Weekend Projects Under $20

Replace a Window Treatment

Has the window shade above your kitchen sink been marred by repeated exposure to splashes and cooking liquids? Replace a stained window covering with an inexpensive fabric treatment and see your kitchen in a whole new light.

Tackle Trimwork

You might not be able to install new trimwork in your home for $20, but you can make improvements to what you already have. Replace mismatched, missing, or damaged moldings, end caps, quarter rounds, or baseboard. Curved areas might require a special piece or trim made of an alternate material.

Organize the Entry

Keep dirt and mud contained with a boot tray near your home's entryway. Buy one that's easy to clean, or create your own from a jelly-roll pan. If storage space is limited, tuck the tray beneath a slim console table.

Replace Switchplates

Replace a plastic switchplate with a wood, metal, or ceramic cover to make a visual statement. Some switchplates are even textured to blend in with marble, tile, or stone surfaces. Do this for light switches, electrical outlets, and phone and cable jacks.

Mend Your Walkway

Cracks and gaps in sidewalks and walkways can quickly expand throughout the year. Not only will a patch job make your pathway look nice, it'll also make it safer for visitors and passersby. Fix your sidewalk with a patching compound specifically made for cement.

Update with Paint

Breathe new life into an old piece of furniture with a fresh coat of paint. For wood pieces, remove dirt or wax buildup with a household cleaner and rinse. Sand rough areas and wipe away dust. Apply two coats of stain-blocking primer and allow it to dry between coats. Roll or brush on two coats of latex paint in the direction of the wood grain, and use a brush to finish the surface with smooth strokes.

Spruce Up Shelves

Give shelves a charming and cohesive look with an exciting backdrop by applying contact paper, scrapbook paper, or fabric to the back of a bookshelf. If you don't want to commit to a particular design or color scheme, measure the bookshelf's back panel and mount the background material on poster board, cut to the size of each shelf.  

Update Door Hardware

All it takes is a screwdriver and few minutes to give your front door a facelift. Change clashing or poorly operating door hardware, make house numbers more readable, or add a door knocker.

Get Stylish Underfoot

Try your hand at a fun paint technique and update tired flooring with a custom rug. Using a vinyl floor remnant and paint, you can create a fun, personalized focal point. Varying the stripe widths creates a cool, casual look.

Improve Air Flow

Swap out a standard floor grate with a more impressive -- and possibly more efficient -- wood or metal register grille. An inferior grate might not channel air in the best direction for optimum flow.

Streamline Under the Sink

Ease cleanup and eliminate the clutter of freestanding bottles with an over-the-door wire organizer. This slim solution maximizes undersink space while keeping kitchen essentials within easy reach.

Add Hanging Storage

Free up valuable floor space in your basement, garage, or entryway with hanging storage. Seasonal items, such as bikes and sleds, are difficult to store and take up lots of space. Add hooks to an unused wall or ceiling area and discover space you didn't know you had.

Create Eye-Catching Curb Appeal

Amp up your exterior color palette with a punchy door color that complements your home's character. Painting an exterior door is an inexpensive, instant update that can be changed with ease. A cheerful, glossy red door extends a warm welcome to visitors and ensures the yard has year-round color.

Revive Outdoor Furniture

Capture the feeling of a sunny summer day with colorful outdoor furniture. In less than a weekend, you can give outdoor furniture a color makeover with paint. Find a set of inexpensive deck chairs, or recoat faded, chipped, and drab-looking outdoor furniture. Many deck and siding paints come in a variety of colors and finishes. Choose a paint that can endure weather and temperature extremes, as well as UV rays.