31 Simple Weekend Home Improvement Projects Under $50

Creating the perfect home can be easy with weekend home improvement projects, especially when the budget is less than $50! These aren’t the same boring old ideas like painting or adding some décor. We explore lots of great creative and easy options for the not-so-handy and maybe the intermediate handy person. Take a look at some of our top ideas for weekend home improvement projects.

Note – Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.

1. Create a home improvement budget – weekend home improvement projects – $0

First things first, set your budget for all your desired home improvement projects. By creating a budget, you’ll identify a list of needs for each project and tools. This will help prevent duplicate buying and allow you to look for sales and deals to complete your project for less. A budget will help with prioritizing your weekend home improvement projects and creating a timeline. Staining your deck in January with snow on the ground is just not feasible! Using a timeline for projects will not only keep you on schedule and ensure your projects fit with the weather but help budget. Sticking to your budget makes affording projects is a snap. Try our free home improvement budget planner to get started today!

2. Give a boring wall some pizzazz with a custom picture gallery or tiled art project -$22 – $44

Using a pre-done frame gallery is an easy and inexpensive way of upgrading your home walls. Another option is the peel and stick printed squares like Mixtiles or Shutterfly provides. Upload your photos and create a simple grid layout for a custom look. Check for pricing specials but each tile is $11 each so a set of 4 will run $44 and shipping is free!

3. Update kitchen hardware like faucets, knobs or hinges for an easy kitchen improvement – $20 – $50

An easy upgrade to any kitchen or bathroom is improving the hardware or faucets. This improvement is an easy DIY home improvement project on the weekend. For almost any budget under $50, you can do a simple fix with new hardware or knobs. Do more with a new, more functional or updated look faucet. New faucets can run more than $50 but there are great options for less. Check out Lowe’s for amazing faucets, like this Peerless 2 handle faucet, for under $50. Etsy and handcraft shops have unique knobs and hardware options for your bathroom or kitchen cabinets.

4. Weather stripping or weather seal windows, doors and other potential leaks – $15 per roll but varies

Save on your heating and air conditioning with a simple addition to your windows and doors. Weather stripping will keep the outdoor air out of old windows or poorly sealed windows. Go the extra mile with a window insulation kit available at your local hardware store. While there, ask for more products specific to your geography that will help keep your home the right temperature.

5. Check smoke detectors and add a Carbon Monoxide detector – $41

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Keep safe with a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Adding these to your kitchen and each floor will add peace of mind. Get yours on Amazon from First Alert Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector for $41.

6. Doorbell camera for security and peace of mind home improvement – $50+

Adding security is an easy home improvement. Take piece of mind with a doorbell camera to help secure packages left at your door or screen those knocking at your door before you answer. One of the most popular front door cameras is the Ring camera but there are many options that cost considerably less. One popular option on Amazon is the Smart Wireless WiFi Video Doorbell camera. Snag yours for $50 today.

7. Tidy the front of house and landscaping for keeping critters at bay – $0

Fall is a great time to prep for winter. Fall is when critters are looking for a warm place to hole up for the winter. Keep them away by removing leave and grass debris from your home foundation and landscaping. Leaves and grass attracts animals looking for material for their nests and alerts them to a potential welcome place for them to stay. Take some time to pull weeds, trim hedges and dust cobwebs from the exterior for a quick home improvement DIY you can do on the weekend for almost no cost.

8. Storage update in basement or add storage area improvement ideas- $35+

Organization opportunities add tremendous value to any home owner or potential home owner, and make for weekend home improvement projects. Shelving in your basement or tool organizers are easy ways of giving you and your family more space and adding value to your home. Check out the Amazon basics 3 shelving unit that stands alone or the Tool organizer unit that attaches to the wall. Each is under $50

9. Check and clean your dryer vents for safety and improvement – $0

Fires can easily start from lint build up in your dryer vents. Removing the vent and clearing the lint is a great practice for each use, but a more full cleaning is a must do. Check out the Ace Hardware video tutorial on cleaning your dryer vents.

10. Increase your curb appeal: painting shutters, add new house numbers and painting trim – $30+

Modernize your home with new house numbers and fresh trim for your shutters and windows. This easy home DIY is a great weekend project in the fall or spring on a warm day. Check your local hardware store for paint options and equipment that are best for your exterior home do-it-yourself project.

11. Improve your closet storage with new closet system, bins and storage help – $ varies

A full closet organizer with built in options is a dream for most of us that can run several hundred, or several thousand, dollars. Get an instant improvement with lots of closet storage options from hanging shelves or floor options with drawers and highly customizable features to meet just about any need. From an infant room with needs for storing lots of small clothes, toys and diapers to an adult room with needs for shoes and larger items, there is a closet storage option that will meet your needs.

12. Powerwash your driveway and sidewalk for instant “wow” effect – $0 with borrowed washer or $15+ for a pressure adapter for hose (plus water cost)

A professional pressure wash for your driveway or sidewalk can run $150 or more. Some think this is an odd expense to invest in, but if your concrete or brick has not been cleaned in a while, you would be amazed at the difference in look. By borrowing a powerwasher or investing in a nozzle attachment for your hose, you can achieve the same look with a fraction of the cost besides water. Your local hardware store may rent a pressure washer as well for a fraction of the cost of purchasing one.

13. Laundry storage and improvement weekend home improvement projects- $15+

Create a great laundry space with storage for separating clothes ($38) or detergent catches for under $20. A laundry storage cart is handy and with a few bins for additional organization, you can keep all your detergents, softeners, stain removal tools and more in one location. With more space, add an ironing board or drying rack for even more home improvement in your laundry room to increase value.

14. Update trim and baseboards with paint for a cheap home improvement -$30

Freshen up any room with several weekend home improvement projects that are easy to start with some paint on baseboards and door and window trim. For a room without baseboards or needing new trim, there is $2/foot trim available which would put the project over our $50 budget so spread this over two projects or combine two projects into one to update a room.

15. Update your window treatments with curtains, blinds or shades – $30+

Shades, blinds or curtains easily update a room for not only a return on your investment if you leave the treatments for the next homeowner, but improve the room look and feel. Blinds or shades are available for less than $30 a window for most. If you have multiple windows, curtains may be a more cost-effective treatment ranging from $10-$15 per curtain if you stick with one curtain per window.

16. Add shelves to any room for storage and a wow effect – $20+

Wall shelves are a great tool to add flair to a room. Creating a place for books, travel knick-knacks or a clock are why we love shelves for any room in your home. Using shelves in your kitchen or bath adds storage while shelves in an office or living room can provide a custom, individual look for each season in your home.

17. Design and create a workspace office or craft area – $ varies

Take an unused nook or old closet space and create a home office or home office storage. Low or no budget? Find a simple desk or make one with a board, nails and support that spans the closet space. With a larger budget, find a desk that is wall mounted and can retract back if space is an issue. This handy tutorial shows how you can transform a closet into a craft area or office space. Manage your costs with using wallpaper or paint, old boards or a desk off Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Adding to your craft space or office space overtime will create a lasting investment and easy DIY project on the weekend.

18. Linen closet overhaul: adding storage, shelves and organization – $20+

Storing linens and bedding can be a real pain. Leverage vacuum storage bags ($7 for 3 XXL bags) and storage bins ($10-$20 per bin) to organize and label bedding of various sizes. Keep bedding and linens organized by size and shelf. For non-linen or bedding items, use storage bins and organizers on their own shelf. Make labels using your home printer or get creative with markers and shipping tape for a make shift label unique to your own needs.  

19. Improve your lighting: picture lights, spot lights, lamps and other lighting enhancements

Lighting can change the feel of any room. Getting creative with lighting options will improve your house. Beyond just lamps or overhead lighting, many people don’t consider simple lighting fixes light picture lighting ($20+), track lighting ($42+) or Smart Bulbs using WiFi with color options ($16 for 2 bulbs).

20. Cleaning gutters and fixing/changing downspots – $0

Grab some gloves and maybe a bucket or hose to clean out your gutters. If you have some money in the budget, add a few gutter covers under trees or areas where your gutters may get especially clogged. Hardware stores have covers of various costs but shouldn’t run more than $2-$5 for 2-3’ of cover for generic covers or more expensive options with better fits up to custom systems that require estimates and specialists to install.

21. Heating or air conditioning maintenance check weekend home improvement projects- $ free to $150

Some HVAC providers provide free estimates or system checks to earn your business. Many companies charge on average $75-$150 for an HVAC tune up or service, which can vary with the brand and size of your HVAC equipment. Changing the filter yourself will lower the cost. When seasons change, watch for TV promotions or coupons and discounts from local companies and always check online for reviews before signing up with any company. HVAC maintenance is one of several easy weekend home improvement projects you can start today.

22. Swap out locks on exterior doors for improved locks with deadbolts and security – $1+

Securing your home should be a priority, and a simple weekend home improvement project. Adding a deadbolt or a one-sided lock are easy options. Many combination deadbolt and door knob sets run under $50 and can be easily installed on your own. Adding a chain lock or a door stop are other easy projects to add security and peace of mind to your home. Add a stick to a sliding door. Double your door security for $1 with this easy YouTube video tutorial idea: changing the screws on your strikeplate to make break-ins more difficult. Upgrade your security further with a smart lock or keypad so you can manage your locks when you are away or with keyless options.

23. Deck overhaul: finding seating, firepit and more – $0+

Create a unique, cozy backyard space with a deck or patio overhaul. In the spring, people are looking to upgrade their furniture, meaning their old (sometimes less than a year old) furniture is up for sale or free. Keep your existing furniture nice by sealing or covering it in the winter time so its ready for use. Add an outdoor rug, pillows, umbrella, tables and more for the outdoor space of your dreams. Most items can be found second hand to minimize costs or during seasonal sales. Even a simple sweeping of your patio, sealing your deck, adding some pillows and maintaining your furniture are great home improvement projects.

24. Garbage disposal and dishwasher cleaning weekend home improvement projects – $5+

A smelly garbage disposal is a real annoyance to family and friends who are visiting. Many people swear by citrus to clean and minimize odors. There are products for sale that you can throw down your disposal to improve the smell or DIY options such as those listed on completehomewarranty.com’s site.

25. Candle making for a whole home good scent (and some side profit) – $32 + shipping

Everyone loves a great candle, but they can cost a lot of money. Get started on a weekend making your own candles with the CandleScience starter kit. For just $32, they supply the wax, containers, scents and instructions to make your own candles. These make great gifts or start an Etsy shop for some easy side money. With a great smelling home, you can easily improve your house on a weekend, end up with gifts for family and friends or products to sell.

26. Garage shelving, organization, sweeping – $30+

Homeowners love storage, especially in the garage. A simple DIY is a pegboard to store tools, brooms, hang baskets and customize storage. The DIY Network has a great article on how to make your own pegboard. If you need even more space, add some shelving units and storage totes. This Sterilite 4 shelf unit is just $30 at Target and with a few totes will keep you under a $50 budget.

27. Finished basement upgrades and improvements – $30+

A finished basement provides great additional living space and a few easy weekend home improvement projects. If you have an open ceiling, painting the beams ($30+) and cleaning up cobwebs is a simple weekend DIY to upgrade and improve your space. Separate an open basement with a room divider like this one on Amazon for $43.

28. Unfinished basement upgrades and improvements – $30+

An unfinished basement is a blank slate. Decide how you want to use your space, and limitations like if you have a leaky basement you may not want carpet or electronics, to direct your projects. Simple ideas like painting or shelving can help with storage to keep things simple. Utilize your unfinished basement for a small kids playroom with a rug and toys or another TV or rec room space by adding a sofa or a few chairs. Check out this Pinterest Board for ideas on how to enhance your unfinished basement space.

29. Add trim to your landscaping or solar lights – $20+

Enhance your sidewalk and home security with some easy exterior lighting and trim. Solar lights add a bit of security and help if you walk outside in the evening or early mornings. Create some interest near your trees or hedges with stone or brick trim if you have the budget or something more simple like mulch and small fencing to create separation between your lawn and plans. Cleaning up the lines in your yard is a low-cost way of making an inexpensive landscaping project look like a professional job that greatly improves the value of your home. Try this faux wood log design edging from Amazon for one of several easy weekend home improvement projects.

30. DIY Kitchen coffee station – $50+

Go small or big with your home coffee station or home drink station. From a simple coffee station upgrade with a tea or coffee holder ($20+ ) or a mug holder to a more custom look with shelving and additional features,  anyone for the right price can create a unique and functional space in their kitchen for the morning beverage of choice. Check Pinterest for inspiration and creative ideas for your kitchen coffee or tea station.

31. Swap non-energy efficient light bulbs for energy efficient light bulbs – $25+

Save on your energy bills by upgrading your light bulbs. Finding the right wattage is key, as some energy efficient bulbs can be more dim than non-energy efficient bulbs, making a room darker than before. These bulbs from Sylvania are $25 for 24 bulbs and rated almost 5 stars and more than 14k reviews!

Weekend Home Improvement Projects For Easy Home Improvement

Whether you are a super handy person or just starting out, we hope you found some inspiration for weekend home improvement projects to not only create a happy cozy house but get a return on your investment. Happy homing!

Note – Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.