Are you looking for practical ways to upgrade your home on a budget?
Weekend home upgrades are some of the best investments homeowners can make. Depending on the job at hand, most projects can be finished within two days without breaking the bank.
Here’s the thing…
Many homeowners believe the best upgrades cost thousands and take weeks of mess and disruption. It’s simply not true. Believe it or not, some of the biggest home improvements can be achieved over a single weekend.
Let’s take a closer look at seven upgrades you can begin DIY-ing this weekend.
What You’ll Learn
- Why Weekend Home Upgrades Are So Beneficial
- Electrical Upgrades That Make Your House Feel Like A Home
- Easy Weekend Bathroom Upgrades
- Weekend Kitchen Upgrades
- Weekend Projects In The Great Outdoors
Why Weekend Home Upgrades Are So Beneficial
Home improvements are becoming more and more popular.
Data from CivicScience reports that 62% of homeowners across America say they plan on renovating their house in some capacity over the next year. That number is significantly higher than it was in 2023 which saw 48% wanting to upgrade their living space.
What’s more?
Most homeowners don’t have to hire contractors or handypersons. Painting walls, installing light fixtures and fitting new smart home devices are just some of the upgrades that take little to no time at all.
If you can wait a weekend for them to dry/cure, that is.
But there are some upgrades where calling in the professionals is 100% worth the money and effort.
Electrical Upgrades That Make Your House Feel Like A Home
Electrical work is one of those areas where DIYing can be more dangerous than useful.
Old sockets, lack of powerpoints and inadequate lighting are annoying. But hiring an electrician to upgrade your switches, sockets and light fittings can make an old house feel brand new.
An experienced socket installation electrician will be able to review your current setup and identify where extra powerpoints will benefit you and your family most.
Installing new sockets will remove the need for ugly power boards and continually plugging and unplugging appliances.
Other inexpensive electrical upgrades include:
- USB charging sockets in bedrooms and kitchens
- Installing dimmer switches for ambiance
- Upgrading old two pin sockets to safety sockets
- Installing outdoor weatherproof powerpoints
If you’re concerned about old or damaged sockets in your home, it doesn’t hurt to find out how much it costs to replace plug socket units. You can then budget for the upgrade accordingly. Most electricians will change an old powerpoint for a new one in less than 1 hour.
Did You Know? Faulty electrical appliances and sockets account for an estimated 70 fatalities and 350,000 injuries every year in the UK alone. Don’t chance it. Always hire professionals for electrical work in your home.
Easy Weekend Bathroom Upgrades
A bathroom is a favourite for weekend upgrades.
Unlike say kitchen renovations; bathroom renovations are highly visual. Swapping out dated taps, accessories and refilling silicone seals can make a seemingly aged bathroom feel entirely new.
Some examples of quick bathroom wins include;
- Upgrading your shower head to a rainfall style or high-pressure spray
- Replacing an old mirror with something modern that includes built-in lighting
- Installing floating shelves for extra storage
- Changing cabinet handles and towel rails to modernize the space
One thing most people tend to forget…
Lighting is important in bathrooms more than in any other room in the house. Without bright, warm lights, bathrooms can often feel dark and small. Upgrading lighting; specifically around mirrors can make washing yourself feel like a luxurious spa experience.
Again, lots of these bathroom upgrades don’t require many tools and can be completed in a couple of hours.
See also: Soundbars: Transform Your Home Audio Experience
Weekend Kitchen Upgrades
The kitchen is the heart of every home.
This is why simple kitchen improvements can have such a significant impact on your home. Quick weekend kitchen upgrades include;
- Painting (or repainting) kitchen cabinet doors
- Changing outdated cabinet handles to brushed nickel or matte black
- Installing under cabinet LED strip lights
- Adding a small tile backsplash behind the cooktop
One of our favourite kitchen upgrades isn’t strictly kitchen-related. By adding more powerpoints around kitchen benches and the backsplash, you’ll never find yourself struggling for sockets again.
Everyone has appliances; toaster, coffee machines, air fryers. As great as these appliances are; they all require plugging in somewhere.
HELP OUT YOURSELF by hiring an electrician to add more powerpoints where they’re needed most. Not only will meal prepping be far easier, but your kitchen will look far more polished than if you use power boards and adapters.
Weekend Projects In The Great Outdoors
Do you have a backyard? An outdoor area? Regardless of how big or small, we recommend checking it out.
Outdoor upgrades are commonly missed when it comes to home improvement. People get caught up in renovating rooms they spend the majority of their time indoors.
Not only will upgrading your outdoor areas give you more living space, but it also improves the kerb appeal of your home. Best of all? Outside projects are perfect for weekend warriors.
Ideas for quick outdoor upgrades include;
- Power washing patios, driveways, and fencing
- Installing solar-powered lights along pathways
- Adding a new letterbox and house numbers
- Creating a small seating area with budget-friendly furniture
Here at DIY Doctor, we love outdoor electrical upgrades.
By installing weatherproof sockets in your garden, you can now use electric tools; charge devices and even plug in an outdoor speaker system without risk of electrocuting yourself. Ideal if you love outdoor BBQ’s and entertaining.
Don’t try this at home. All outdoor electrical work must comply with very strict safety standards. Be sure to hire a registered electrician for any work near water.
Plan Every Weekend Project Like A Pro
Ever started a DIY project you later found you didn’t have the tools or materials for?
It’s annoying. Then try having half-finished improvements lying around your home for weeks.
Weekend upgrades are called “weekend” for a reason. Take your time to plan and prepare.
Use these tips to start every project:
→ Make a materials and tools list
→ Search for online tutorials if you aren’t sure how to do something
→ Be realistic with time estimates
→ Know when to call a professional
Electrical upgrades, plumbing works and structural alterations should always be handled by qualified tradesmen. Cutting costs in these areas can end up costing you much more in the long run.
Other than that, go crazy.
Weekend home improvements are a great way to increase the value of your home. Not to mention build confidence in your DIY abilities.
Wrap Up
Simple weekend home upgrades can have a massive impact on the overall feel, function, and value of your home.
Whether you decide to upgrade your lights, sockets and switches or repaint kitchen cabinets and shower heads; choosing one weekend project and finishing it correctly is better than jumping between five house renovations and never finishing them.
