Nothing.We rent so we are not allowed to do much.

[jbyrd898]

Quoting ReesesPieces:

And I REALLY want to paint our front door.

Same here. We have actually talked about buying a new one soon.

[jbyrd898]

we are planning on putting a deck in our backyard this summer. our kitchen floor needs updating.

[AzariahsMother]

We are not doing anything since we are in a rental.

[ta2dirishlass]

I rent so no updating for me. I'm constantly rearranging furniture so I don't know if that counts?

[suziejax]

everything just about is on my update list because I am getting my house ready to sell.... :) 

[Stevensmomma]

Oh everything lol we need to redo everything from paint to fixtures we just started on the bathroom we replaced the faucet and the shower head