55+ Easy Weekend DIY Home Projects That Are Budget-Friendly

Maybe you don't want to paint or repaint all of your kitchen cabinets. Adding color to an island is a way to give a fresh look while keeping it a weekend painting project.

Something as simple as changing out your cabinet hardware can make a big impact. Sometimes you may just really need to deep clean your hardware and not even have to replace it.

Other times you may decide to spray paint it. Just make sure that you prep the hardware properly first.

These oak kitchen cabinets were completely updated by changing the surroundings. Adding an awesome backsplash can really modernize your kitchen without having to do much else.

You can easily rent a tile saw or even try peel-and-stick versions this weekend.

Yes, you heard that right. You can even paint your glass tile backsplash for a cleaner look. No need to rip out the old tile and start over. The best part is that this project only takes a few hours with dry time.

Another DIY kitchen idea is to change out light fixtures. Changing light fixtures in any room is a great way to help give a space a quick refresh.

You can find all types of different light fixtures for all sorts of budgets out there. Pick a light fixture that showcases your personality. We still absolutely love this capiz shell chandelier 5+ years later.

White is the classic cabinet color that can really update your space. But don’t be scared to try some of the newer grays or even muted colors that are out there.

If you are on a budget, then painting old cabinets is a sure way to makeover your kitchen space. Turning your old brown cabinets white (or two-toned) is a sure way to brighten your kitchen and make you love this space again.

Painting can always change a space. Different shades of gray can really make a space feel more modern. Adding a fun design can give a whole new feel for only the cost of the paint.

Make sure not to pick a color that is too dark if you have a small bathroom.

You can create your own DIY bathroom shelves or install premade shelves. This is a simple DIY project that anyone can do to help keep yourself more organized and your guests more at home. 

Create your own accessories, like repurposing old jars to store things like q-tips, other toiletries, and things guests might need. There are a lot of different ways you can repurpose items for bathroom shelves.

Okay, by now you realize we love DIY painting projects. Consider updating your vanity this weekend to fit your new trendy style.

You can buy a premade counter and sink to update your painted bathroom vanity cabinets. While this project did require some knowledge of plumbing, it isn't too hard to do.

You can find mirrors with frames that are pretty cheap at places like HomeGoods are even from Target, like this fun-shaped one. And if you are like us, then those builder-grade mirrors are great to put up in a basement for your home gym mirrors (always repurposing around here).

Consider gender-neutral nursery decor but with a pop of color.

Create your own DIY nursery curtains, pillows and mobile. It is cheaper to find a fabric you love and go from there. Sometimes your nursery color inspiration may come from fabric first.

Consider even using items that aren't necessarily meant for bedrooms (think spick racks or gutters) to help store toys and books in kid bedrooms and nurseries.

This project does take a little elbow grease and time but can be done in one weekend. If I can do it while pregnant, you can too! Change the color scheme to fit your needs and space.

DIY doesn't always have to be hard. Finally, organize all those adorable clothes by size with easy cardboard dividers, or spend time making fancier ones. Either way, you will be thankful you took a little time to organize that nursery closet.

Don't shy away from dark paint colors for your bedroom. Adding a dark blue color created a modern feel this primary bedroom was lacking.

How many years have you had the same mattress or pillows? If you can't remember it is probably time you consider purchasing a new one. You don't even have to go to the store. There are numerous different mattresses in boxes that you can get delivered right to your home.

Spoiler Alert: We were nervous about ordering a mattress in a box, but still are super happy with our choice.

Create easy wood closet shelves this weekend. The best part is you can customize these to fit your needs.

Whether with chalk paint or gel stain, you can modernize a dresser to fit your home decor style. Add some new accessories and you will have a completely new look.

Painting an open-concept home with a non-gray color will give an inviting feel while still being pretty neutral.

Adding 9 frames in a square can create a feature wall your guest will love to look at. We know you have a blank wall just waiting to get some love.

Whether you want a picture wall that is all the same frames or a variety of sizes and styles, you can build a gallery wall to fit your style and budget.

After our television was mounted in the corner, we had to come up with a DIY corner shelf for our cable box.

Adding just this one shelf seemed to replace our need for the ugly television stand we had that we were able to sell in buy-sell-trade groups (learn more about buying and selling furniture for DIY projects in our post about the lingo).

Don’t just paint the walls, consider painting molding and trim. This is a total pain, but you will not get over how fresh your house can look with freshly painted molding.

Again, we use this same technique to paint our kitchen cabinets, molding, and fireplace mantel.

Yes, we know some people gasp at the thought of painting woodwork or brick. However, if it isn't your style, paint can be the cheapest way to do a fireplace makeover.

Not sure you want to completely paint the brick? If you don't like the appearance of your brick, but still want some variation you may want to consider whitewashing for a weekend DIY fireplace remodel.

Even this large wall fireplace was done over a few hours.

Spend an hour painting your old lap top case so you don't dread looking at in your home office.

You can have a mixture of professional or children's art on the walls in your office.

Is your office more of a working space? Adding a pegboard can help keep all your supplies readily available.

Do you have a small room as your office? Consider building an l-shaped desk to fully maximize your workspace.

You can build a new DIY desk or upcycle a thrift store find. This teal desk definitely adds a funky feeling to our eclectic office.

Do you love to encourage your little ones to be creative? Or do you have family photos or your own artwork that need to be displayed? Celebrate your family and their amazing creations with these DIY art display ideas in your home office.

Create DIY shadow boxes to not only display art but also store it. These frames were such a smart addition to our DIY craft room.

Instead of throwing out that old filing cabinet, consider remaking it with contact paper, spray paint or chalk paint.

Update your basement ceiling. Those old drop ceiling tiles that you think are white, are actually probably pretty dingy.

The best part is that these vinyl tiles can be cut with scissors and get fit into the grid you probably already have.

Redo any room that is not what you need. This room in our basement has gone from an odd wallpapered office (not our design) to a bedroom to now a kids' craft and playroom.

Paint molding or doors. While we have painted every single piece of molding white upstairs, we knew that our basement didn’t need that. Instead, just picking to paint the white columns and closet doors really brightened the basement.

The basement is the perfect place to add a DIY chalkboard mural for your kids to have fun and be creative.

Transform an old piece of furniture into something completely new. Here you can see how an old entertainment center turned into an awesome dress-up clothes storage idea.

This may not be the most glamorous basement DIY, but taking a few hours to help waterproof may save you a headache in the future.

Add extra shelving to your basement walls to help give everything home this week. Our kids love having easy access to their craft supplies.

Paint stock cabinets and attach them above your washer and dryer. Adding 36” heigh cabinets can give you almost a whole other shelf to store your household projects.

Use brackets or design your own DIY shelving to help keep your laundry room organized.

Do you have extra floor space in your laundry room? Consider building a custom shoe rack out of PVC to help gain back your floor.

Turn an entryway closet into a mud bench or “mudroom”. Adding extra hooks, using baskets and extra shelving will help everyone in your family have a place to put things right when they come in the door.

Create unique large artwork for any room in your home.

Add extra hanging hooks for when clothes need to dry. You can always make your own by adding hooks to a stained piece of wood. 

Before you consider replacing your stair railing and banister, consider painting them in a two-toned look to fit your style.

Easily clean your siding with this eco-friendly homemade cleaner.

Use a similar cleaning method to also clean your composite decking without using a power washer.

Build a DIY playset that your children can love. This can be a smaller playset with a simple rock wall or a huge endeavor that can grow with your children for many years.

Create raised garden boxes or DIY your landscape to be a true oasis. Adding potted plants, gardens and simple landscaping can really enhance your outdoor space.

Want to make these more budget-friendly? Use cedar picket fencing instead of cedar boards.

Make your own outdoor furniture with leftover composite decking (or regular pressure-treated wood). Outdoor furniture can be pretty pricey, and if you are like us, then you love it when you come up with a solution for the leftover materials you already have.

You can create a marble effect on all sorts of home decor items. These terracotta pots were a blast to make and cost under $5 each.

Not quite ready to get those power tools out?

Then go ahead and try to makeover old plastic toys this weekend.

You would be amazed at how much money you can save when you repurpose outdoor toys. In the above link, we go into full detail on how we did this Little Tikes Playhouse makeover.