Easy Décor Projects for the Weekend

Well, here are some home décor project ideas that aren’t that major. You can complete them in a weekend—or less. And they’re the sorts of changes you could make in an apartment or rental house without risking too much.

Start by picking up your supplies at a hardware store or home center on Friday, maybe while you’re running errands or on your way home from work. Then, complete your projects on Saturday and leave Sunday for anything left over, like cleaning up.

Replacing Light Switch Plates
One of the easiest ways to update your home décor is to update the light switches. It’s usually the first thing you reach for when you walk into a room, so a new switch plate will surely get noticed.

Find a decorative switch plate that will fit the décor of the rest of your room. Replace a plastic plate with one of brass, copper or chrome for a more refined and decorative look. There are even switch plates that have textured designs or have pretty color schemes.

Using a screwdriver, unscrew the old plate, then simply screw in the new plate into the same holes in the switch.

Hanging New Artwork
A very dramatic—and very simple—way to update your wall décor is by hanging some new artwork. Many home stores sell reproductions of famous paintings and photographs, or you can look for inexpensive artwork ideas in our Low Budget, High Art article.

For tips on safely hanging and beautifully arranging your artwork, read the Picture Perfect Hanging Tips and Artfully Arranged Artwork articles.

Add An Accent Wall
A slightly more involved wall décor project than the ones above is to paint one wall in a room a different color. This accent wall is an easy way to add vibrancy to a room.

When you choose the wall that you’re going to turn into an accent wall, decide what the best feature in the room is and use paint to bring that out even more. It should probably be the focal point of the room, like a wall with a fireplace or a great piece of art on it.

Take a look around your room and figure out what the dominant color in the room is. Then use our Color Made Simple article to choose a color that’s complementary to that color. To learn more about prepping your wall for paint, read our Perfect Painting Prep article.

Tip: When painting an accent wall, use a small roller to avoid wasting paint—a bigger roller will absorb more paint.

Sometimes it’s difficult to decide on a single accent color for your space. If you’re torn between two or three hues, you can incorporate all of them by painting bold bands of color across your wall. Simply use painter’s tape to create broad stripes, double-checking with a level to ensure your lines are straight. Paint your desired colors in between the tape strips, then let dry and remove for a wall that’s all your own.

Tip: Stripes can manipulate the perceived size of your room. Horizontal bands will make any wall appear wider, and vertical lines lend a sense of height to low-ceilinged spaces.

Replacing Your Bathroom Hardware
Another simple bathroom décor project is to update the hardware in a bathroom. Cabinet knobs and drawer pulls are simple to replace and can really give your bathroom décor a different look. These updates also will bring a new look your kitchen. All you need is a screwdriver to remove the old hardware and install the new pieces.

If you’d rather use the metal hardware you already have but it’s looking a little dingy, just remove it and make it shine again with steel wool.

Before you purchase new hardware, measure the distance between the screw holes on the cabinet handles and the supports on the towel bar. Make sure that you buy new hardware that will match those distances.

Replacing the cabinet and drawer knobs or handles is also an easy décor project. Simply open the cabinet or drawer and unscrew it in the back. Then place your new knob and handle over the existing holes and screw them into place.

Lights! Color! Action!
When it comes to revamping a room, Home Décor Maven Wanda N. Colón says it’s really as simple as 1, 2, 3. As you make changes to your space, keep this design guru’s décor principles in mind.

• Lights! Having the right lighting can set the right mood for a room. Try using some amber-tinted light bulbs in your dining room to give a warm glow to your evening meals.
  
• Color! One of the simplest and least taxing ways to redesign a space is to change its color. Painting the walls with a different color or putting up new wallpaper is a great way to transform a room and give it your own personal touch.
  
• Action! Let your personality shine through by filling your space with family photos and art that represents your passions. Using art from local artists who can give you original, heartfelt works will put a truly unique spin on your design. It’s also a good idea to shop for accessories at different stores so that you can introduce yourself to exciting new ideas and designs while ensuring that your space is really your own.

You can have a completely new home décor look for some of the most important rooms in little over a day. This is a fun way to easily change the look in some of your rooms and to add some visual interest in your home.