Simple upgrades can drastically improve the feel and function of your home. Read on for clever tips, projects, and products that offer a big payoff for a small investment in time and money.
Block drafts and highlight the entry with a curtain on the inside of the front door.
Lush Decor’s Mia Panel Pair in eggshell white with silver and black stripes, about $40, and Talon Valance in gray, about $20; wayfair.com
Wire up a rustic lantern over a dining table as a striking substitute for the typical chandelier.
Hampton Bay Hanging 3-Light Outdoor Aged Iron Lantern, about $60; homedepot.com
Cover a ceiling in cork for a cozy effect that also absorbs noise. Trim cork sheets to size. Spread adhesive on ceiling, position cork, and roll into place, securing corners with brad nails.
Natural Tan Composition Cork, about $3 per square foot, and Forbo adhesive, about $10 per quart; bangorcork.com
Adorn your door with house numbers in an oversize fancy font so that friends can find you easily. Stick-on vinyl decals in a range of fonts and colors make it simple.
Similar: From $10; etsy.com/shop/vinylizeit
Rehang an existing door, or a new salvaged one, as a space-saving slider using barn-door hardware for a chic industrial look.
Barn-door install kit, about $95; hardwareworld.com
This article originally appeared on This Old House.
More from This Old House:
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- TIME’s Top 10 Photos of 2024
- Why Gen Z Is Drinking Less
- The Best Movies About Cooking
- Why Is Anxiety Worse at Night?
- A Head-to-Toe Guide to Treating Dry Skin
- Why Street Cats Are Taking Over Urban Neighborhoods
- Column: Jimmy Carter’s Global Legacy Was Moral Clarity
Contact us at letters@time.com