Add These 10 Home Updates to Your 2016 To Do List

How to become a DIY King or Queen in Twenty Sixteen!

If you and your home are ready to be your best selves for the New Year, these easy DIY home updates are just what you need. Hometalk bloggers have easy and amazing home updates that can help you get your best home this year. Add a few quick improvement goals to your 2016 resolutions, and finally enjoy having the home you’ve always wanted.

Add an under sink organizer

Kitchen Sink Storage

Image:Thea/Time with Thea

Finally make some order in that wasted under sink space, with a quick trip to your local Dollar Store. Pick up a few plastic baskets and mini sets of drawers, to create this clean, organized, and super practical storage space that will save you the headache the next time you need your cleaning supplies. (Directions here)

Put up customized wall storage

DIY Shelf

Image:Kaysi/Keeping It Simple

Solve your chaotic bathroom countertops with a customizable DIY wall organizer. Whether the clutter is his or hers, you can create the perfect receptacle for anything that’s driving you crazy sitting on your countertop. This quick build will help you quell the clutter from now on. (This is how to do it)

Refresh your kitchen backsplash

DIY Marble Backsplash

Image:Heidi/Honeybear Lane

For a smaller, more budget-friendly way to make a huge impact in your kitchen, replace the backsplash with new tiles, real or fake. Retiling a backsplash is easier than you might think, and it will make your kitchen look and feel brand new without a big reno project. (Get the how-to here)

Give boring closet doors an easy update with paint

DIY Closet Doors

Image:Gemma/The Sweetest Digs

Add a quick flash of pizzazz to boring bedrooms or tired spaces, by making flat closet doors look elegant and expensive. Just use paint and painter’s tape to give your door fake trim and get a major update on the cheap. (Here’s how to do it)

Make your own elegant curtains for $5

Curtains

Image:Emily/The Wicker House

Upgrade your windows by adding ultra-elegant long curtains for just $5! The trick? These billowy beauties are actually bed sheets from Walmart, but they just look so good. Follow this tutorial to make all of your windows magazine-worthy. (Get directions here)

Add more storage to your tiny bathroom

Storage in Bathroom

Image: Kaysi/Keeping It Simple

If you have an unused alcove or even a free bathroom wall, you’ve got a chance to get more storage out of your space. Bathroom storage is truly a high commodity, so it’s a worthwhile improvement, and an easy one, too, if you put up DIY floating shelves or try this easy 2 hour build. (Tutorial here)

Create extra pantry space with a hidden cabinet

Can Storage in Kitchen

Image:Mallory & Savannah/Classy Clutter

This year, say goodbye to not having enough pantry space, because this will double your storage. Create a pull out hidden cabinet that has the perfect amount of space for all of your canned food and spices, and can slide cleanly into place beside your refrigerator. (Building directions here)

Upgrade your lighting on the cheap

Ceiling Fan Farmhouse

Image:Tammy/One More Time

Prettier lighting can change the look and feel of your space, and it’s so easy to do. Here you can get creative – you don’t have to buy something new if you can think outside the box. If you don’t want to replace your fixture altogether, this farmhouse style ceiling fan and light fixture upgrade can make a huge difference, too. (This is how)

Frame out your boring bathroom mirror

driftwood frame

Image:Susan/Living Rich on Less

Turn that unfinished slab of mirror in your bathroom into a high-end stunner, by covering the rough edges in an easy wooden frame. Once you have the pieces of your frame ready, you can stick them straight onto your mirror with outdoor mounting tape – no tools needed! (Here’s directions to do it)

Update your baseboards without major renovation

baseboard installation

Image:Karrah/Mrs. Do It Herself

Give your rooms a more stately appearance, by putting in new baseboards. The best part of this improvement? You can put in new baseboards without removing your old ones! This clever design lets you lay new baseboards right over whatever is there already, so that you can update your look without putting a large dent in your week or your wallet. (Get the how to here)

For more amazing home improvement ideas you can take on in 2016, check out the home improvement page on Hometalk!

Lindsay is the the Director of Media Engagement for Coldwell Banker Real Estate and manages the brand’s media and social media department. She is also a licensed real estate professional. In 2017 & 2018, she was named a top 20 social influencer in the real estate industry in the annual Swanepoel 200 power rankings.

Lindsay lives in Livingston, NJ with her college sweetheart and now husband Joe and rwelcomed another Joe into her life as she became a mom in June 2016.

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3 Comments

  1. Vontreva Gammel
    January 8, 2016

    Thank you for the tips! They are awesome.

    Reply
  2. Karen
    January 9, 2016

    Thank you, Wayne Barnes, for this article. I saw several ideas for 2016 projects!

    Reply
  3. Paula Clark
    January 12, 2016

    Great ideas to increase the value of your home!
    #paulaclarkrealtor

    Reply

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