Whether you love knocking out DIY projects regularly or you are just looking for a few small things to give your home a new feel, finding new DIY projects can be overwhelming. If you are looking for a smaller project to complete that will still make a big impact in your home, we have put together this list of some of our favorite small but mighty DIY projects to transform your home.
Create a Statement Ceiling
The ceiling is something that is often ignored because people do not look up very often. However, a great DIY project that can make a big impact is creating a statement ceiling. Trade out that old popcorn ceiling for something that stands out. You can install some stained wooden beams, tiles, tin, something with an interesting pattern, or even faux stone or brick. Have fun with it and make it so people will love looking up in your home.
Photo by James McNeal Architecture and Design
Create a Chalkboard Wall
Whether you need a place to scribble down your grocery list or you have kids who like to doodle on walls, turning a wall into a chalkboard is a great idea. In the kitchen, you can use it to make your shopping list, make notes about recipes, or write down reminders. If you have kids, creating a chalkboard wall in their bedroom or the living room is a great way to foster their creativity and give them a safe wall to doodle on.
Hang Wallpaper
If you are planning on selling your home, this is not the right DIY project for your home. However, if you want to quickly change up the look of a room, wallpaper is a great small and simple project that can transform the look of a room. It can make a big impact on any room you put it in.
Photo by Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly
Install a New Garage Door
How old is your garage door? Getting a new garage door might be nowhere near your to-do list for your DIY projects, but updating and painting it can make a big impact on your home’s curb appeal, and it can help improve your home’s security if the door is old or outdated.
Hang a Sliding Barn Door
If you have open shelving in your home and you do not want it all out in the open like that, you can easily hang a sliding barn door to cover the shelving without having to waste any square footage on a regular door. You can also use the sliding door to add a little pop of color to the room by painting it a bright color.
Frame a Mirror
Mirrors are a great way to make a space feel bigger, and if you have a mirror without a frame, creating a frame for it is a small but mighty project that you can complete pretty easily. The fast and easy way to do this is to go to an antique shop with the measurements of the mirror and find an old picture frame or painting you like the frame for and put the mirror in it instead of an image.
You can also build one with wood from scratch, but this is a quick and easy way to do it that can add some character to a room.
Update Your Backsplash
The backsplash in your kitchen and bathroom plays an important role in protecting your walls from water damage and food stains, but that does not mean it needs to be ugly. If you need an easy DIY project that is going to make a big impact on your home, updating your backsplash is a great idea. There are plenty of shapes, colors, and sizes that you can choose from to redesign your backsplash. For something more unique than tile, you can install a faux stone or brick backsplash; it will stand out, is easy to clean, and is simple to install. Plus, it is waterproof, so you will not need to worry about water or food splatters damaging it.
Photo by Creative Design Construction, Inc.
Connect Two Rooms
It is not always doable to take down a wall to create a more open-concept home, but if you want to connect two rooms, you can create some pass-through windows. For example, you can add a pass-through between your kitchen and dining area, so you do not need to work as hard to set the table for dinner.
Update Your Faucets
A quick and easy home update is changing out the faucets in your sinks and even in the shower. Even if they are not leaking, updating your faucets is a small but mighty project that can truly transform a room.
Build a Raised Garden Bed
Whether you love planting flowers or veggies, building a raised garden bed is an excellent DIY project that is small but mighty. It will make it much more comfortable to plant things since you will not need to bend all the way to the ground to reach the garden bed. You can even make a little bench seat on the garden bed, so you have somewhere more comfortable to sit when working in your garden. Most raised garden beds are about three feet wide, and they are usually 12 to 20 inches tall.
Revamp the Closet
Does your closet annoy you on a daily basis? Then it is time to give it a makeover. You can add both beauty and function to the space. Start by completely emptying out the closet and painting and refinishing the interior walls with something colorful and fun. You can paint it a solid color, hang some wallpaper, and more; have fun with it. Then, find some items that will help you organize the closet better. These can include drawers, open shelves, baskets, and hanging rods — whatever you need to make your closet more functional and less frustrating. If the closet has a door, you can either hang a full-length mirror on the back, so you can check your outfit when you finish getting dressed, or you can get rid of the door altogether and hang a curtain to cover it.
Photo by ROM architecture studio
Create a Screened-In Porch
Having a covered patio is great, but turning it into a screened-in porch can make it an even better space. A screen will help keep out bugs, so you will not have to worry about getting bit by mosquitoes on a warm summer night, making the space even more useful. It can also be used to give you some privacy on the patio. A ceiling fan and some lights can also make the space look better, and if you want to go a step further, you can make each screened area a window you can open and close or have wooden shutters that close tightly. This will let you use the space for more of the year than you would be able to if you live in an area that has colder falls and winters.
Photo by Pearce Scott Architects
Paint Your Front Door
For a small but mighty project that can make your home exterior pop, paint the front door. It is best to do this when you can take it off the hinges for the day. Sand and wash it, then remove the hardware before you get started painting it. Choose something bright and fun that shows off your personality. To upgrade your front door even more, get new hardware for it that goes with the new paint job.
Photo by Ironwood Master Crafters
About the Author
Auz Burger is a freelance writer and an expert in faux stone and brick veneer and home DIY projects. She has a BA from Washington State University and has been writing and editing professionally for over a decade.