Weekend DIY Ideas: 7 Easy Ways To Fix Up Your Home In 2 Days ...

Right now, most people's minds are filled with ideas on how to make changes and improvements to ensure that this year is the best one yet. We all make resolutions -- but how many people actually keep them? So instead of making promises about your home that might never happen, use this weekend to make some small and manageable changes. These weekend DIY ideas are simple enough to complete on your own, but make a big impact on your home's comfort and style. And after tackling a few small things, like sealing your windows and making new throw pillows for your living room, you might be encouraged to take on some bigger tasks down the road.

Flip through the slideshow below for 7 great ways to improve your home this weekend.

• Prevent Ice Dams

  When warm air from the attic melts the snow on your roof, the water might run into your gutters and refreeze, forming ice dams. These can cause leaks and even serious damage to your home's ceiling and drywall if not taken care of. To prevent them from forming, first, make sure your gutters are cleaned out. Also, be sure to seal your attic by caulking around any fixtures or switches that might allow warm air to seep through. Make sure your attic is well nsulated and well ventilated so that the temperature difference won't cause snow to melt. For more information, head over to <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/prevent-ice-dams-forming-10453747.html?cat=6">Yahoo!</a>

• Paint An Old Hardwood Floor

  Revive an old hardwood floor by painting a pretty tiled pattern right onto it. Measure and tape off the area you want to paint. Then, roll on the background color. Use a piece of string and the lines in the floor to align a stencil of your choice, and tape down the corners. Paint with a stippling method, moving across the entire floor. Just make sure to realign the stencil when you move on to a new section. Watch the video to see how it's done.

• Frame A Bathroom Mirror

  A decorative trim can turn a plain mirror into a focal point. Paint both the front and back of the trim (the back will be reflected in the mirror). Then, sand the surface, glue the frame together and caulk in between the cracks. Apply another coat of paint. To attach to the wall, apply adhesive paneling and then position and tape each piece into place. Make any adjustments before the adhesive dries. Then, let dry for 24 hours. Re-caulk any crevices and apply touch up paint to add the finishing touches. Visit <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/bathrooms/how-to-frame-a-plate-glass-wall-mirror/page-5.html">HGTV</a> for the step-by-step tutorial.

• Seal Your Basement

  When snow melts around the foundation of your home, you could end up with water leaking into your basement. To prevent this, completely seal your basement. After thoroughly cleaning the walls, repair chips and cracks with a cement filler and then sand down the area. Then, apply the sealant into every corner and crevice. Apply up to two coats if necessary. For the full tutorial, head over to <a href="http://ideas.reliableremodeler.com/Article.aspx?Title=Easy-Steps-to-Sealing-Your-Basement-Walls&ID=2947">Reliable Remodeler</a>.

• Build An Entry Bench

  Reduce clutter in your home by creating a bench to place coats, keys, shoes and any other items when you first walk in the door. To build the basic frame, cut plywood to size. Drill screws to attach each shelf to each side, making sure corners meets at 90 degree angles. Cut and sand the rails. Then, glue them to the shelves. Attach the back with construction adhesive and secure with finish nails. For the project diagram and instructions on how to build in shelving units and drawers, head over to <a href="http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/entry-bench">Lowe's</a>.

• Make New Covers For Throw Pillows

  Creating new pillow cases for throw pillows is a really simple way to change the look of an entire room. Measure and cut your fabric. Turn the fabric inside out and fold over the two ends. Then, sew the top and bottom edges together, leaving the envelope flap open. Turn the pillowcase right-side-out and simply stuff the pillow inside. For the step-by-step tutorial, visit <a href="http://thefrugalhomemaker.com/2012/10/17/diy-easy-envelope-pillow-cover-tutorial-day-17-of-31-days-of-pinterest-pinned-to-done/">The Frugal Homemaker</a>.

• Seal Windows

  If your home seems to be cool no matter how high you crank up the heat, you might need to seal your windows. You can do this by <a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1120083,00.html">installing weatherstripping</a> or simply applying <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/how-to-make-your-home-energy-efficient3.htm">weatherproofing caulk</a> around the edges. Caulking is simple to do, but will seal your windows closed, so make sure to wait until you're sure you won't want to open the windows again for the rest of the season. Visit <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/how-to-make-your-home-energy-efficient3.htm">TLC</a> for help deciding which method is right for you.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/05/weekend-diy-ideas_n_2410123.html

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