10 Super Easy Home Upgrades You Can Install in 2021

The 2019 Chase Home Lending survey found that a whopping 80 percent of Americans wanted to make home improvements. Seventy percent of them said they planned to do at least some of the work themselves, too.

Perhaps you’re one of the many people looking to make home upgrades this year. But there’s only one problem — you don’t have the skills to take on a full renovation by yourself.

Instead, you’re looking for easy home upgrades that you can easily do yourself and make a big impact. It may sound like a pipe dream, but it’s actually more than possible to do just that.

Start with these 10 projects.

1. Change the Light Fixtures

You may have fluorescent boxes, frosted-glass pendants or creaky ceiling fans. Regardless of the dated fixture in your home, can make a huge and instant change by swapping out the lighting for something more modern. Consider dangling Edison bulbs, clear glass globes or extra large fans in place of rickety old ones.

2. Swap Out Hardware

On that note, swapping out cabinet hardware is another easy home upgrade.

Grab new knobs and pulls that will fit into the pre-existing holes on your drawers and cabinets. That way, you can quickly unscrew the ones you have now and replace them — no drilling or clean-up required.

In a few hours, you’ll have a fresh-feeling kitchen or bathroom.

3. Scour Your Grout

Perhaps your bathroom looks a bit dingy, but you don’t have the cash to pay for such a major house upgrade.

For now, restore your grout to its original bright-white hue. You can find a kit with the tools and cleaning products you need at your local hardware store. Or, you can mix a homemade cleaner that will effectively bleach your grout.

Whatever type of cleaner you use, you’ll need a little bit of elbow grease to get the job done. But it’s an easy DIY project and one that will make your bathroom feel newer and upgraded — no renovation required.

4. Build a Headboard

Without a headboard, your bedroom looks — and feels — unfinished.

Luckily, it doesn’t cost much to make your own headboard. And many online tutorials make it very easy to craft one of your own.

So, do a bit of searching to find a design that suits your taste. Whether you want a wooden piece or a tufted, upholstered headboard, you can create it with your own two hands. And, after a day or two of work, your bedroom will feel much more polished.

5. Hook Up the Kitchen

Do you have a storage problem in your kitchen? If so, consider hanging a few hooks.

Utility hooks can hold onto just about all of your must-have tools in the kitchen. Whether you need a spot for your tea towels or your pots and pans, a utility hook can take care of it for you.

Better yet, dangling your cookware from hooks makes an instant focal point for your space. So, you’ll improve your kitchen storage and do a bit of decorating, all in one.

6. Repaint

Perhaps you have a dated shade of beige on every wall. Or maybe you have a piece of oak furniture that feels a bit too old-school for your space.

That’s nothing a can of paint can’t fix. It doesn’t take more than a weekend to repaint a room in your home. The same goes for brushing a new shade onto your wood furniture.

Just make sure you’re following proper protocol, especially when it comes to furniture. You want to make sure your new paint job lasts!

7. Don’t Forget the Front Door

Curb appeal is just as important as interior design. You can quickly enhance the former by repainting your front door.

After brushing on a new coat of paint there, you could do the same to the shutters, if you have them. You can further spruce up the door with a shiny, new kick plate. Tie it all together with new house numbers.

When you stand back and look at your handiwork, you’ll be surprised at how such a simple home upgrade can transform the look of your abode.

8. Hang Curtains

Many novice interior designers neglect their windows. However, you should accentuate all of your panes with window treatments.

Hanging curtain rods is a quick and easy DIY project that you can helm yourself. Then, put up curtains that stretch from the top of the window to the floor so your room looks larger.

If you’re not a curtains person, you can still spruce up your windows. Even hanging bamboo shades or traditional blinds will make the space look more uniform and polished.

9. Try Stick-On Wallpaper

Here’s another easy project to try: adhesive wallpaper. This project suits both homeowners and renters who want to DIY since the sheets stick to walls and peel off when you want a change.

This new wallpaper comes in endless colors and patterns, so you’re sure to find something to match your style. Create a living room accent wall or make your powder room into a statement-making space. Once you do one room, you’ll probably find yourself plotting to wallpaper another — it’s that easy to install these adhesive sheets.

10. Deep Clean and De-Clutter

This home upgrade costs nothing, but it can make a huge impact.

Deep-cleaning your abode will make everything look fresh and new again. And that’s an easy home upgrade that everyone can do on their own.

The same goes for de-cluttering. Go room by room and get rid of the items that you don’t use. Removing piles and dusty knickknacks will transform the look of your home, too.

Best yet, you can do all of this in a weekend or two. Start by de-cluttering, then finish the job with a deep clean of your newly organized spaces.

Make Easy Home Upgrades This Weekend

Your next DIY project doesn’t have to break the bank. Instead, these easy home upgrades cost very little and require no skill. You just need to roll up your sleeves, get to work and see all that you — and your home — are capable of being.

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