Whether you are moving into a new house or you feel yours is overdue for a refresh, here is a breakdown of 5 easy to tackle DIY projects that will instantly make your home feel updated and fresh.

Update Door Hardware
The first thing I did when we moved into our home was to get rid of the outdated door hardware. I was so anxious to get rid of it that I removed it before I had even purchased replacements. Friends and family came to our house for my husband’s birthday a couple of weeks into the move and we didn’t have any hardware at all.

I love a brass or gold tone knob and wanted a square back plate to give more substance to the hardware, but these can get really expensive. After countless hours searching on the internet, I found the perfect shape in a satin brass in the Yale Expressions Marcel Rosette w/ Dylan Knob.

Note that there are small mom and pop hardware stores around the U.S. that have an online storefront and sell brandname hardware for a fraction of what you can find at big retailers or Amazon. I found mine from Cape Cod Brass & More.

Swap Old Outlet & Switch Plates
This is one of the easiest DIYs you can do that make a big impact. Swap out the old beat up white plastic covers on both your switches and outlets for brass or gold plates. For a bigger impact, you can change out the receptacles too but this will involve electrical work.

I’ve provided an overview of my favorites after hours of online searching in an earlier post here.

Get Rid of the Boob Lights
Boob lights will no doubt date your home. Replacing these with recessed lights or a flush mount will provide an instant upgrade. I used the Halo Canless Ultra-thin Recessed Lights. These don’t require a J-box installation so you can install anywhere so long as you connect to the wiring in your ceiling.

If you are feeling more adventurous, upgrading all of your lighting and fans also makes a huge impact.

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Ditch the White Blinds
There are so many affordable window treatments available that instantly change the aesthetic of a room. Because of decision paralysis, I waited far too long but was so happy when I finally swapped my blinds out for woven bamboo shades a month ago.

I purchased mine from Two Pages Curtains, which you can buy directly through their storefront or via Amazon. I selected the Ramie Shade in Wall White.

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Don’t Be Shy of Paint!
There’s a multitude of paint projects that can fit any budget. A new coat of paint will dramatically update a home. I’ve lived through a whole house paint job and then had our new house painted before moving in.

Small spaces can also make a big impact and give definition to a room as shown below when I painted a panel wall in the hallway to my garage. Here I used Benjamin Moore Plymouth Rock.

Get out the screwdriver and paint brush and get going on these easy to tackle DIY projects. You won’t regret it!