Article takeaways
- DIY home projects can create significant visual transformations and organizational improvements without breaking the bank.
- The flexibility of doing it yourself lets you work at your own pace, on your own timeline, at any time of day or night.
- DIY projects tend to be skills-friendly, no matter your level of ability. You can readily find a DIY home project suitable for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros.
- Smart DIY home improvement ideas can help you create custom builds like storage benches or shelving units designed for your unique living space, all on a budget.
- You can do more with a modest budget than you may realize. Wood accent walls and bathroom upgrades are popular DIY home projects you can complete for $250 and under.
DIY home projects on a small to mid-range budget can be both profoundly transformative for your living space and personally rewarding for you. Whether you’re tackling a weekend project or embarking on a longer-term small build on a time frame of your choosing, the freedom to customize your design to your exact specifications and preferences means you can create something truly unique. Plus, there’s an extra sense of pride that comes with knowing you did the job yourself.
In this guide, we’ll walk through five popular DIY home projects you can easily build on a mid-range budget: bathroom refreshes, bedroom accent walls, outdoor patio updates, storage benches, and closet organization systems. Each of these projects can be accomplished for between just $150 – $250. These DIY home projects let you create one-of-a-kind builds to beautify and organize your unique home and lifestyle.
As always, remember to keep self-storage in mind should you need to create extra space while you work, or if you find you need additional storage and organizational options.
1. The Budget Bathroom Revamp: DIY Bathroom Upgrades for Just $200
Bathroom restorations don’t have to be expensive, time-consuming renovations that put your lavatory out of commission for the long term. DIY bathroom upgrades are a simple and effective way to quickly brighten up a powder room or master bath, and you can do it yourself over a weekend for less than $200.
Even if you’ve never done a bathroom update on your own before, don’t worry. It takes only a fresh coat of paint or a layer of contact paper, spackling and sanding any damaged spots along the walls, and swapping old, worn-out hardware for new knobs and pulls to make your bathroom look like new. These tips are beginner-friendly, the steps are straightforward, and the results are beautiful and long-lasting.
Skill level:
Beginner friendly
Time commitment:
Two days/one full weekend
Steps to complete your DIY bathroom upgrades
2. DIY Wood Accent Wall Upgrade: Make a Statement Where You Sleep for Less Than $250
Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. If it isn’t, perhaps a refresh is to turn your most personal space into the cozy, comfortable retreat you deserve to enjoy at the end of a long day. A DIY wood accent wall with wood planks is a stunning and budget-friendly DIY home improvement idea you can complete in just a few days.
Wood accent walls are popular DIY home projects because they create stunning architectural features that immediately draw the eye and can completely transform a bedroom. DIY wood accent walls may be installed to highlight a feature in the room, like a window or a fireplace, or just to create a striking visual element in the space. You can also create unique bedroom shelving designs for storage using wood planks in your accent wall. There are a wide variety of types and colors of wood from which you can choose to create a unique, signature look that complements your style as well as your home decor.
Skill level:
Intermediate
Time commitment:
Two days/full weekend
Steps to build your DIY wood accent wall
3. Outdoor Upgrades: DIY Home Improvement Ideas for Your Deck or Patio for $250 or Less
Outdoor spaces rank among the top DIY home projects people undertake to improve their homes. Wood decks fade and degrade over time, often weathering to gray due to UV exposure over time. Concrete patios that once were bright and clean can become dark and discolored from grime and mold. Patio furniture can bleach or break down over time from exposure.
A little cleaning, painting, staining, and replacing can quickly restore your backyard from dilapidated to delightful. Maintaining your outdoor space can prolong the life of finishes, surfaces, and materials to preserve your investment, enhance the curb appeal of your home, and ensure it remains a pleasant space to entertain and relax.
Skill level:
Beginner friendly
Time commitment:
2-3 days
Steps to complete your DIY outdoor patio refresh
4. DIY Home Improvement Ideas for Affordable Storage: Build an Entryway Storage Bench for $200 or Less
DIY entryway storage benches are an easy and attractive DIY home project that creates a custom storage solution suitable for almost any home. Entryway benches provide visitors with an immediate place to sit, and shelves beneath the bench can be used as cubbies to hold shoes for family and guests. Trunk-style benches with hinged lids provide extra storage for blankets, recreational equipment, toys, outdoor pet supplies, coats, bags, and more.
Entryways are high-traffic areas that can become a dumping ground for clothes, shoes, and personal items, and an entryway bench is an optimal furniture choice to help manage the mayhem. If you are short on space or find yourself constantly sorting through clutter, a DIY entryway bench is a versatile, compact and affordable storage and organization option worth consideration. If you’re handy with power tools, it’s also a quick and easy project to complete.
Skill level:
Intermediate to advanced
Time commitment:
8-10 hours
Steps to build your DIY entryway storage bench
5. Build a Custom Closet for Less than $250: DIY Home Improvement Ideas to Keep You Organized
Is your closet a disorganized mess? If so, an inexpensive DIY closet organizer might be just the thing to create a space for everything and help you make sense of the clutter. A well-organized closet saves you time and helps preserve the life of your clothes, shoes and personal items. Readily available wire shelving systems allow you to create a customized closet system that works for the way your organizational style and needs.
Wire shelves can be cut to create a precision fit for any arrangement that will work in your closet. You can build a closet system that lets you store clothes hung full-length, like dresses and pants clipped to hangers at the waist, next to half-length racks of shelves for folded sweaters, shoes and bags. Baskets and bins can nest out of the way atop the highest shelf, or tuck away on the floor under the lowest shelf. The combinations are limited only by the size of your closet and your imagination.
Skill level:
Beginner to intermediate
Time commitment:
6 – 8 hours
Steps to build your DIY closet organizer
Affordable DIY Home Projects: Designs to Fit Your Life and Budget
Home makeovers don’t have to strain your wallet or require strangers traipsing around your property and personal items day in and day out. Our DIY home improvement ideas are designed to help you identify simple DIY home projects you can feel confident taking on yourself. These projects are also typically kinder to your wallet than hiring a pro, while still delivering quality, high-impact results.
When you do it yourself, you choose when and how you work, and you pay only for the supplies you need–there are no costly extra fees that many professional laborers charge for time and transport, in addition to the service they provide. Take on a weekend project on Friday that you finish by Sunday, or start a small build you work on at your own pace. The only deadlines are the ones you create for yourself.
It’s not uncommon when undertaking DIY home improvement projects to discover you need additional organization or more robust storage solutions. If you are considering a self-storage unit to help you keep your home spacious and tidy, our helpful self-storage search tool can help you find the right-sized unit with the right amenities to fit your needs.
Looking for more home DIY projects? Check out our other guides:
