Magazine-Worthy DIY Home Projects in One Weekend: A Busy Parent’s Guide

As a busy parent, home renovations will often take the back burner. With kids running around, it can be hard to muster up the time and focus to tackle home improvement jobs. The money you put into raising your kids will take financial priority over renovation expenses, too. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money and time on a major overhaul of your home in many cases. If you’re craving a stylish and fresh look, sometimes the simplest changes are the most effective. You can tackle many miniature projects in just a single weekend, even for the busiest of parents.

Paint an Accent Wall

Painting can seem like a major job, especially when you have kids running around. Repainting a room may be a bit of a hassle, but you can change up any room’s look with just a few paint strokes. Instead of changing the entire color, choose a single wall to serve as an accent. Whether you want a dark or bold, vibrant color, an accent color is a focal point that makes a home look sleek and stylish. Changing the color of one wall is a quick and easy task, and it’s easier to keep kids off of fresh paint when you only have to supervise one wall!

Hang Shelving

As a parent, you could likely use more storage space. Regardless of your home’s size, there never seems to be enough room for kids’ toys or pet products. You can easily add more convenient storage solutions by optimizing the vertical space on your walls. Hang some shelves in the living room to store media or books. Add some open shelving in your kitchen for spices or dishes. Use shelves in the entryway for dog leashes or coats. Shelves not only add function, but they can add flair and elegance.

Clean Up the Yard

Many parents forget the value of a clean and fun yard for the kids. If you could use some more time in the sun, clean up the yard from debris, trash, or other clutter. Do some landscape maintenance to keep hedges trimmed and pest-free. If your patio furniture has seen better days, shop for some upgrades to freshen it up. Cleaning and trimming can easily be done in a single weekend. Choosing furniture and swapping it out doesn’t take long, either. You can enjoy more relaxing patio time or fun outdoor play with kids when you put some time and effort into your yard space. You don’t need to install a fancy pool or perform a major overhaul.

Swap Out Door and Cabinet Hardware

Many homeowners underestimate the impact that door, cabinet, and lightswitch hardware has on the home’s look. If your kitchen cabinetry looks outdated, you don’t need to repaint it or swap it out. Consider changing the color or style of the cabinet and drawer pulls instead. You can try out more elegant or modern styles to keep the look fresh and updated. This works for bathroom cabinets, too! Doorknobs can also be easily changed out for a different color or style. Don’t forget about light switch plates—most people opt for the default white, but a bold black or elegant bronze can work wonders for your home’s style. All it takes is a simple unscrewing and rescrewing. You can tackle the entire home easily in just an hour or two.

Add Some Backsplash

Kitchen or bathroom backsplash does more than just protect the wall from moisture or cooking stains; it also serves as a stylish flair to the room. Thankfully, backsplash replacement doesn’t have to be a major job if you don’t want it to be. Adhesive backsplash can be easily swapped out to freshen or update your kitchen or bathroom without worrying about grout or messy installation. You can even split the job into sections if you’re really busy over the weekend. Whether you want a modern look or bold color styles, there are a ton of adhesive backsplash options to choose from.

Change Window Treatments

Do you want a color change without having to worry about paint or buying new furniture? When was the last time you updated your window treatments? Whether you’ve got curtains or blinds, most window treatments are easily removed and installed. You may need to screw in some curtain rods or detach blinds, but changing the color or style of your draperies or blinds can make a home look brand new. You can also take advantage of blackout or eco features to keep temperatures stable or light from bothering you when you don’t want it.

Create an Organization Station

When you’re juggling multiple busy roles, like parenthood, marriage, and a career, things can often feel chaotic. A section of your house dedicated to chores, schedules, and organization can make a huge difference in your stress levels. Section off a room of your choice and use it for organizing grocery lists, schedules, school papers, and more. Attach a dry-erase calendar to the wall. Add some hooks for simple key or dog leash storage. Corkboards can easily attach notes or papers for immediate attention. Chalkboards can provide fun and stylish chore schedules for you and the kids. You don’t need a major renovation for this project. A few nails and some creativity are all you need.

Refresh Your Shower

Shower curtains don’t last forever. Liners can become dirty or worn, even with a regular cleaning schedule. When you replace your liner, consider replacing the entire curtain to spruce up the space. Choose a new color, pattern, or style to make your bathroom look new. Changing a shower curtain and adding a bathtub organizer just takes a few minutes, and you’ll be more organized and excited to take a shower at the start or end of a busy day. If you have a bathtub, adding a bathtub pillow and tray will look trendy and help you relax, surrounded by bubbles.

Conclusion

Some of the biggest style changes you can add to your home are often the simplest. Giving the outdoor hedges a trim or swapping out cabinet hardware can help you fall in love with your home all over again. If you’re pressed for time, even with simple changes, you can ask your kids to help you when it’s safe to do so. Start small, and break simple projects down into even smaller steps if you need to. Parenting doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice an attractive and functional living space.