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We’ve looked around a little to find some of the coolest and most popular DIY projects out there, and these are our favorites. Click the links to get to the original how-to guides, if you see something you like.

10. Mailing Tube Wine Rack

Re-purpose sturdy mailing tubes to create a stylish wine rack. This project is flat out simple: just stack the mailing tubes under a shelf. If you like, you can add a quick coat of colorful enamel. The end result is quite handsome, too. Use the money you save to expand your collection of vino.

9. CD Stack Lamp

This clever lamp takes some effort, but is well within the DIY reach of most of us. It’s the perfect way to transform all those AOL CDs into an awesome accessory. This quirky lamp is an eye-catcher best suited for the basement rec room, game room or family room.

8. Wall-mounted Magnetic Knife Block

Kitchen knives shouldn’t be left to bang around in a drawer, but who has the counter space for a chunky knife block? This wall-mounted magnetic knife holder is a happy solution. Carve slots into the backside of a wood block, then glue heavy duty magnets into the slots. Mount the wood block, and slap your knives on it. Check out the video when you click the link! This baby is way stickier than it looks.

7. Auto-on Watch Holder Pantry Light

Take a plastic wristwatch holder and mix in a dash of ingenuity, and put an end to fumbling in a dark cupboard, pantry or closet. This light works like the one in the fridge. Hook up a reverse switch to rope lights inside the closet or cupboard door. Mount the switch in a watch holder. Open the door and the light comes on; close the door, which opens the switch and turns off the light.

6. Hands-free Flusher

While this gizmo would probably fare best in a frat house, it works if you want hands-free flushing. A foot pedal is fashioned from a wire clothes hanger, shoe polish and some paper towel rolls.

5. Wall Outlet Safe

Your Own Secret Hidden Safe! For Under $2 – More amazing videos are a click away

Watch the video to see how this one works and for details to make one of your own. A thief probably won’t think to look behind an outlet plate for your valuables, making it the perfect spot to hide jewelry and small treasures.

4. Secret Bookshelf Door

If you’ve ever dreamed of a secret door that is activated by taking a book off the shelf, this project grants your wish. Avid DIYer Simon Shea offers this outstanding project, –or, he used to, but you’ll find an alternative method on Instructables if you follow the link. It takes time and dedication, but it’s really cool.

3. Automated Garden Watering Drip System

DIYer and Green Thumb Matt Haughey explains how to construct an automated water drip system to keep plants properly hydrated, even if you’re away for several days. A parched lawn and garden become things of the past.

2. Homebrew $30 Air Conditioner

When you can’t bear another sultry summer day without air conditioning, this project offers some relief. You can build an effective air cooling unit for about $30. Necessity was the mother of invention for this one, brought to you by college summer schoolers stuck in a dorm with no AC. It’s a bit clunky, but it works. And there’s a closed circuit version that eliminates the water run off.

1. Remote Control Deadbolt

This project isn’t easy, but it gets loads of points for being clever as well as utilitarian. Watch the video for the demonstration, and click the link for instructions on how to build a remote control device to unlock the deadbolt in the garage or tool shed.

Due to the raised awareness of the society on environmental issues, more and more homeowners are opting to “go green” in their home improvement projects. If you have been thinking of having some repairs and renovations done in your home, here are some eco-friendly options for you to consider.

Installing a Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters can either be powered by electricity or gas and they can be installed either inside or outside your home. Although electric tankless water heaters are cheaper, the gas-powered variety are more cost efficient. These water heaters save energy because they heat water on demand. This means you would not be wasting energy with a heater which continuously heats 40 to 50 gallons of water even when you do not need it.

Installing Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is a renewable resource, making it one of the most eco-friendly flooring types available today. Although many people think that it is a tree, it is actually a type of grass which grows relatively quickly. It can also easily be maintained. Floors which are made with bamboo are much more resilient than floors which are made with vinyl or pine. When properly cured, bamboo flooring can withstand the elements and high traffic. If you are planning some home improvement projects which include the installation of new flooring, consider using bamboo.

Using Low VOC Paint

Painting has always been considered as one of the simplest and most cost-effective home improvement projects. If you are planning to repaint your walls to cover up old and damaged paint or to enhance the look and ambiance of your home’s interior, you may want to consider using paint which has low amounts of VOC or volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds contribute to air pollution and smog and have been studied to cause various respiratory problems. Through using low VOC paint, you would be able to do your share in keeping the air clean and make sure that you and your family would be able to enjoy your safe and beautifully-painted walls.

Installing Cool Roofs

Installing cool roofs is also considered as one of the most eco-friendly home improvement projects today. Cool roofs help in saving energy because they reflect the light and heat of the sun, reducing the amount of heat that goes inside the house. This means that during warm days, the interior of your house would remain cool. You can get cool roofs which are made from tile, asphalt or metal.

These are just some of the environment-friendly home improvement projects which you may want to consider. Regardless of the home improvement project you are working on or are planning to work on, make sure to choose materials and products which are eco-friendly to make sure that they are not only safe for you and your family to use but also safe for the environment.

Today, doing things yourself seems to be the best way to go. This is especially true with home improvement projects. If you have been thinking of enhancing the beauty and functionality of your home but are afraid of having to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars, you need to know that there are many DIY home improvement projects which are simple and easy to do but can give you amazing results. Here are some of them that you can try.

The first would be painting your home interior. This is a simple DIY home improvement project which can certainly be done by any adult and it can greatly enhance the appearance of your home indoors. A simple color change on your walls can instantly enhance your home interior without having to spend too much. Hiring painters to do this project could have you spending quite a bit so it would be a better idea to do it yourself.

When painting the interior of your home, you just need to remember to protect your flooring and trim from any spills. Make use of tarps, paper and paint tape to cover up anything which you do not want to end up getting painted on. If you would be painting large areas, make use of rollers. For more detailed painting jobs, make sure to use a brush.

Another simple DIY home improvement project would be installing new flooring. However, although this is simple, it does require some basic handyman skills. You can first decide on what type of flooring you want to have such as carpet, linoleum or tile. Check the proper way of installing each type as the process usually differs from one type to another.

Refinishing your cabinets would also be a great DIY home improvement project. It could be done by sanding, painting or varnishing. You can also look into some of the newer refinishing techniques such as color washing, which could be simple provided that you have the proper steps of doing it.

Refinishing would be a good alternative to replacing the cabinets altogether since new cabinet systems are quite expensive. Once your cabinets have been refinished, you might be surprised at how much better they look and how much they can enhance your home interior.

A simple but interesting DIY home improvement project would be landscaping. It can easily be done by first planning out your desired landscaping and then researching for some new ideas online. Simple landscaping is not too expensive and could even serve as a DIY home improvement project that everyone in the family can participate in.

Lastly, you could consider constructing a deck or patio. This is still a DIY home improvement project but it could be more suited to those who have some skill in carpentry and building. However, it could still be an easy project because there are many kits which are readily available in the market. When building a deck, it is important to make sure that the ground where you are building on is level, stable and is not prone to sinking.

If your home is due for some home improvement repair and renovation but you have a limited budget, there is no need to worry. It is possible to get your home fixed without having to spend a lot of money. Here are some ways that you can consider in order to save for some home improvement repair and renovation projects that you need.

First, consider buying used items. If you need to repair or replace some fixtures and furniture in your home, before going out to buy brand new items, you could try searching for used ones. Although it would be great to have new things in the house, sometimes, it just costs too much. You can browse in eBay or Craigslist to look for used furniture and appliances which you can get. However, make sure that you are careful when shopping for used items. Check the quality or condition of the item or material before purchasing as you do not want to end up saving now but spending more later on, when it breaks down after just a month or two.

Carefully plan out the home repairs and home improvement projects that you need. Come up with a list of the projects that are needed to be done and the materials needed for each one, along with your budget. Through being organized, you would be able to know which repairs and renovations are urgent and which are not, allowing you to allocate your available funds properly.

Try cutting other monthly costs incurred by your household. This could include the money that you spend on dining out, entertainment and others. Think of what you and your family would be enjoying after a month or two of not dining at your favorite restaurant. You might be surprised at how much money you can set aside to finally have your kitchen remodeled.

Do a lot of canvassing and researching on the materials which are available in the market. Spend time online browsing different websites which offer home design ideas and home repair tips so that you would be able to come up with low-cost ideas to repair and spruce up your home.

These are just some of the ways on how you can save on your home improvement repair and renovation projects. Through considering these tips, you should be able to complete the projects that are urgently needed to be done without having to go over your budget.

Many home improvement construction projects could be expensive and there are some homeowners who end up with a huge debt after having them done. Although home renovation can increase your home’s market value, it is important to know that there are actually several things that you can do so that you would incur minimal home improvement construction costs while still being able to get what you need and want. Here are some of them.

First, you need to limit the home improvement projects you would be making. There are some homeowners who have a limited budget but are planning to remodel their entire home. Avoid doing this because you could end up borrowing money to complete all of the projects or having to compromise the quality of the materials which would be used for the renovations. List down the home improvement project that you are planning to have and go through them one by one. Assess which ones are truly needed and which ones are just nice to have done. For instance, if you want to remodel your bathroom, you might want to just repaint the walls and bring in some new décor instead of replacing all your bathroom fixtures. However, if your bathtub and your toilet are already broken or are not functioning, then you could go ahead and replace if the damages can no longer be repaired.

For the projects which are not urgently needed, you can just put them on hold and plan to have them done within the next couple of months once you already have the budget for them.

Another way to minimize your home improvement construction costs would be to try doing the project or projects yourself. Some homeowners automatically hire a professional or a contractor to do the repairs and renovation even for simple tasks. You might want to check first if the project is simple enough for you to manage. If it is, then you could go ahead and do it yourself. Just make sure that you know the proper way of doing it and you have the appropriate tools and materials to complete it. Through doing this, you would definitely be able to save a lot of money, hundreds and sometimes, even thousands of dollars.

Choose to do those which would give you a high return on your investment. These would be the home improvement construction projects which can greatly increase your homes’ market value. Examples would be kitchen and bathroom remodeling, outdoor projects and home expansions.

You can also consider using imitation materials. Although having stainless steel appliances, hardwood flooring and granite countertops are fabulous modern additions to your home, they can be quite costly. You may want to use imitation but high quality imitation supplies instead.

Lastly, compare your finance options if you would be borrowing the money. Some choices that you have would be credit cards, contractor’s finance packages or home equity loans. Compare the rates of each option to make sure you would not be overpaying for the financing you would be using.

Today, there are countless home improvement ideas and projects that you can do yourself or hire a contractor for. However, it is crucial to make sure that you are able to decide which of them are quality home improvement ideas and which ones are not. Knowing which ones would give you the most of your money and which ones would just be a waste of your money is important especially in the present economic situation.

One quality home improvement project would be kitchen remodeling. If you have been living in your home for half a decade or longer, your kitchen may already be outdated or may be showing some signs that it needs to be repaired or renovated. You can consider installing new cabinets for more storage space or just repairing the existing ones. You can also replace the sink or faucets or even the countertops. You might also want to install new lighting.

Another quality home improvement idea would be a bathroom remodel. Many contractors say that remodeling a bathroom can always help you get a good return on our investment, even when you get high quality upgrades. Buyers usually check the bathroom and use it to determine the value of a particular home so it would really help you get more if you are planning to sell soon. However, if you would just be upgrading to make your bathroom more functional or to improve its present condition, remodeling can still pretty much give you the added value you want for your money.

Although there are many quality home improvement projects that you can do, you should also be able to know whether a project is a worthy investment or not. A project which might be a good idea to skip would be window and roofing replacement. If you are thinking that replacing your windows and roofs could increase your home value, you need to think again. Replacing windows and roofs are usually quite expensive and are only necessary if they are already in bad shape. If they are still in good condition, you might want to look into other home improvement projects instead.

In order to know which home improvement projects would give you a good return on your investment, there are several things that you need to consider. First, check what the other homes in your area have. You might want to do home improvements or home additions which would make your home up to par with the other homes in your neighborhood. You should also think of how long you would be staying in your present home. If you are planning to stay five years or more in it, making upgrades and improvements could be worth it. If you are planning to sell soon, you need to calculate what the return on your investment would be if ever you would be remodeling. You should also determine how much the upgrade or home addition is worth to you. For instance, installing a pool might not be a very appealing idea to others but to you and your family, a pool could be something that you have always wanted. If that is the case, then having it constructed would definitely be worth it.

Also, you need to keep in mind that in any home improvement project you are planning to have done, you would need to make sure that the money you would be spending would be worth the added value you would be getting. Choose quality and durable materials that would be able to withstand the elements. Finally, conduct plenty of research and do a lot of comparison shopping before purchasing any building materials.

A lot of homeowners today who feel that they need a bigger space or a home which feels more like “home” no longer choose to move to a another house. This is because many contractors say that instead of moving, it would be better to try improving – your existing home, that is. This is the reason why home improvements have become more and more popular in recent years. Here are some of the benefits of doing home improvements.

First off, home improvements could significantly increase the value of your home. If you are planning to sell your home anytime soon, remodeling some rooms or your entire home could ensure that you would be able to get top dollar for your property. However, you need to make sure that the home improvement project that you would be doing would yield a good profit. This is because there are some projects which could give you just a minimal increase or even decrease the value of your home such as installing a swimming pool. It would be best to consult a real estate broker or a contractor to get a better idea of which home improvements could give you the highest payback.

A home improvement project can also make your home a lot more attractive and stylish. One particular project that could accomplish this would be redecorating or enhancing the design of your home’s interior. This could be painting a new color on your walls or removing and adding new fixtures and décor to create an entirely new design theme. For instance, if you have always been interested in living in an oriental-themed home, you can try to install dramatic lighting fixtures such as Japanese lamps and place some Japanese-inspired furniture and bamboo plants around the house. You can simply choose which style or theme to go for and you would be able to enhance the appearance and design of your home.

Home improvements can also make your home more functional. From adding a new room to constructing a new cabinet system in your kitchen, you can maximize the space that you have. Aside from this, there are also some home improvement projects which can increase the security of your home such as installing alarm systems, motion detectors and other safety features.

They can also transform your home into a warm and welcoming space for your relatives and friends who visit. Many home improvement projects are aimed at turning your home or a room of your home into a space where you can entertain guests and bond with friends and family.

These are just some of the benefits of having home improvements. If you are planning to renovate or remodel your home, you can start by determining your main purpose for the home improvement project. From there, you can list down your own ideas or you can search online to get inspirations on designs and materials that you can use. Through working on a home improvement project or two, you would surely be able to make your home more livable and valuable for you and your family.

Home remodeling and home improvement projects are great ways to in enhance the comfort, functionality and beauty as well as increase the value of your home. These projects can be as simple as replacing some of your decor and furniture or can be as complicated as renovating an entire room. Regardless of the project that you are looking into doing, it is important to make sure that you are able to choose quality home improvement hardware to make sure that every dollar and minute you would be spending would be worth it. Here are the different types of hardware which you can use for your home improvement projects.

1. Bathroom Hardware

Bathroom hardware would include the products which are used in the construction and maintenance of the appearance and functionality of a bathroom. This would typically be fixtures such as faucets and showers as well as tubs, shelves, mirrors and holders. Remodeling or renovating your bathroom is actually one of the best home improvement projects that you can do especially if you have been living in your home for five years or more. Through replacing some bathroom hardware, you can easily transform the look and improve the functionality of your bathroom.

2. Door Hardware

This type of home improvement hardware is used for enhancing the appearance or condition of your doors. This would include fasteners, door handles, hooks, hinges, number plates and knockers.

3. Furniture Hardware

These would be the items which are used for improving the design and durability of home furniture. This includes furniture frames, furniture arms and furniture legs.

4. Safety and Security Hardware

This type of hardware is becoming more and more in demand among homeowners because of the increasing concern on security inside the home. Some of the safety and security features which can be used in home improvement projects would be motion detectors, security alarm systems, smoke detectors, locksets and window guards.

5. Plumbing Hardware

Plumbing hardware include the products which are used to supply water throughout the house including tubes and pipes. When choosing plumbing hardware, it is very important to get those which are of excellent quality and are extremely durable because waters usually runs through and stays in them. Through getting durable and quality plumbing hardware, you would be sure that they would not easily corrode and that they would be able to withstand temperature extremes.

6. Cabinet Hardware

These are small components which make sure that the cabinets would remain functional; however they can also be used for decorative purposes. Some cabinet hardware includes cabinet fasteners, latches, brackets, hinges, pulls and locks.

7. Window Hardware

This type of hardware would be the components which are used in installing, fixing and protecting windows like window extrusions, handles, hinges, locks and fasteners.

8. Curtain Hardware

Curtain hardware would be the hooks, curtain finials and curtain rings which used to hang curtains over windows and doors. They can be made of plastic or metal.

As you choose which home improvement hardware to use, make sure that you would be getting those that would give you your desired results. Try to compare products and prices so that you would be ending up with hardware pieces that would fit your needs and your budget.

With any home improvement project, you would need several home improvement products to make sure that each one could be properly completed. From simple repair projects such as painting to more complicated ones such as remodeling your kitchen or installing new flooring, making the right choice of home improvement products can make the difference between getting your desired results and ending up with an even worse outcome that what you started with. Here are some pointers that could help you choose which home improvement products to use.

First off, you would need to make sure that you have a list of the building products and materials that your home improvement project calls for. Through having a list, you would be able to have an easier time canvassing the brands and comparing the prices of the items that you need.

You would also need to think of the result or effect that you want to have with the project. If you would be remodeling a craftsman-style home and would like to have the overall theme to still be the same, then you would need to make sure that you would be choosing products and materials which also have excellent workmanship and hand-crafted details.

When choosing home improvement products, it would also be good to get those which are of the highest quality possible. This would make sure that they are durable enough to withstand all kinds or most kinds of elements. You might want to consider the climate that you have in the area where you live in since there are some products which are better for warmer climes and some which work for cooler climes.

If possible, choose environment-friendly products. Because of the increased awareness of the society on the different environmental issues, many companies and manufacturers have started producing eco-friendly items including those in the home building and construction market. These products are generally made from renewable materials and are safer to use compared to those which are not as friendly to the environment. They are also usually free of harsh ingredients and chemicals which can pollute the air inside your home and potentially cause health risks.

Lastly, make sure that you would be sticking to your budget. With the wide range of home improvement products and building and construction materials available nowadays, you could easily compare their features, quality and price, allowing you to decide on which products would best suit your needs and your budget. However, be careful not to just go for the cheapest products without checking their quality and durability first.

Through following these pointers in choosing home improvement products, you should be able to get those that would help you finish a project that you are working on or a necessary home repair.

If you are planning to work on a home improvement project but are at a loss on where to start, you might want to consider watching some home improvement TV shows. These shows are becoming more and more popular because of the valuable information, tips and tricks that viewers can pick up from watching them. As a matter of fact, some of these shows are selling DVDs with their episodes that homeowners and designers could buy to get some home improvement project and design ideas from.

There is a wide variety of home improvement TV shows that can give you plenty of tips on home improvement, organization, interior decorating, gardening and landscaping and home repair. There are also some which show arts and crafts projects and home makeovers.

Here are some of the more popular home improvement TV shows today.

1. Clean House

Hosted by Niecy Nash, this home improvement TV show helps individuals and families who are in need of a home makeover and reorganization. The show basically brings in a group of interior designers and organizers to work on the home. They first decide which items and furniture in the house to get rid of and then sell them in a yard sale. From the money earned, the crew works on different home improvement projects from adding storage spaces to painting walls to installing new flooring. Clean House is an excellent show to watch if you have been wanting to get rid of the clutter in your home and if you need some simple and inexpensive design ideas which can improve the functionality and appearance of your home.

2. Home Made Simple

Debuting in 2006, Home Made Simple is a home improvement TV show that is hosted by the Home Mavens. They help families from all over to come up with simple solutions to improve their homes from talking handyman projects to room organization to interior decorating to creating easy meals for the family. It is a show that any homeowner or home renter would be able to pick up plenty of ideas and expert tips from.

3. Take Home Handyman

This is a home improvement TV show on TLC which is hosted by Andrew Dan-Jumbo, a craftsman, carpenter and a handyman. At the beginning of each episode, Andrew approaches a Home Depot customer and offers his services to help them complete any home improvement project that they are working on or are planning to work on. Aside from the main project, Andrew also works on small additional projects around the home. The good thing about this show is that viewers can easily understand and follow the steps done by Andrew so that they can do it in their own homes as well.

Some of the other home improvement TV shows would include Trading Spaces, Holmes on Homes, Design Start, Mission: Organization, I Want That!, Designed to Sell, Designers’ Challenge and Decorating with Style.