25 Quick and Easy DIY Home Improvements

Have a free weekend and you’re not sure how to fill the time? Consider using those hours to work your way through a honey-do list of simple DIYs you can complete in short order. These easy upgrades and home maintenance tasks may be small in size and budget, but they can have a huge impact on your home's performance and aesthetics.

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If you thought the only time to replace your weatherstripping was right before winter to keep out frosty drafts, think again. It's also vital to check and replace worn weatherstripping before summer arrives. With those gaps sealed up, your rooms will be more comfortable, you’ll save on air conditioning costs, and you'll keep unwanted bugs from sneaking in.

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If your window well fills with water every time it rains, install a water-shedding window well cover to keep out the downpour and reduce the risk of leaks in your basement. This applies to both standard basement windows and egress window wells. (Although egress window wells are typically designed to channel water to your home's drain-tile system, over time the pipes can become clogged.) By installing window well covers, you’ll protect your basement from water and you’ll also keep out leaves, debris, and the occasional toad that hops in by accident.

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Water and foundations don't mix. When water pools around the foundation, say, from roof and gutter runoff, it can seep downward and leak through basement walls. Saturation causes some types of soil to swell, putting unwanted lateral pressure on foundation walls and increasing the risk of cracking. To minimize the amount of water that collects around your home, consider adding downspout extensions. They are simple to install and will direct rain runoff away from your foundation where it won't cause structural problems.

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It happens to many unlucky homeowners every year: They forget to shut off the water supply to an exterior faucet before freezing weather arrives, resulting in pipe breakage and costly water damage repairs. All of that grief can be avoided by switching out standard exterior faucets for frost-free models that feature shut-off valves inside the house, where they’re less likely to freeze.

RELATED: 15 Cheap Home Repairs That Could Save You Thousands

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They might look pretty, but branches from shrubs and bushes planted close to your home can scrape and damage valuable siding when the wind blows. Even your prized rosebush can cause abrasion damage to some types of siding in windy conditions. Check bushes and shrubs frequently during their growing season, and prune back any branches that come within a foot of your siding.

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A clogged sewer is messy and smelly, and can result in pricey plumber's fees to repair. Protect your sewer, and your wallet, by using a main line sewer cleaning product (available from DIY stores) two or three times a year. The product works overnight to clear away any residue that's beginning to settle in the lines, thereby protecting your home's plumbing pipes from costly clogs.

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Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs not only draw minimal energy, they last much longer than incandescent bulbs. Recent improvements in the color of the light emitted by LEDs makes them suitable for every room in the house. Blue-tone LEDs are great in the home office, while warm-tone LEDs, which flatter skin tone, are a better choice for the light fixture over the bathroom vanity.

RELATED: 8 Common Lighting Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

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After the furnace has been switched on for a month or two, filters can clog with dust, making your home heating system less effective and making the air you breathe less fresh than it should be. Clogged furnace filters reduce airflow to the furnace, forcing its motor to work harder. A good rule is to replace the filters at the start of every new season to keep both indoor air quality—and your furnace—in top shape.

RELATED: The Best Furnace Filters of 2022

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Not only are cracks in sidewalks and patios unsightly, they allow water to seep into the soil below the concrete. When the temperature drops, that trapped water can freeze and expand, pushing upward against the concrete and causing further damage. Protect your sidewalks by clearing debris from the cracks and then filling them with exterior concrete urethane caulk. Choose a gray-color sealant to closely match your existing concrete.

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If you still have a manual thermostat, you’re wasting energy, and your home probably isn't as comfortable as it could be. Smart thermostats use your home's Wi-Fi to allow you to adjust the temperature from anywhere, using your smartphone. A smart thermostat can also "learn" your preferred temperature preferences for every day of the week and adjust your home temperature to suit. Quit wasting energy and get smart about your comfort!

RELATED: 6 Things to Know Before Switching to a Smart Thermostat

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You don't need to paint your whole house to give your home's exterior a fresh look. Upgrade a dated front door knob by replacing it with a substantial lockset and handle. Add a fresh coat of high-quality exterior paint to a faded entry door, and position a couple of large flowerpots on either side of the door for a brighter look. Replace a rusty mailbox or outdated porch lights with new models to increase your home's wow appeal. Your guests and neighbors will notice the difference.

RELATED: Welcome Home: 11 Fresh Ways to Spruce Up Your Front Door

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Enhance your room's decor and increase your comfort by replacing a plain ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and light combo. A ceiling fan provides gentle, welcoming breezes on hot summer days and helps recirculate the heated air that settles near the ceiling during cold-weather months. Winter or summer, you’ll be more comfortable, and you’ll save on cooling and heating costs.

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Bright lighting is nice when you’re preparing food, but it can be stark and annoying when you’re trying to relax and unwind after a long day at work. The solution? Install dimmer switches in place of your regular on-off light switches. This will let you adjust the light to exactly the right level of brightness and save energy at the same time. Just be sure to pair your new upgrade with dimmable light bulbs.

Related: 8 Bright Ideas to Boost Natural Light

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This quick task takes very little time—and it's free—but it can prevent costly valve replacement down the road. Over time, water valves, those little on-off regulators found under your sinks and behind the commode, can seize up due to scale buildup. Twice a year, twist the valves closed and back open. That's all it takes for your valves to remain operable and functional.

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Tiny pebbles, debris, and hard water deposits can clog faucet aerators, leaving you with slow-running water. Twice a year, or more frequently if the water is running slowly, twist off the aerators (located on the ends of the spigots, sometimes tucked just inside the opening) and drop them into a small container filled with vinegar. Let them soak overnight to dissolve scale, then replace them to keep your water running effectively.

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Have you noticed that your dishes aren't getting as clean as they once did? Few people know that most dishwashers these days have a filter that should be removed and cleaned a couple of times a year. When the dishwasher filter becomes clogged, it prevents water from reaching the spray arms, which are responsible for cleaning the upper rack. Remove the lower rack, then pull out the filter, clean it in the sink, and return it to its position.

RELATED: Solved! What to Do When Your Dishwasher Isn't Cleaning

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Constantly opening and closing interior doors can eventually cause the door knobs to become loose and jiggly. The more they loosen, the harder it is to get them to close and latch properly. For newer homes the fix is easy: Simply tighten the exposed screws on the room side of the door. If you have an older home, however, the knobs may have hidden screws. Just press a small screwdriver or awl into the hole on the neck of the knob to release it, then remove the escutcheon plate to access the screws.

RELATED: The Best Door Handles and Knobs of 2022

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Notice a draft coming in below the front door? The fix is much easier than you might think. The solution lies in the large screwheads on the door threshold, which, you may be surprised to learn, aren't there to secure the threshold to the floor. Turning them adjusts the height of the threshold, allowing you to close any gaps that may be allowing Old Man Winter to creep in under the door. It's an easy fix that can save you money on your utility bill.

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The walls in the high-traffic areas of your home endure all manner of bumps and scrapes throughout the year, making these parts of your house look tired and dingy. Unless the paint is very old, there's no need to embark on a full repainting effort. Simply take out a small container of matching paint and spend 30 minutes touching up all those imperfections. The time commitment and effort are minimal, but the impact is significant. To make periodic touch-ups more convenient, leave a small bottle of touch-up paint and a paint brush handy in the back of a nearby closet.

RELATED: 17 Easy Fixes for a Botched Paint Job

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Say goodbye to the familiar "boob" lights that, for some reason or other, have long been the standard for overhead lighting in entryways and hallways. You can easily replace that dated fixture with a more trendy and stylish design. While some tasks involving your home's electrical should be left to an electrician, changing out a light fixture isn't one of them. The job is not complicated, requiring just three wire connections, and it can usually be completed with nothing more than a Phillips screwdriver.

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Jazz up your kitchen by trading out boring cabinet hardware for fresh knobs and pulls. This strategy works especially well on white cabinets, which offer the best canvas for new pulls and knobs that add a noticeable pop of color. Golden finishes can add a luxurious touch, while matte black creates a classy appearance. Make sure to measure the width of your pulls and choose replacements that match the size.

RELATED: Cabinet Hardware: 10 Styles to Invigorate Your Kitchen

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Replacing the shower head can convert a blah bath into a spa-like retreat. This easy upgrade takes fewer than 5 minutes and requires only a simple crescent wrench and some plumber's tape. Just unscrew the old shower head, apply the tape to the threads of the new one, and screw it in place. To truly pamper yourself, opt for a rain shower head with an extension arm.

RELATED: 21 Ways to Create a Spa Bath at Home

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Over time, the caulk that creates a waterproof barrier in the seams between your tub or sink and the surrounding wall will stretch, crack, and ultimately pull apart. If you notice caulk peeling away or a buildup of mildew, it's time to recaulk. While you’re at it, check the tile on the floor and in the bath. If there are places where the grout has fallen away, creating a gap, mix a small amount of grout and fill the spaces. Not only does caulking and regrouting protect the bathroom walls from rot, it also freshens up the space, making it look cleaner and newer.

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Brighten up your counter space with affordable under-cabinet lighting. LED puck lighting is cheap, installs easily, and produces a lot of light, illuminating food prep space while adding a warm glow to the kitchen counters. Most under-cabinet lighting sets plug into a standard outlet, eliminating the need for wiring.

RELATED: Top Tips for Adding Under-Cabinet Lighting to Your Kitchen

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Periodically cleaning the dryer vent is something everyone should do regularly, but most people put it off. Given that 3,000 dryer fires occur in the United States each year as a result of built-up lint in the dryer vent system, this is a job that should be higher on the house maintenance priority list. If you notice that your clothes aren't drying properly or find that there's no exhaust air coming out of the outside vent, you probably have a dangerous clog. To clean the dryer vent, simply disconnect the duct from the dryer and vacuum both out.

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If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!