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DIY on a Dime: Three Quick Inexpensive Projects

The concept of a Do-It-Yourself home project can seem daunting to some folks, especially the more complex projects in which one mistake can incur unexpected costs or even personal injury. They might find comfort in trusting a professional in these instances. However, there are a number of simpler ways to improve your home that don't require much in the way of time and money. We're going to show three basic projects that will improve the appearance of your living space in no time.

For the Bedroom: Constructing a Headboard

There's no doubt that headboards add style to any bedroom, but buying one either as an add-on or as part of a set can cost hundreds of dollars. But if you're creative enough you can find ways to create your own headboard using common household materials.

A great trick to use is taking an old door and putting it on its side. A standard door sideways is the perfect size for King and Queen sized beds. Using the door, you can design the headboard for your wall and then positioning your bed in front will give the illusion that the headboard is part of the bed frame itself, and this makes installation much easier than attaching it to the bed frame. Then simply paint the door a color of your choice to match the room, and add some décor, and you have a headboard at much lower costs than if you had purchased one yourself.

For the Kitchen: Under-Cabinet Lighting

All too frequently, kitchens suffer from a lack of light, and a big reason why this is the case is because wall mounted kitchen pantries and cabinets often create a shadowy area right beneath where they are mounted, and overhead lights do little to fill in this area. This is why under-cabinet recessed lighting is a good idea. It is inexpensive (a full set usually costs more than a hundred dollars, and some come to much less) and it is relatively easy to install. It's also safe as well, providing that you cut the juice at the breaker box before you get started.

While any lighting installation project does require the use of power tools and some knowledge of handiwork, under-cabinet lighting is one of the easiest and quickest items to install. You can find a great step-by-step guide here.

For the Living Room: Making Your Own Window Valance

A window valance goes a long way in giving ordinary curtains some class, and making one yourself is a relative cinch. You would think that making your own valance requires a sewing machine and/or a glue gun, but you can just as easily do without using either of these items. All you have to do is cut a board measuring the length of the top bank of the window, cutting two six-inch lengths at the ends to accommodate for the returns that will connect the board to the window frame itself. Then screw the board onto the frame using the returns. Then take a fabric of your choice, cut it so that it is ten inches in height. The width is up to you: it usually depends on how much pleating you would like. Then hem it using fusible webbing rather than sewing it. After that, position the board so that it is three inches below the top hem and staple the fabric to the board. Then just cover up the unsightly staples with buttons, ribbons, and other decorative knick-knacks!

Not all DIY projects are a technical and time-consuming, and there are plenty of projects out there that you can do yourself for less, providing you have a few basic tools and creativity in spades!

N.B. The information contained in this story is provided by the supplier and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of lets-do-diy.com.

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