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DIY projects are a brilliant way to refresh your space as the seasons change along with your tastes, and affordable ones you can complete in one weekend are just the ticket.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just starting out, our home experts and professional contractors reveal five easy but impactful DIY projects to elevate your home for under $200, including painting your fireplace and redecorating your door.
5 affordable home improvement projects
1. Install a DIY stair runner
(Image credit: Future/Brent Darby)
It might feel beyond your capabilities, but trust us, DIY expert Claire Douglas of Claire Douglas Styling and @clairedouglasstyling on Instagram, assures that a DIY stair runner, to bring your dream staircase ideas to life, can be completed in a single weekend.
‘A DIY stair runner is an affordable DIY for a weekend,’ she says. ‘The exact amount of time it will take will depend on the condition of your stairs, but a day of prep and a day of fitting is a good guide.’
To begin with, you’ll need to remove any existing carpet or runner, with a tool such as the Goldblatt Trim Puller available at Amazon, before sanding down the edges of the stairs and removing any carpet gripper rods or old staples with a Carpet Staple Puller, available at Amazon.
‘Make any minor repairs using a wood filler, and paint the areas of wood that will be exposed,’ continues Claire. ‘Once dry, apply a second coat.’
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
Then it’s time to fit your runner. ‘These can be bought affordably from many places, or you can use multiple runner rugs and join them under the lip of the steps,’ says Claire.
First mark out exactly where you want the runner to sit, and apply strong double sided carpet tape, available at Amazon, along the edges. ‘Peel off the tape cover just before you start attaching the runner, and be sure to keep it very tight to the stairs,’ she continues. ‘Once the runner is in place in each step and you’re happy, secure with carpet tacks or staples. Continue this process for the whole stairs.’
If you need a more in-depth tutorial, Claire has shared her DIY stair runner step-by-step tutorial on her website, along with some of her favorite tools and materials to get the job done:
All prices correct at time of publication.
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Extra Strong Double-Sided Tape
This heavy-duty tape sticks to almost anything, with an immediate bond strength that leaves no residue behind.
Carpet Upholstery Tacks Nails
These upholstery tacks are ideal for laying carpet, constructed of alloy steel.
Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler
This wood filler is easy to spread for a smooth and natural finish, for strong, durable repairs on cracks, gouges and holes.
2. Replace existing door handles and hinges
(Image credit: Nkuku)
It might seem particularly small and simple, but Ryan Meagher from BVM Contracting recommends refreshing your space by replacing your existing door handles and hinges, which is also one of HGTV’s Jenn Todryk’s easy updates to upgrade any room.
Ryan says, ‘Replacing interior door handles with a more updated finish is a very easy task that can be completed, as long as you have access to a screwdriver or drill.’
To install kitchen cabinet handles, or indeed any others, start by removing the existing door handle by unscrewing the screws that hold the handle in place, with a screwdriver such as the CRAFTSMAN Ratcheting Screwdriver available at Amazon. Then, you’re ready to switch them out.
‘Note that different doors will require different door handles,’ highlights Ryan. ‘For example, you will want to purchase a privacy lock for a bathroom door, a keyed lock for your bedroom door, and a regular passage door handle for closets or other types of doors that do not need to be locked for any reason.’
You may also want to install new hinges to match the new style of door handle, which also come in different sizes and varieties, with either rounded or 90 degree corners.
‘The best plan is to bring one of your existing hinges to a local hardware store to get an exact match, so you don’t purchase the wrong type.’ advises Ryan. ‘You can get both door handles and hinges in bulk from Amazon to make this an affordable project to do yourself, just make sure you plan out the types of door handles and hinges you need!’
Mainstays Traditional Cabinet Knob
These affordable zinc knobs have an antiqued brass finish, with a traditional round shape for a cohesive look.
Prefer something a little different? This glass and iron handle will upgrade your bathroom on a budget, with a luxe look and finish.
3. Paint your fireplace
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
Using paint is a great way to update a fireplace to overhaul your fireplace ideas, costing as little as $50 and making a huge difference to your space.
Mark Lumpkin, renovation and design expert at STR Cribs, advises, ‘First, clean the fireplace surface, to remove soot and residue,’ before applying a high-resistant primer and two coats of high-temperature paint, such as the Rutland Products Black Rutland 1200-Degree F Brush-On Flat Stove Paint available at Amazon, allowing ample dry time between application.
‘In total, this project generally takes six to eight hours total for prep, paint and cure,’ adds Mark, meaning you can actually get this done in just one day.
27-piece set
Paint Roller Kit with Extension Pole
Make painting your fireplace, or anywhere else around your house, a breeze with this handy set which contains everything you need.
4. Install a tiling backsplash
(Image credit: Future UK : ANNA STATHAKI )
You might not know it, but it’s actually relatively easy and affordable to install a backsplash, as renovation and design expert Mark highlights.
‘To affordably and rapidly refresh your back wall, prep and smooth the surface of the wall, then apply peel-and-stick tiles in a design of your choice,’ he says, such as these Smart Tiles available at Walmart.
‘On the other hand, you could try a non-standard but unique option, such as using a vinyl backsplash printed with a tile pattern, which can replicate the appearance of classic tiling with less mess.
‘The whole project usually takes 4–6 hours to finish, so it’s perfect for a weekend refresh,’ he assures.
Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, used sheet tiles and reduced much effort and time on her weekend DIY project, below. She says, ‘Stick a mesh sheet of tiling onto your backsplash, then grout. It’s that simple.’
Punteha used as sheet of tiling, above, to quickly and easily tile her backsplash.
(Image credit: Punteha van Terheyden)
11 colorways
11″ X 11″ Fit Random Mosaic Wall & Floor Tile
Instead of individually placing and spacing your backsplash tiles, use sheet tiles like this mosaic look. They’re stuck firmly on a mesh backing, which you place on the backsplash in one go, then grout as usual. These are water resistant and suitable for walls and floors.
5. Redecorate your front door
The Weaver’s Hand Door Knocking from devOL Kitchens, pictured, is a beautiful addition to any front door.
Finally, your front door is the first thing guests see when arriving at your home, so cleaning your front door and updating it is an effective way to make a good impression and keep up with all the latest front door trends.
Carr Lanphier, CEO at Improovy, shares, ‘Painting projects tend to make great weekend jobs in my experience. You can even feasibly accomplish repainting an entire room in a weekend if you’re willing to put in the time! Painting a front door or a garage door can be a good weekend project as well.’
Renovation and design expert Mark notes that this will take approximately three to four hours from prep to completion, and recommends using the Rust-Oleum Professional High Performance Enamel Spray Paint, available in 22 colors at Amazon, for a durable finish. Then, why not switch out your door knocker to easily and effortlessly make a front door look expensive.
Solid brass
ExcelMark Door Knocker
Made of solid polished brass, this door knocker offers a high-end finish at a low price, with all the screws included for an easy installation.
Meet our experts
Claire has spent years honing and refining her ‘bespoke on a budget’ approach, and has been included in Woman & Home, Real Homes and more.
BVM contracting is a family-run business, set up in 1997, focusing on home renovations, home additions, and new home builds.
Mark is a construction expert, with extensive experience flipping properties and turning short-term rentals into long-term success stories.
Eager for more DIY projects? Get a chic look for less by creating a unique gallery wall, adding trimmings for beautiful detail, or giving staircases a decorative edge.
