Easy Weekend Home Projects

Money may be tight and home values may have decreased. More families are staying home these days. It's a great time to spend a little to get more enjoyment out of your home. Here are a few easy-to-do tips to increase value in your home while not spending a lot of money.

Replace Old Knobs and Door Handles. This is an easy, inexpensive way to dress up or change the look of doors, cabinets, and more. Many homes in the Cleveland Ohio area are older and have outdated hardware. These small changes can actually transform the look and style of your home. Whether you choose vintage glass, shiny metal or even rustic wood, installing these new knobs and handles can add to the value of your home, as well. Don't overlook the hinges! If you can't quite get to those now, but have a squeaky door, try spraying the hinges with a cooking spray like Pam. It works!

Install a Greenhouse Window. A beautiful addition to any room in the home, a greenhouse window will allow you to grow flowers, herbs and other plants even during the winter! Replacing a regular window with a greenhouse window adds dimension, light and display space while eliminating clutter. Available at home supply stores, they come with many options including granite finishes and glass shelves.

Paint, Paint, Paint! Painting can instantly change your home's look and feel. Don't limit your color change to just your walls — an updated color on furniture or cabinetry can really spice things up, as well. Play with new colors, patterns and techniques. Don't be afraid of going bold; remember, if you don't like the way the color looks, you can always paint over it! There's a wall, trim or doorway in everyone's home that could use some paint or freshening. Cheap and easy, get to work!

Replace Builder Lighting or Oudated Fixtures with remote ceiling fans. Not only will it save energy and keep your air circulating, it will add appeal, value and enhance the beauty of a room and pull all your decor together from the floor up. Ceiling fans today are modern, fun, classy and relatively easy to install. They come with directions and there's help online. If you purchase one in a home improvement store the sales people will help you as well! Make sure you call on their advice and expertise, that's what they're there for!

Work on your closets and cabinets. Most homeowners have secrets hiding in their closets and cabinetry. The closet is the least looked at part of the home and there we tend to find cracking or peeling paint, old contact paper and clutter! How about taking a few hours and organize, adding new shelves, hooks or hardware and giving yourself more room by throwing out some of the items you think one day you'll use but haven't in a decade! (linens included) How many sheet sets do we have?? Hmm.

Don't forget your home's air quality! Change your furnace filter! You can add a couple of dryer sheets to the new one to add a cheap and whole-house air freshener. Remove your vents and soak them in a hot bleachy bath while you vacuum inside to remove dust and build up. Clean the hard to reach spots in your home that you don't get to often. Behind entertainment centers, baseboards, behind heavy furniture and under beds. Removing dust in the home can make it smell better and create a healthier environment!