5 Weekend Redecorating Projects for Fall

Fall is the perfect time of year to set aside a few weekends in order to focus on redecorating your home. According to a new report from Liberty Mutual Insurance, Americans often tackle fall home maintenance as DIY projects, with 78-percent tackling the tasks on their own. While it’s important to prepare the exterior of your home and yard, there are also indoor projects that can help prepare for the changing of seasons, add value to your home, and even help stage your home for potential buyers if that’s a priority.

Home upgrades don’t need to break the bank, and sometimes even smaller projects can freshen up the rooms that you use most, like your kitchen or living room. As you spend more time indoors with friends and family, a living space that inspires comfort and peace of mind can make all the difference.

Here are some of my favorite weekend redecorating DIY projects that will help to give your home a face-lift for the fall and winter seasons:

Give your cabinets a makeover

If you’re looking to make a big impact, upgrade your kitchen cabinets. While this can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you go the custom order route, there are ways you can save money by building the units yourself.

Not looking to renovate the entire kitchen? No problem! Instead, give your cabinets a simple facelift. Whether they are stained wood or painted, changing the finish of your cabinets can make them look brand new. Another way to give your cabinets a new look and feel is by replacing the hardware. This can be as simple as ordering new pulls and handles online for a more contemporary look. Often this simple swap will trick your guests into believing you’ve ordered new cabinets.

Invest in art

Jazz up your wall space with a pop of color and give your guests a discussion piece. Large, thought-provoking art pieces like giclees on canvas are the trend and can be ordered for the fraction of a price than buying original or custom art, helping breathe life into spaces of all sizes.

Also consider three-dimensional metal wall art, which can add depth and a designer feel to large open spaces and can carry the aesthetic of a space without having to fill it up with lots of furnishings.

If you decide to splurge on high-value items such as art, antiques, décor, or technology, be sure to document and protect it. According to the “New Beginnings Report” by Liberty Mutual Insurance conducted earlier this year, less than one in five Americans have their possessions formally documented and one in ten are unaware that they should check to make sure they have enough insurance coverage to protect their belongings from theft or damage. The Home Gallery® app is a great way to keep track of major purchases. I use it to help create a room-by-room inventory of my personal belongings and keep it as a backup record should anything happen.

Look to the floor for coziness

Purchasing large area rugs can be expensive, and finding the right style and size to fit your room can be difficult. Try visiting your local rug store and ask if they have any large remnants in the back from wall-to-wall carpeting installations. It can be more cost effective to have a neutral piece of high quality carpet cut to size and bound on the edges to create a custom rug for your space. A fresh rug will not only bring in a whole new feel to any room, it will help warm up your space for the fall and winter seasons.

Set the mood with the right lighting

With fewer hours of daylight in the fall and winter months, quality lighting is essential to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home. Most of my recent DIY projects include LED lights, which are safe, bright, energy-efficient, and long-lasting. The initial cost may be a bit more upfront, but LED lights last decades and will save you money on your energy bill. Spend the weekend upgrading your light bulbs and old lighting fixtures, which are features prospective home buyers often look for. Also, try swapping out the switch plates on your walls to chrome or brushed nickel to give your space a more modern look.

Restore your furniture and hardwood floors

During the transition from summer to fall, you may be craving a furniture change. Rather than spending the money on new furniture, take on an easy weekend DIY project to make existing pieces look brand new by restoring the wood on older or antique furniture with homemade furniture polish.

Mix together half a cup of olive oil and half a cup of vinegar, then grab a rag and rub the mixture into the furniture. Layer on multiple coats for the best finish. For hardwood floors, lemon juice on a damp mop can also revive their shine.

About the Author

As the host, designer, and contractor on the series "Elbow Room," Chip Wade is there from concept through construction to show HGTV and DIY viewers how to customize their spaces and transform houses into homes that perfectly suit their lifestyle. Additionally, Chip has acted as a representative for many national brands and is currently a consultant with the Liberty Mutual Insurance New Beginnings campaign.