16 Affordable DIY Home Improvement Projects for Utah Homes
2021 is practically here, and it’s time to set some goals for the new year! Getting some do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement projects done is a popular goal to have for Utah homeowners. However, it can be hard to know where to begin and which home projects are actually affordable.
Here at Crystal Clean Vents, we’ve been servicing Utah homes for over twenty years! Our experience has shown us time and time again that the right DIY home improvement projects can really pay off.
16 affordable DIY home improvement projects for Utah homes
Want to know which DIY home improvement tasks you should consider doing in 2021? These are our top tips on affordable home renovation projects for Utah residents this year!
#1 - Replace showerhead(s)
Your bathroom shower heads definitely need replacing every so often. Doing this DIY home improvement task is a smart financial move too. Many newer shower heads are designed to be more energy-efficient than older models, so you don’t use as much water. A decrease in water use means a decrease in your water bill, which we love!
#2 - Pressure wash the exterior of your home
There’s nothing like pressure washing to make your home feel like it’s brand new. We recommend power washing your home’s exterior (walls, sidewalks, driveway, etc.) annually to get rid of deep dirt and grime build-up. After you power wash your home, you may be surprised to see how much dirt was washed away! Plus, power washer rentals are very affordable if you don’t have your own.
#3 - Get new kitchen and bathroom fixtures
If renovating your entire kitchen or bathroom isn’t in your DIY home improvement budget, we recommend starting with new plumbing fixtures. These items are affordable and easy to install. You’ll feel so great having a modern, updated look in your kitchen and/or bathroom!
#4 - Update your patio, deck, and/or garden
Our next DIY home improvement tip is to invest in your Utah home’s patio, deck, and/or garden. Of course, it never hurts to power wash your deck or patio, and you can buy a comfortable porch swing, bench, or outdoor furniture set so you can lounge outdoors. Amazon has full furniture sets for around $400 or less!
Don’t forget to plant, prune, and maintain your garden, too! Not only is it a beautiful addition to your home, but can also be a functional, cost-saving one if you plant some fruits and vegetables.
#5 - Clean upholstery
Over normal use and wear and tear, your home’s upholstery naturally collects dust and gets dirty. Every so often, you should deep clean it. If you don’t clean it, you may start to notice a smelly stench in your home. Luckily, there are upholstery deodorizing sprays and other spot cleaning tools that are great to use for cleaning upholstery. You can also use a carpet cleaner on most upholstery to really clean it well.
If you clean your upholstery and notice that the bad smell still doesn’t go away, you may want to explore some other deodorizing options.
#6 - Clean up clutter/organize
This is not the most glamorous DIY home improvement project, but it is very necessary: don’t forget to clean up clutter throughout your home and organize! Those drawers, closets, boxes (and so on) you’ve been avoiding? Now’s the time to deal with them! Clutter and disorganization are the main places that dust and other tiny particles can collect, the longer these particles collect, the more they pollute the air quality in your home.
#7 - Paint your cabinets
Another simple DIY home improvement project that can have a significant impact on your home’s look is painting your cabinets. A fresh coat of paint really does wonders! In fact, it can change the entire appearance of your kitchen. White is a popular cabinet paint color choice, but other neutral tones work great, too. Additionally, chalkboard paint is a fun accent to add to one or two cabinets in your kitchen. Who doesn’t love the idea of being able to write directly on your walls/cabinets?!
#8 - DIY backsplash
Want a great backsplash for your kitchen but don’t want to have to pay a professional to install it? Don’t worry, you don’t have to! We recommend Peel and Stick backsplashes for your kitchen. Not only are they super easy to put on your walls by yourself, but they’re also very affordable, too!
#9 - Mini bathroom renovation
Renovating an entire room can definitely be daunting and expensive. So, start with one or two DIY home improvement projects at a time and work slowly from there. For example, in your bathroom, start by replacing your mirror(s) and/or building a frame to go around each mirror. Then, eventually, you can also replace sink and faucet fixtures, cabinets, and add other storage space, too. Replacing your countertops is always a great choice as well. The key is not to take on too much at once, but to space it out over time.
#10 - Create an accent wall with wallpaper
We love seeing people add some pizzazz to a room by creating an accent wall with a fun wallpaper. You should plan to leave three out of four walls a plain, solid paint color, and then have one wall that is covered with a pattern or textured wallpaper. Doing this will liven up any room in your home!
#11 - Touch up or re-paint your trim and baseboards
Baseboards and trim are both parts that can easily get scuffed or dinged from normal day-to-day life. This is where our next DIY home improvement tip comes in…
Cleaning these your trim and baseboards and then re-painting them will help give your home a fresh, polished look. You can also choose a unique paint color for your trim and baseboards that complements the wall color or some other theme in the specific room you’re working on. This is a neat way to add a little extra personality and design to your home.
#12 - Make your laundry room functional
Laundry rooms tend to be one of those areas in your house that’s easy to let go. Unfortunately, this means that laundry rooms tend to be cluttered and dirty. Or, maybe you never really put much thought into organizing or designing this room in the first place. That’s totally common and normal. However, investing in deep cleaning your laundry room, organizing it, and maybe even adding a fresh coat of paint, a new rug, new blinds, etc. is so worth it. You may also want to purchase some shelving and storage bins to make the area extra organized. These DIY home improvement steps will make your laundry room so much more functional, so you don’t absolutely hate being in there while you do your laundry.
#13 - Fix up your front entry area
The front entry area of your home is another place that’s great for affordable DIY home improvement projects. Adding little touches like new house numbers, a fresh door color, a new door handle, an updated mailbox, and other fun decorative accents can be a much needed facelift for your home.
#14 - Replace light fixtures and ceiling fans
Another one of our top DIY home improvement recommendations is to replace light fixtures and ceiling fans. These items tend to not be replaced often and can end up looking very outdated. Plus, like with most household items, the longer you use them, the more wear and tear they have. After you replace a light fixture, you may notice that you love the lighting in that room so much more, because light shines through the new fixture so differently. Or, you may notice that your new ceiling fans cool off your home way better than your old ones did. Little things like this make all the difference!
#15 - Update your stairs
Does your home have carpeted stairs? If so, there’s a great chance that underneath that carpet is gorgeous hardwood flooring that could be displayed on its own! Removing carpet actually isn’t that difficult, and it will definitely save you money to take it out yourself. Then, it’s time to sand and polish that hardwood. Ta-da! With this DIY home improvement project, you now have classic, beautiful wood stairs in your home. (You technically could even paint the wood stairs a good neutral color like black or white if you want.)
#16 - Get a new return air grille
You know those vent openings throughout your home that lead to actual vents and ductwork behind the walls of your home? Those vent opens are called grilles, and they need to be replaced periodically to make sure they are working properly. You can even get some in different patterns if you want to add a little extra style to them.
If you notice your old grilles seem extremely dirty when you take them out, you may want to consider having your home's air ducts professionally cleaned. A dirty grille is a sign that all the ductwork in your home is clogged and in need of cleaning. Contact Crystal Clean Vents if you think your home’s vents may need to be cleaned.
Which DIY home improvement projects will you start with?
So, which one of these DIY home improvement projects are you going to start with? You really can’t go wrong with any of them. They will all add value to your home and make your house that much more enjoyable to live in. So, just know that no matter which projects you take on, the results will be great!