Easy DIY Home Projects to Improve Your Space

When it comes to do-it-yourself (DIY) home projects, “easy” can be a tricky word to define. If you have a crafty background or a few home improvement skills and tools, what’s easy for you may not be easy for someone else, and vice versa. And sometimes, “easy” doesn’t necessarily mean “fast.”

On the plus side, if you have two or three sets of hands doing the work, then a more in-depth and complicated project may be quite doable. So take a look at these “easy” DIY home projects to see which ones strikes your fancy, and then decide whether it’s a one-person job or one where teamwork matters.

Streamline and Organize Clutter

The practical reasons for streamlining and organizing a home are evident and decluttering also has significant psychological benefits. In fact, Psychology Today shared results of a study that reveals “how clutter compromises an individual’s perception of home, and ultimately feelings of satisfaction with life.” Clutter can prevent your home from fully being your retreat where you can recharge and reenergize.

A DIY bookshelf is a great place to start. Minimizing clutter in your home will free up space, allowing you to take on additional projects that can transform the form and function of an entire room. If you’ve ever wasted precious time looking for something important you’ve misplaced, then you already know the value of organization in your home.
It costs, on average, around $2,300 for built-in bookshelves or cabinets . But if that takes more carpentry know-how than you have, that’s not a problem. Here are our two favorite DIY home projects to attractively display and store books and more:

Floating Bookshelves

This design , which costs about $200 per set of bookshelves, comes with multiple advantages:

•  Because they don’t reach the floor, you can easily clean the floor beneath them.
•  The minimalist design is sleek and clean, with no visible screws.
•  The shelves are strong enough not to bend.
•  You don’t have to bend all the way over to the floor to see your bottom-shelved books.

Secret Door Bookcase

For less than $500, you can create a super-cool secret door bookcase . This bookcase relies on a “unique locking mechanism based on a sliding book, multiple secret compartments inside the bookcase (aside from the big one behind it!), and it’s fitted with electronics that generate some geeky but fun sound and light effects.”

This may be more complicated than the floating bookshelves, but it could be a fun group DIY project. Pop some popcorn, invite over some friends who love old-fashioned mystery movies, and enjoy building this bookcase together.

Unique DIY Home Decor Ideas

If you enjoy creating a home that is uniquely yours, you’ll appreciate these ideas, including how to build your own live edge coffee table . From sourcing the wood, to selecting table legs, DIY-ing this rustic table gives you the opportunity to customize it completely. The cost of this amazing table was only $215 for its makers, and it can become a focal point of the room. Who wouldn’t be impressed by your design expertise?

Here’s another DIY home décor idea to ponder: What about creating texture and patterns on your walls—not by using wallpaper, but by using creative painting techniques?Architectural Digest points out three especially stylish options:

•   Incorporating graphic shapes; see how simply painting a giant circle transforms a wall, and consider using this technique in unexpected places with bright colors.
•   Strié finishes; this term is French for “streaking” and uses the concept of highlights and lowlights to add depth and texture to any room.
•   Painted floors, which add pops of color in a dark space.

If a technique seems too overwhelming to use in an entire a room, focus on using it more sparingly, perhaps by “marbleizing” one eye-catching wall or painting your entranceway floor. Here are tips to create a marble-inspired wall treatment , and here is how to create strié patterns .

Creatively Extend Outdoor Space

When it comes to living space, why stop indoors? If your home allows for it, there are plenty of ways to make creative use of outdoor space to extend your living area. Maybe you’ve decided to build a patio or upgrade an already-existing one to boost your ability to entertain.

If so, look at how you can incorporate a granite fire pit into your design to craft a barbecue-ready patio that you’ll be proud to show off to friends and family alike. There will be some costs associated with prep work, but the main costs are the bluestone pavers at about $9.25 per square foot and salvaged granite blocks with a cost of about $2,000.

It’s hard to beat the beauty and soothing sounds of a cascading waterfall, surrounded by attractive landscaping. But perhaps you don’t have a lot of space in your backyard, or maybe you’re concerned about safety issues associated with a pond. If so, consider a pondless waterfall.

Although a professionally installed one can cost you upwards of $5,000, here is a DIY version that was completed under $1,000 (minus the landscaping). And what about a garden gazebo? Prices range significantly, depending upon the materials you want to use. Home Advisor says a wood gazebo runs around $3,500 to $9,500 on average.

You can find free gazebo plans online, including this Bali-influenced gazebo . In Indonesia, an open pavilion with a raised floor and a roof is called a “bale.” This gazebo keeps some of the unique Balinese style, with wide, flared eaves and an overall uncomplicated design. There is added storage for an air mattress, yoga mats, folding chairs, and more.
Which combination of home upgrades are you going to do first? Are you ready to get started? If so, it’s time to think about the best way to pay for these stunning additions to your home.

Fund Your DIY Home Projects with a Personal Loan from SoFi

No matter how you define the “easy” in your easy DIY home projects, a personal loan from SoFi can help make it all happen. Our low rates and quick approvals can help you get started quickly.

The lower interest rates on a personal loan can make them a good alternative to using high interest credit cards. And, with a personal loan, there are no fees required, and you get to keep your home equity.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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