8 Small Home Projects that Make a Huge Impact

Looking for a home project that won’t break the bank? Check out these 8 small home projects that make a huge impact and won’t break the bank! These projects are so easy you can complete them over a weekend!

It’s been just over three months since I started my blogging journey, and I’ve loved every second of it so far and it’s only just beginning! My goal for starting this blog was to inspire others to make their house the home of their dreams without breaking the bank – it can be done! When I started the blog I wanted to dive right into it so I started with a series – 8 Small Home Projects that Make a Huge Impact. My goal was to share a new small home project every week that was quick and easy enough to complete over a weekend but still make a huge impact on your home. I can’t believe it’s already been 8 weeks…time flies when you’re having fun!

I’ve had so much fun with this series and I was really able to change the look and feel of my home with these small projects. I completed all of these over a weekend or some in just one evening, so if I can do it, you can do it! In this post I will give you a quick summary of what each project was about (as well as the project material list) and link to the full post so you can hop over and check it out. Here are the 8 Small Home Projects that Make a Huge Impact all in one place…so let’s get started!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For more information, see my full disclosures here.

The Beginner’s Guide to Painting:

Materials Needed:

• Paint
  • I used Sherwin Williams Mindful Grey
• Paint Roller
• Roller Brushes
• Paint Tray
• A Roller Handle Extender
• 2″ or 2 1/2″ angled brush
  • This Wooster Shortcut is my Favorite!
• HANDy Paint Pail
• Drop Cloth or Old Sheets
• Frog Tape
• Dap DryDex Spackling
• Flat head screwdriver (to open up that can)
• Tall step ladder
• Ziplock bags or plastic wrap
  • So you can wrap up your brushes between coats to keep them from drying out
• Paint Clothes (you will get messy)!

We started out the series with The Beginner’s Guide to Painting. Painting is one of those projects that if I had to choose a quick and easy way to transform my space it would be through painting. Painting can drastically and quickly change the look and feel of your space, and is fairly inexpensive. Painting can sometimes be intimidating and can be one of those projects you really dread, but I find there is something soothing about painting especially when you think of what the outcome will be – a completely transformed space that looks brand new! In the post I walk you through the steps I take when painting and share some fun quick tips to help your painting go smoother. I definitely don’t consider myself an expert painter by any means so I tried to keep my painting tips and techniques at my level with painting tips for beginners!

The Beginner’s Guide to Painting

How to Stain a Door the Easy Way:

Materials Needed:

• General Finishes Gel Stain
  • I used Antique Walnut
• General Finishes High Performance Satin Coat
• 3M Sanding sponge – fine
• Nitrile gloves
• Protective eyewear
• Drop cloth or old sheets
• Lint-Free cloth or Foam brushes
• Frog Tape
• Deglosser
• Screwdriver

Continuing along the painting theme, I moved over to gel staining my door. I had read all of these blog posts where they raved about General finishes gel stain and I had to check it out for myself. One of the first things that I noticed about my house was the front door…it was a beautiful old wooden door with large glass panes, but it was in pretty bad shape and chipping. Several people recommended that I paint it, but I couldn’t bring myself that paint that beautiful wood door. While I was doing my research I kept going back to gel stain. It gives you that beautiful stained look without the sanding or priming, which my friends is a win in my book! I’m truly pleased with the results and I loved how easy this project was! I did a full tutorial on how to stain a door with gel stain, so be sure to go check it out by clicking the picture below.

How to Stain a Door the Easy Way

Updating Door Hardware:

Staying with my front door, another project that really made a difference was updating my door hardware. I went back and forth on should I just spray paint the current handle, but in the end I had to change it. It was driving me crazy how I had to have a key to get out of my front door. I don’t know why the previous door handle was set up that way but I couldn’t just turn a knob to lock the door I had to use a key from the inside – drove me crazy! 😉

This was such an easy project and made a huge impact on my curb appeal and looked great with the newly stained door. If you’re looking for some ideas on cost effective door hardware options I share some of my favorite door hardware in the original post…make sure to check them out!

Updating Door Hardware

Beautiful Area Rugs:

Now heading back inside the house…let’s talk about beautiful area rugs! This is a step that I used to overlook a lot when it came to my home decor choices. I would focus on the small home decor objects and a lot of times couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t all coming together like I thought it would. Then I looked down…something was missing – rugs! Area rugs can have a major impact on the look and feel of the inside of your home. They make so many beautiful rugs these days and you can find them all over the place! I shared some of my favorite neutral area rugs a few weeks ago and you can check them out by clicking the picture below to check out the full post.

Beautiful Area Rugs

7 Affordable Landscaping Tips

Materials Needed (All optional…tools mentioned in blog post):

• Leaf Blower
• Trimmer/Edger
• Pruning Shears
• Miracle Grow
• Tool Set
• Mud Gloves
• Roo Apron
• Watering Can

My post on 7 Affordable Landscaping Tips came at just the right time as everyone was out about in the Spring weather making their yards look all nice and fancy! 🙂 I feel like I am constantly doing something in my back yard during the Spring/Summer months. There is just something about taking in that clean fresh air. If you’re looking for some small ways to make a huge impact in your yard this summer try out some of my affordable landscaping tips and use that green thumb!

7 Affordable Landscaping Tips

Install DIY Shiplap: The Easy Way

Materials Needed:

• Miter saw
• Table saw
• Jigsaw
• 1/4 inch plywood underlayment
• Stud finder
• Level
• Measuring Tape
• Brad Nailer
• 2 inch finish nails
• Palm Sander
• Paint
  • In your color of choice. I used SW Alabaster
• Spacers
  • I would recommend using quarters or popsicle sticks as spacers
• Caulk
• 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch quarter trim (inside corners)
• 1 1/8 inch outside corner molding (for outside corners)
• 1×3 hobby boards (if you decide to go only go 1/2 way up wall like I did, for shelf)

Installing DIY shiplap has so far been my favorite home project I have completed! I knocked this project out over a weekend and completed it all by myself…so if I can do it, it can be done! I added the shiplap in my entryway and it’s been a struggle to keep myself from putting this stuff all over the house! I have a step-by-step guide to installing DIY shiplap the easy way on the full post so be sure to check it out. If shiplap has been something on your to-do list you should definitely give it a try, it has made a huge impact on my entryway by making it more inviting and cozy. To see the tutorial click the link or picture below.

Install DIY Shiplap: The Easy Way

How to Choose the Perfect Curtains

I’ve been talking a lot about DIY projects and sharing some of my favorite DIY projects to make a huge impact in your home, but let’s not forget the home decor. We spoke about beautiful rugs and how they can make an impact, now lets move to curtains. Curtains and window treatments can be hard to pick out and you make not even realize how much of a difference they can make for a space until you find the perfect ones. There is a lot to think about when choosing the perfect curtains for your home and there’s also a few dos and don’ts when it comes to choosing and hanging curtains. I recently went through the process of searching the internet and picking out curtains for my kitchen and in the process I  made a quick dos and don’ts guide you can use when picking out the perfect curtains. Be sure to click over and check it out and if you like it, save it for reference later!

How to Choose the Perfect Curtains

4 Easy Steps for a Clutter Free Space

I ended the series with a really important one…at least in my book! When I was thinking of other projects to include in the series there were many options that came to mind, but then it hit me – a clutter free home! Nothing is better than your home feeling clutter free! This is the one that is always a work in progress for me, but it’s also the one that makes me feel the best. In the last post I shared my easy steps for a clutter free space and also included a fun free printable as well! Again, this is an area where I am far from perfect, but I have found a few systems along the way that seem to work for me and I wanted to share them with you. Click the picture below to see the tips!

4 Easy Steps for a Clutter Free Space

Hopefully you have found some of these projects encouraging! These were some of my favorite projects that really did make a huge impact on my new home and the best part is the are cost effective and quick! Be sure to check them all out and I would love to hear what you think!

What’s your favorite way to quickly and easily update your home?

Here are all the posts in the series again! Be sure to check them all out and if you like them pin them for later!

The Beginner’s Guide to Painting (Week 1)

How to Stain a Door the Easy Way (Week 2)

Updating Door Hardware (Week 3)

Beautiful Area Rugs (Week 4)

7 Affordable Landscaping Tips (Week 5)

Install DIY Shiplap: The Easy Way (Week 6)

How to Choose the Perfect Curtains (Week 7)

4 Easy Steps for a Clutter Free Space (Week 8)

This post contained affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

Be sure to PIN for later!