5 Tips for Easy DIY Home Makeovers

Saws, sanders, smelly paint remover and exposed wires, flooded bathrooms and messy wallpaper paste that only sticks to fingers and floors. If this is the stuff that DIY projects are made of, call a pro and wake me when it's over.

This is the image many people have of DIY projects, according to Paula Berberian, Creative Director of Brewster Home Fashions, and, it's a very dated one. "Many DIY projects are quite simple, cost-effective and easily completed with minimal tools and a small investment in parts and materials," Berberian notes. Given the price of professional repairs and services, and the new ease of completing a wide range of home improvement projects, it makes sense to take advantage of the advice available on the Internet and the many easy-to-install products on the market.

"Consumers can install bathroom fixtures, update light fixtures, restore a piece of furniture, create a striking kitchen backsplash, and use wallpaper in many innovative ways," Berberian advises.

'Reclaimed Chic' is also a rising trend with staying power, using old wood, bricks, iron, and other metals in creative new ways and keeping these materials out of landfills. "By doing it yourself, you can create truly unique items that fit beautifully with today's eclectic d�cor," Berberian says. She offers the following tips for sustainable, cost-effective home improvement projects.

Hang New Wallpaper
"Nothing transforms a space like wallpaper," she says, noting that today's wall coverings are a far cry from grandmother's faded flowers and timid designs. "Brewster offers an incredible array of styles, colors, materials textures and designs," Berberian says. And, they are easier than ever to install, bringing a dramatic, vibrant new look to any room.

Since a professional wallpaper installer charges upwards of $25 per roll of wallpaper to be hung, it is well worth investing the time to do it yourself. Hanging wallpaper takes only a few tools such as a knife, brush, paste and a bucket of water.

Install a New Showerhead
A sustainable, low-flow showerhead can cut water consumption and realize substantial energy savings by using less hot water. Showerheads made before 1992 can be huge water guzzlers and some of the early low flow models did not offer sufficient shower power.

Thanks to new technology, today's showerheads offer a luxurious experience while reducing consumption, carbon footprints and energy costs. Installation is easy - all you need is an adjustable wrench, slip joint pliers and plumbers' tape. Instructions and videos are available online. A new showerhead will quickly pay for itself, especially if you do the installation.

Update Your Lighting
A new light fixture can change the entire aesthetic of a room but lamps and chandeliers are among the most expensive of home accessories. Many marvelous lamps can be found right in your own attic and at flea markets, thrift stores and antique shops. Usually these require new cords, plugs and sockets that will accommodate newer light bulbs or LED lights. (Note that lamps that need rewiring but are on display in your home should be left unplugged until repairs can be made.) You can even upcycle a flea market find into a unique lamp using an array of items - ceramics, pottery, vases, mason jars, sculpture, candlesticks and industrial parts.

Professional help may be needed for tasks that require special tools, such as those used for drilling holes in ceramics. On average, constructing a lamp costs around $100. However, using care and following all safety instructions, it is possible to install a light fixture and rewire a lamp for minimal cost.

The Internet and various hardware stores offer instructions, kits, fixtures and dimmers at reasonable prices. The process takes time and patience but a lamp can be rewired for about $15. Tools needed are a wire cutter, wrench and screwdrivers. Be sure to unplug lamps, remove bulbs and shut off power at the source while working on any lighting project and follow all instructions to the letter.

Restore a Piece of Furniture
Transforming old furniture can be creatively rewarding and economical. But before hauling that dresser off the curb or back from a yard sale, make sure it is worth the time and effort it will take to restore its former glory. First, determine the age of the piece. Furniture manufactured before 1950 is usually better made with higher quality materials. Does it need repairs or new parts? Will you be able to make those repairs and easily find a matching leg or fixture? Do you have the time, tools and patience to clean and refinish? Slats, carvings or filigree require more effort. What kind of paint, stain or sealers will you need?

If you think the item is an antique, get an appraisal and determine if redoing it will add or detract from its value. Despite these caveats, doing your own restoration can result in major savings. Professional restorers charge $200-$300 to restore a simple dining chair and $800-$1200 for a chest of drawers.

Create a Kitchen Backsplash
Tile backsplashes are expensive and time consuming to install. Peel-and-stick tile is much cheaper, easier to mount and remove than traditional tile: a perfect solution for apartment dwellers. These are best for smooth, flat surfaces and change the appearance of a kitchen in minutes. Prices for peel-and-stick tile starts around $20, compared to $900 for 129 square feet of basic tile. Professional installers charge from $400 - $1,100.
Peel and stick tiles can bring new style and elegance to any kitchen.

Since 1954, Brewster Home Fashions has been a prominent manufacturer and distributor of fine wallpapers and home decor products for residential and commercial markets.