Make Your Entrance Inviting

KEVIN MIYAZAKI PHOTOGRAPHY

A cheery front-door color and a touch of landscaping can do wonders for your home's curb appeal and make a lasting impression on guests. Dress the door with new hardware, and add potted plants near the entrance. Consider installing outdoor lighting to enhance your home's architecture and illuminate the walkway. Replace your worn-out welcome mat with a bold statement mat to create a warm and welcoming ambiance for your home.

Replace Your Kitchen Island

COURTESY OF FORMICA

For an impactful weekend update, swap out the surface of your kitchen island. With all the appealing looks of luxurious stone without the tedious upkeep, the 180fx by Formica Group's Calacatta Cava finish pairs well with contemporary, traditional, and farmhouse styles alike.

Brighten Your Kitchen

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

Dress up an eating area with a fresh light fixture. Replacing an existing fixture is your easiest option: Just turn off the power at the breaker box and connect the wires. Hanging a new light fixture is a simple way to change the look of your room, and it's a project you can do yourself. Consider the design, as well as function, when choosing the right light fixtures for your kitchen.

Add a Window Box

CARSON DOWNING

One of the first living walls, window boxes have been a longtime favorite of gardeners. Filled with a lush display of flowers, they add charm to any exterior window. Not only do they give windows a nice finish, but they also bring gorgeous flowers up and into view from inside the home. Plus, you can build the popular curb appeal element yourself.

Install a New Faucet

ANTHONY MASTERSON 

Inject elegance into your daily life with a faucet that ups the ante in looks and quality. Just make sure the configuration matches your existing sink, or you might end up replacing that, too. If you're planning on buying a new sink, it's easiest to install a faucet and other hardware on a new sink before the sink is put in place. Buying a new sink allows you to customize the number of holes to fit your preferred faucet.

Add Storage to Your Entry

PAUL DYER

If a traditional entry closet or a built-in shelving system isn't an option in your home, refashioned furniture can achieve a look that's equally stylish and storage-savvy. This small-scale table is a perfect size for beside the front door. Though compact, the table's lower shelf makes the piece super functional for drop-zone items. Hang a wall-mount shelf above the table to keep keys, hats, and sunglasses within easy reach.

Paint or Paper a Wall

NICOLE LAMOTTE

Select the perfect self-adhesive wallpaper to create an accent that's easy to apply, remove, and reuse. Like a giant sticker, peel the decorative paper off the backing and adhere it to a primed and painted wall. To create a curvy top edge, use your mirror to inspire the outline of your design. Cut the shape from kraft paper and test the look. Tape the pattern on the decorative paper applied to the wall; use a crafts knife to cut around the template and peel away the paper above the cut.

Hang Outdoor String Lights

ANN VANDERWIEL WILDE

Set the perfect outdoor ambiance with string lights. These weather-resistant lights are perfect to light up your patio or deck for outdoor dining and relaxing. Attach the lights with screw eyes and carabiners so they're just as easy to put up as they are to take down. With this easy method, string lights remain sturdy throughout the year, so you don't have to worry about plastic hooks and other temporary solutions that won't last after the season.

Add Beaded Board

BRIE WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY INC

Beaded board lends a traditional touch to kitchens and bathrooms. Cut holes in the boards or sheets for outlets, phone jacks, and other wall necessities. Be sure to finish it with a waterproof sealant if you are installing it behind or around a sink. For a modern take on beaded board, try wider plank paneling.

Switch to Energy-Saving Windows

LISA ROMEREIN PHOTOGRAPHY

If you have a window that faces frigid winter winds, replace it with a high-efficiency unit. If your home has single-pane windows, they could be wasting up to 25% of your energy costs. Improve your home's energy efficiency by replacing single-pane windows with high-performance double-pane Energy Star-rated windows. Look for windows labeled low-emissivity (low-E) or spectrally selective—they have a coating that reduces thermal heat transfer.

 Get Step-By-Step Instructions for Replacing a Window

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Give Your Yard a Boost

JESSICA SAMPLE

With flagstone or cement pavers, you can easily make an outdoor patio in a weekend, no mortar required. Add potted plants and outdoor seating, such as a bistro set or an eclectic mix of colorful chairs, to create a quaint backyard escape. With the right planning and pieces, even a small space can become an outdoor retreat. Look for nooks in your yard where you can put a bench and a small side table and make a mini patio to enjoy your landscape.

 

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Redo Your Backsplash

ADAM ALBRIGHT

Tired of a dull kitchen? Transform the mood of the kitchen with a bold new backsplash in ceramic or glass tile. Just make sure the wall is sound before you start the installation. Choosing one color (no pattern or texture) and clean-lined tile for the backsplash in a small kitchen keeps the look uncluttered and roomy.

 

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Replace Your Showerhead

JACOB FOX

Choose a low-flow showerhead and you'll get virtually the same sensation of water flow while saving money on your water bill. If your showerhead flow is already low (and shouldn't be), check to see if hard-water deposits are clogging the holes. Many new showerheads provide more options for control—multiple spray styles, pivoting angles, temperature settings—and they're more efficient. Try replacing your showerhead with a newer model so you can achieve a spa-worthy bathing experience in the comfort of your home.

 

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Patch Holes in Walls

KIM CORNELISON

Whether an art-arranging project went awry or you're tired of looking at dings around the house, concealing wall blemishes is a weekend-worthy project. With a putty knife and surfacing compound, you can easily repair nail holes and other minor wall imperfections. For larger holes, place an adhesive patch over the area and spread an all-purpose drywall compound over it with a trowel. Depending on the size of the wall hole, the compound may need to dry overnight. Paint over the patch when it is dry.