65 Unbelievably Simple Home Improvement Tips

Whether you are looking for tips for Increasing Your Home's Value or just perusing, everyone wants a healthy, solid and safe home, and buyers will carefully look for signs of routine upkeep. Here we list 65 of the most unbelievably simple home improvement tips that will keep your house in tiptop shape. Read on to find out how to add the most value to your home with little effort.

How can I improve my home improvements?

1. Increase usable square footage - The more square footage you add to your home, you increase the finite livable space in the house. By doing so, you often increase the value of your home and widen the number of home comparable in the neighborhood.
2. Clean your home - Make sure that your home is free of mold, odd smell, and is cosmetically up to snuff. 
3. Make your home more efficient - An easy win is by adding energy efficient appliances in high foot traffic areas. Additionally, adding an HVAC (heating system) to key living areas will increase the value of your home.
4. Refresh painting and flooring - A fresh coat of paint will make old exteriors and interiors look brand new.  The great part is that it's not cost prohibitive either.
5. Work on your curb appeal- Adding an outdoor kitchen or paver patio can add to your home’s value and make your property more enjoyable. Especially when the day is nice out.
6. Upgrade exterior doors - replacing an old front door can work wonders to the value of your home. The front door of your home makes a big impact on the first impressions made to visitors. Improving the front door is actually low hanging fruit for home value improvement. 

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm

Add curb appeal to your home by installing an adhesive or magnetic kick plate on your front door. Choose from brass, aluminum or stainless steel to instantly spruce up the exterior and protect against scuffmarks or toe kicks.

3. Walk this Way

Patching any cracks in your walkway will not only make it look nicer but also make it safer for visitors. Simply fill in gaps with a patching compound specifically made for cement.

5. Fire it up

From fire pit kits to online tutorials, adding a fire pit to your patio is an easy DIY project that will have you enjoying the outdoors even on cooler days. As an added bonus use it for extra serving or a seating surface when unlit.

7. Breathe Deep

Change your air filter every 30 days. A cheap fiberglass filter is actually preferred for two reasons: One, replacing the more expensive filter that often is too costly. Two, the fiberglass filters actually allow for more air to flow into your unit, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool your home properly.

9. Get Gutters Clean

To prevent foundational damage it’s important to clean your gutters annually. Remove debris from the channels and thoroughly wash them down with a garden hose. Be ware of gutter guards as they do not adequately stop debris from getting in and make it almost impossible to clean them properly.

11. Outdoor Living room

Get the most out of your backyard by adding an outdoor lounge area. Stack wood pallets on top of each other and secure them with screws. Repeat for added seating. Trim remaining pallets to height and attach them as back rests. For a more finished look cover the front, sides and seat backs with 1x4 pine boards, and top the seats with plywood for even support. Add some outdoor cushions and a coat of paint for a beautiful, easy way to enjoy the outdoors.

13. Terrific Terrariums

Use a fish bowl or floating candle bowl, to create a tiny bio dome for several colorful succulents. These plants don’t require much attention or water, making it a super simple way to brighten up any room.

15. Book Worm

Or create a home library without taking up too much space. Stack tall bookcases on top of each other and anchor them to the wall to get the appearance of floor-to-ceiling built-ins without splurging on costly custom designs.

17. Create Space

A simple way to transform a room and add storage space is to put up shelves. Install a long shelf in a lengthy hallway to store house keys, shoes, hats etc. or add irregular-shaped floating shelves to the living room and display plants or collectables.

19. Plump Up Your Pillows

To keep cushions nice and full put them outside in the sun for a few hours and flip them halfway through. The sun will help evaporate any built up moisture and the cushions should plump up nicely.

21. Stop Sagging

Keep your chair caning looking brand new by using a wet sponge to apply warm water to the underside of the chair. Let dry overnight and repeat if necessary.

23. Grand Slam

Subdue the slam of a door by stretching a wide rubber band around the doorknobs on both sides and across the edge of the door (don’t cover the latch). Or fasten some peel-and-stick foam weather stripping around the doorstop.

25. Stairway to Heaven

Professionally carpeting your stairs can cost upwards of $2000. However, with just two off-the-shelf woven rugs and some supplies from a home repair outlet you can spice up your staircase with a non-slip DIY runner at a fraction of the cost.

27. Lay Low-Cost Flooring

For a professional looking, durable floor opt for self-adhesive vinyl tile.The 12x12-inch tiles come in many colors, patterns and textures, making it easy to create designs or contrasting borders. Perfect for any mudroom or laundry room.

29. Feel the Burn

Save money on gas and membership fees by creating your own home gym. If you have the space set up a treadmill, stationary bike, or weight lifting station. Otherwise use storable options like free-weights, or a yoga mat.

31. Halt Humidity

Dampness can cause wallpaper and upholstery to mold; to keep this from happening simply purchase a dehumidifier and place it in the appropriate room.

33. Get with the Program

Switch any old-fashioned dial thermostats to programmable thermostats. Experience the satisfaction of waking up to a warm bedroom while saving money on your heating bill, all you need is a screwdriver, drill, and maybe a little touch-up paint.

35. Bright Idea

There are many ways to brighten up your home but the most obvious way is with lighting. Make a fabric-covered drum shade to match your décor, breathe new life into an old chandelier with some spray paint or simply purchase a lighting conversion kit to update fixtures electrician free.

37. Fan-tastic

For a simple one-night project, improve lighting and ventilation by installing a ceiling fan in place of an old light fixture.

39. Tweak your Toilet

Drop some red food coloring into the water in the toilet’s tank. If the water in the bowl turns pink, about an hour later, you have a leak. Fix the leak by changing your toilet’s flapper and help save on your water bill in just one night.

41. Maintain your Washing Machine

A plastic washing machine water supply line or plastic drain hose should be changed every three years and inspected annually. If you notice any discoloring or rust, replace them pronto. Additionally, check the tightness of the drain lines by using a crescent wrench or pliers. You should not be able to tighten the line any further if it is properly tightened.

43. Stop Clogs

Insert a hair strainer into any bathroom drain and remove accumulated hair often. This will reduce the amount of hair that finds its way into your plumbing and save you from costly professional fixes.

45. Show Love to Your Shower

Shower time just got even better with an easy to install multi hose showerhead. This look will add luxury to any bathroom.

47. Care For Your Closets

Turn that simple storeroom for clothing into a showpiece by painting the inside of your closet a bright color, adding some wallpaper or even a chandelier.

49. Dress Up Your Windows

Installing blinds can make a small room seem bigger and adding curtains can soften the look of a room. Try adding curtains to your kitchen window for a more inviting feel that helps make the space intimate when being used for formal occasions.

51. Improve Insulation

Add caulking or weather stripping to windows and doors for a quick and inexpensive improvement. This simple renovation could save you 30% on your energy bill according to energy.gov.

53. Add Pizazz to your Pantry

Easily jazz up the look of your kitchen by replacing a pantry door with glass panes, or stained glass. If you like to keep contents hidden without compromising style add a curtain on a double tension rod to the inside of the door.

55. Paint it On

Painting a full room can be a lot of work. However, consider painting just one wall in your kitchen, bedroom or living room to add a bright splash of color in no time.

57. Scintillating Scents

Use this realtor trick to keep your house smelling fresh.Pour two caps full of vanilla extract in a coffee cup, bake it in the oven at 300 degrees for one hour and your house will smell like heaven.

59. Slide it Shut

To ensure a sliding door closes tightly, super glue one small magnet onto the door and a second one to the frame. This will help prevent drafts, lowering the cost of your utility bill.

61. Sneaky Stainless Steal

Love the look of stainless steal appliances but can’t seem to fit it into the budget? Stainless steel contact paper is an affordable alternative. Purchase the self-adhesive sheet at any home repair store and adhere it to the appliance for an instant upgrade.

63. Reliable Refrigeration

Some fridges have coils along the back that contain the coolant the refrigerator uses to keep the inside cold. If your refrigerator is among these, then vacuum the coils occasionally to remove any build up from dust and dirt. Build up can stop your fridge from working efficiently or stop it cooling altogether.

65. Make a Splash

Companies like Swanstone make back splashes from a single sheet of solid surface material in a variety of colors and patterns. Shaping, cutting, and gluing this inexpensive stock material is a weekend project amateurs can conquer with confidence.

2. Address the Issue

Enliven your home’s exterior with a custom address sign. Paint each number on individual flower pots for a blossoming front yard display or place the numbers on a swatch of faux grass and encase it all in a white wood frame.

4. Dazzling Decks

Re-vive an old wooden deck with a combination of power-washing and hand-scrubbing. Brush on a protective coat of semitransparent stain to protect it from the elements and get a deck that dazzles in no time.

6. Effortless Lawns

Make all your neighbors jealous with Husqvarna‘s new high-end robotic auto-mower. After setting your boundaries, use Husqvarna’s mobile app to create a schedule. You can set it to cut a small amount of grass over a long period, keeping your lawn pristine without the typical cutting paths. It even works in the rain and returns to its charger automatically. Plus it’s safer than a regular mower, as the blades retract instantly upon hitting anything.

8. Cool Off

Air conditioners can be one of the most expensive appliances to repair. Inspect the condensation hose regularly to make sure there is no standing water where the condensation line drains. If this is an issue, use a small garden trowel to create a drainage path. Line the path with gravel to keep mold and algae from forming. Keep the screen around your AC free from debris to keep your house cool and keep the internal parts from wearing out too quickly. To power complicated heating/cooling systems when energy isn't available, it's recommended to keep a back up 

power supply. Read our resources best generator for home and 10000 Watt Generators.

10. Simple Roof Repair

No one wants the costly repairs involved with a leaky roof. To avoid this check your roof for damage periodically. It’s much simpler to replace a few damaged, discolored, or gravel-less shingles than an entire roof. Pay special attention to shingles around skylights, chimneys, and vents, as these areas are more prone to leaks.

12. Flower Power

Make a good first impression by adding window boxes full of cascading flowers in fun colors for an easy homespun touch to your exterior.

14. Take a Book Leave a Book

Add a mini library outside where neighbors can stop off to borrow or lend books. DIY-er can build custom book boxes while the rest of us can easily purchase an old mailbox, breadbox or cabinet to convert into the library. Place it on a cute bench or inside a wheelbarrow for extra effect.

16. Maximize Space

Give the illusion of space in a smaller room with switch-hit pieces. An ottoman can double as a storage space, extra perch or side table while day beds or deep sofas allow your living room to transform into a guest room.

18. Mirror Image

Installing a mirror is an easy way to make a small room look bigger or brighten up a dark hallway.

20. Suit up your Sofa

Restore an old couch by sliding on a slipcover; an instant update that won’t break the bank. Take some of those savings and spruce it up even more with an accent pillow or two.

22.Make the Little Things Count

Stop a squeaky door by spraying a little WD-40 onto the hinges while moving the door back and forth to work the lubricant in. For particularly tough squeaks lift the hinge pins about halfway and lubricate them with three-in-one oil, catching any drips with a rag.

24. Crowning Finish

Use Trimroc molding from Canamould Extrusions, a lightweight polystyrene foam coated in hard plaster. It cuts easily with a handsaw and goes up effortlessly with joint compound. Upgrade a room to an elegant space in just a weekend.

26. Keep Scuffs at Bay

To keep your linoleum looking like new, spray WD-40 on a rag and rub lightly or use a dry cloth with white toothpaste to rub onto any scuffmarks. Degrease the area afterward with some water and liquid soap.

28. Make a Mud Room

Create a functional mudroom in your entryway without building a whole new room. Install some molding and hooks to an empty wall, and add decorative baskets to a bookshelf for an instant cubby space.

30. Focus on Fun

Billiards, table tennis, air hockey, and football are great additions to any home. Transform a bay or two from your garage into a games room for an instant upgrade. Stay on budget by looking for gently used versions online.

32. Go Wireless

Make any room cutting edge by using wireless technology wherever possible. Not only will it add luxury but also make it easy to rearrange lighting, speakers or home office gadgets.

34. Upgrade your outlets

Another easy way to provide noticeable results is to change the faceplates on your power outlets. Simply unscrew the old one and screw on a new chrome faceplate to add shine to any room.

36. Add Ambience

Dim lights decrease stress while brightly lit rooms can boost energy. Most dimmers are designed to fit a standard wall box opening, making it easy to replace the switch and get the best of both worlds.

38. Sparkle and Shine

Make your chandelier shine with this simple trick. Grab a pair of white cotton gloves, dampen one with glass cleaner and leave the other one dry. (For crystal, use one part rubbing alcohol to three parts distilled water.) Wipe down each cylinder with the damp glove, followed by the dry one.

40. Fix a leaky Faucet

To avoid leaks, replace your washers by shutting off the water supply, unscrewing the leaky handle, removing the old washer, and dropping in the new one; a fast and cost efficient fix.

42. Stay Dry

Clean your dryer’s lint screen regularly, and remove fabric softener residue by washing the screen with warm water and dish detergent weekly. This will prevent fires and increase the life of the heating element on your dryer.

44. Sign, Sealed Delivered

Signage on a bathroom door isn’t just for public restrooms. Add a little fun to your home with a cheeky bathroom sign. Make one yourself or purchase one online and simply hang it with a hook.

46. Love your Laundry Room

Add a folding table, install wood shelving and store laundry essentials in decorative glass dispensers to create a warm and welcoming space in an often overlooked room.

48. Make Headway

A DIY headboard is an easy update for any bedroom. For example, use an old store sign for a vintage vibe or add texture and color by hanging a sisal, shag, or tapestry behind the bed.

50. Secure a Sliding Window

For $7 you can child proof your house or just fix a window that won’t stay up. Install a window control to any sliding window in 30 minutes or less.

52. Add Architectural Detail

Interior shutters are easy to install on any window as they attach to a thin frame that either sits inside the window opening or around the outside of the casing. These original window treatments help keep out winter's chill or summer's heat and add historical charm to any room.

54. Chalk it up to Creativity

Let the creative juices flow with chalkboard paint. Turn your tabletop into a brainstorming space or paint the door of an old fridge. Bonus Tip: paint on two to three coats of magnetic primer first for a magnetized chalkboard.

56. Touch it Up

To keep your house looking fresh with even less work, simply grab a paintbrush and small sample sized can of paint in the right shade, then do small touchups by dabbing the paint over cracks or chips.

58. Hook it Up

For a fun yet functional kitchen upgrade, install a wall-mounted rod with hooks. Intersperse your everyday items like dishtowels or utensils with a hanging planter or current recipe in a plastic ring-binder to spice it up.

60. It’s All in the Details

Even small upgrades can make a big impact in any room. Replacing door handles on cabinets and drawers is an inexpensive and easy update. Try mixing metals for a funky feel.

62. Enjoy Efficiency

To keep your refrigerator energy efficient and to prevent premature wear on internal parts, pay attention to the door seals. Close the door on a dollar bill and try to pull it out with the door closed. If the bill slides out without much effort, visit any home repair store and replace the seals.

64. Custom Cutting Board

Purchase a cutting board, cut it to size and attach it to the top of an upper drawer. Remove the bottom of the drawer so scraps will fall straight into the wastebasket. Press on the drawer to access the cutting board if your hands are full or dirty by adding springs.

We hope this article has shown that you can keep your home properly maintained without breaking the bank or your back. Not only will these tips help you become more energy efficient and save money on your utility bill but they will help increase the durability of your appliances and existing structures; saving you money in the long run and adding value to your home.

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