There are many different home improvement projects you can take, from painting a room to remodeling the whole house. To make home improvement stress-free, follow these tips.

Putting weatherstripping in your home will ensure that you will have a better energy footing. It’s easy to add weather stripping. You just purchase it at your local hardware store and follow the package directions. Once you are finished, you will notice the improvement in the efficiency of your heat and A/C. You may also notice that you don’t feel as many drafts in your home.

Extra Storage

If you’d like some extra storage for your rooms, try recycling your old shoe boxes. Use fabric or old wallpaper to cover the boxes. This way you get an extra storage solution while adding drama and design to your room.

Change your door hinge as a start to your home improvement projects. You can purchase hinges online or at your local hardware store. All you have to do is take out your hinge and then attach the sides to your door and wall. Then, align the hinge parts and replace the pins.

Sealant strips and draft excluders are but two of your choices in preventing air flow escaping around your door frames. Draft protectors simply slide beneath a door to keep warm air from escaping and cool air from entering. Sealant strips can do the same thing by fitting in the door frames. They can be bought at all hardware stores.

If you need a new lock, you can just change out the cylinder if you want. The cylinder, which contains the tumblers and accepts keys, is the critical piece of the lock. If you have lost your house key, you can change the cylinder without having to change whole lock. If, however, you are wanting to improve your home’s security or change the look, you will need to replace the whole locking unit.

The lighting inside a room makes a big difference in how it looks. A bright room can make your house inviting and warm. A second fixture will also brighten a room. Add some brightness to a darker space and you will feel better in the whole home.

Escape Routes

Home improvement doesn’t have to be aesthetic only. You should work on home safety measures as well, like plotting escape routes in case of a fire or other disaster. When experiencing a tragic accident, people tend to panic. Ensure the safety of your entire family by having a plan in place. Have regular family meetings to review escape routes and discuss possible outcomes in the event of emergency.

These days, there is a little known danger of which you must be aware when performing home improvement tasks. Yes, those Chinese products are plaguing people again. This time it’s with their drywall, also called wall board or sheet rock. In 2005, there was a drastic increase in the amount of drywall imported from China by US builders. A lot of the drywall is not up to par. In some cases, drywall from China can emit harmful gases, which can corrode wires.

Although your floor in the kitchen looks level, you should still use a leveling tool when putting up new cabinets. Begin from your kitchen floor’s highest point; then, make a line across the wall where you will install the cabinets to ensure that your kitchen counters will be installed at the right level.

Does your lawn have ugly, barren, yellow spots? Use some grass seeds to replant parts of your lawn. Without a nice lawn, your house will never look it’s best. Revitalize your lawn today.

If your home is very functional, add more living area. Think about the children’s room, the living room, or a den. It increases home’s value and makes it more pleasant to live in. Save this for when you have extra money and no other major home improvement projects to tackle.

If your home improvement project is big enough to require the assistance of a professional contractor, you only want to deal with one who is properly and fully insured. If they damage your home and have no insurance, your only recourse may be to take them to court in order to obtain the repair money. Simply ask the contractor for insurance proof.

Home improvement can be easy if you know what you are doing. Proper information can help you make the best decisions. No matter if you go it alone or hire a professional, take the time to bask in your new and improved home.