Ready to transform an entire room for less than the cost of new paint?
If you ask most homeowners what room transformations entail… They think contractors, demolition crews, and hefty invoices. While that can certainly transform a room… The truth is these rarely provide the best ROI.
Simple weekend projects are where it’s at.
93% of homeowners plan to complete home projects this year. Budgets are tight, but people are getting creative by focusing on easy DIY projects that freshen up rooms.
The best part?
Room transformations can happen right in the span of a weekend. And on a tight budget. From refreshing old furniture with a natural wood oil finish to painting the walls…
Each of these budget DIY projects makes a room look completely different.
Without costing you an arm and a leg.
Sound too good to be true?
Let’s dig in.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why Budget DIY Projects Can Transform Rooms
- Refresh Wood Surfaces With A Natural Oil Finish
- Paint Opens Up A Whole New World of Possibilities
- Open Shelving Is Cheap And Easy
- Don’t Forget The Cabinet Hardware
- How To Create A Statement Accent Wall
Why Budget DIY Projects Can Transform Rooms
Small weekend DIY projects are one of the best investments homeowners can make these days.
Here’s why: Instead of booking contractors for full kitchen and bathroom remodels… Homeowners are tackling easier weekend projects on tighter budgets. Material costs are rising. People aren’t made of money these days. They still want to improve their homes, but they’re focusing on a room at a time.
The bonus?
62% of Americans use DIY projects to save money. That’s right… Most people who undertake weekend DIY projects do it to keep more money in their wallets. Some of the biggest perks of DIY projects:
- Instant gratification — most projects take a day or two to complete
- 100% control — you get to choose what’s installed
- Huge savings — spend hundreds instead of thousands
The key is choosing DIY projects that maximize your dollar for your time and overall impact on the room.
Refresh Wood Surfaces With A Natural Oil Finish
Refreshing old wood surfaces is one of the most underrated weekend projects out there.
Here’s the thing. Old wood furniture, shelves, and countertops can look new with a little elbow grease and the right natural wood oil finish. It enhances the grain. It warms up the wood. Protects the surface. Natural wood oil finishes like Minwax’s Wipe-On Poly are also affordable. And they’re ridiculously easy to apply.
No experience? No problem. All you need to do is:
- Lightly sand down the surface
- Wipe it clean
- Apply the natural wood oil finish of your choice
Products from trusted brands such as RMP Finishes offer natural wood oils that penetrate deep and provide long-lasting protection. Good natural wood oil finishes don’t obscure the natural wood grain. Instead, they enhance it with penetrating oil formulas.
Think about worn wood furniture that looks ready for the garbage. A worn-out coffee table or bookshelf can look amazing with the right oil finish. Something like RMP’s Tea Oil Finish gives wood that rich, hydrated look that everyone loves.
Cost? Less than $30 to refill a medium-sized bottle. Enough to refinish multiple wood surfaces. In just a few hours.
Paint Opens Up A Whole New World of Possibilities
There’s a reason paint is always the first thing professional designers change.
Paint makes a room look completely different. It’s one of the cheapest products you can buy. Takes little time and effort. But provides massive visual impact. Need proof? Watch anything on Netflix where they repaint and decorate rooms. Painting can literally change the feel of a room in less than 24 hours.
If you want to paint like a pro, keep these tips in mind:
- Pick colours that work with your existing furniture and floors
- Apply painter’s tape along the edges for crisp lines
- Apply at least 2 coats. More if you want excellent coverage
Expect to spend less than $100 to paint an entire room yourself. That doesn’t include the cost of roller brushes and paint trays. Once you have those the investment drops to about $50 for materials. Have a professional painter do it and you’ll pay hundreds.
Open Shelving Is Cheap And Easy
This is one thing most people never think about.
Open shelving is an incredible weekend project. It adds storage and serious style to any room. A couple of floating shelves on an empty wall can change the entire dynamic. It works for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens. Heck, bathroom vanities even look great with open shelving.
Follow these tips for foolproof shelves:
- Invest in strong brackets. It’ll save you tons of headaches later
- Keep the shelves made of real wood. Particle board looks cheap
- Space shelves evenly. Don’t crowd them
Price for a set of floating shelves ranges from $30 to $80. You can buy them online and have them delivered right to your door. Give raw wood shelves an added bonus with a natural wood oil finish before hanging them up. It will make all the difference.
Don’t Forget The Cabinet Hardware
Perhaps the easiest DIY project on this entire list.
Swapping out cabinet hardware takes minutes. But can make a world of difference. That dated brassware from the 90’s doesn’t need to stay in your kitchen. Update the hardware. It’ll feel brand new.
Cabinet pulls average between $3 and $10 each. For a typical kitchen you’re looking at $50 to $150 to upgrade the hardware. That’s it! Pull out your screwdriver, grab some new hardware that matches your style (hole spacing needs to be the same), and you’re ready to go. Takes about 30-minutes to do an entire kitchen.
How To Create A Statement Accent Wall
Can’t paint every wall? Preach.
An accent wall is your friend. Find one focal wall in the room and go to town. Paint it a deep colour. Add wood panelling. Go crazy with peel-and-stick wallpaper. It doesn’t matter. An accent wall creates instant depth and becomes the focal point of any room.
Try one of these accent wall ideas:
- Paint the wall behind your bed a deep colour
- Use shiplap/wood slat panels in your living room
- Textured wallpaper in your home office or bedroom
Depending on the route you take, most accent walls cost under $100 to complete. And most can be done in a single afternoon.
Conclusion
Weekend DIY projects are where it’s at these days. To recap:
- Refinish furniture or old shelving with natural wood oil
- Paint walls to give them a fresh new look
- Add open shelving for more storage
- Update your cabinets by swapping out old hardware
- Create a statement accent wall that commands attention
Choose one or two. Roll up your sleeves this weekend. And completely transform a room yourself. Big wins. Minimal investment. You’ve got nothing to lose.
