15 Home Renovations You Can Do Right Now

When deciding where to invest home renovation dollars, it's a safe bet to keep your kitchen and bathrooms on the top of the list. As two of the most important rooms in terms of resale value, these rooms can have a tremendous impact then it comes time to sell your home. The great thing about a backsplash is it can be as simple or complex as you want it to be with a myriad of options to suit your style and budget. Even a small project such as a stainless steel backsplash can take your cooking space to a whole new level. Additionally, a tile backsplash is a time-honored addition that is durable and beautiful. Photo: Melina Gillies

As the first thing visitors encounter, your front entrance says a lot about what lays beyond the threshold, yet it is usually a renovation that gets put off or forgotten about. However, replacing an exterior door is fairly straightforward and is a perfect weekend project for those with a little carpentry know-how. Here's what you need to know to replace an exterior door.

If door replacement is not in your budget, a fresh coat of paint and new hardware can make your doors shine. For exterior doors, a heavy lock-set paired with a matching kick plate can make an enormous impact for a small investment. Inside your home, upgrading your door hardware and hinges is a fantastic way to breathe new life into older doors and make an instant impact. Plus: Great Tips for Painting Doors Photo: Melina Gillies

You may not notice if your shower caulk is in need of repair, but you will certainly notice the positive result of having it done. Not only will it make your shower look and feel cleaner, it will protect your home against unseen leaks and will eradicate any mildew which may be forming on the seams. Follow our definitive bathtub caulking tips for a professional result, but don't forget to remove the old caulk like a pro beforehand.

Simple, cheap and effective, this job may not be the most glamorous of home renovations, but replacing old, discolored outlet covers and switches with upgraded versions will bring your older home into this century and give you lighting and power options you never had before. Whether it's a dimming switch or an outlet with built-in USB charger, wiring outlets and switches the safe and easy way is doable for even beginner DIY-ers.

Proper cleaning can greatly extend the life of your faucets, but sometimes there's no cure for dated style, except a replacement. When dealing with any faucet, the toughest part of the job can be removing the old one. Once that is done, and you follow our guide to replacing your kitchen or bathroom faucet you should have no problem getting a look you love for less. Photo: Melina Gillies

Sometimes a good clean is all you need, but if your deck is warped, flaking or otherwise deteriorating, you may need some new ideas. Check out five solutions for a shabby deck that detail exactly what you'll need to make this outdoor space a family favorite.

Many homeowners are nervous to tackle tiling a floor, however with a little layout planning, and a dedicated weekend, you can have professional results that will last. Tiling a bathroom floor is a great place to start as bathrooms generally have a smaller footprint, making it the perfect tiling job for first-timers, or to experiment with a unique tile shape or size. Plus: Grouting Tile Floors: Porous and Uneven Tiles Photo: Melina Gillies

There are many ways to tackle this DIY renovation, and just as many reasons to do it. New lighting adds personality and can drastically change the scope of a room by adding mood or making it feel larger. Even old unwanted features such as can lights can be retrofitted with pendants or chandeliers adding a bit of glam in the most unlikely of places. Consider unexpected upgrades like adding external style barn lighting above a bathroom vanity or a chandelier in the bathroom. One thing's for sure, adding a ceiling light fixture is a perfect home renovation task for any homeowner.

Unless you have a home with built in character and foot-high baseboards, chances are you're dealing with builders-basic baseboard throughout your space. Beefing up the molding through wider baseboards and casings can be an easy way to add character to even the newest of homes. If you're feeling particularly energized, consider installing crown molding for custom elegance. Plus: How to Cope Baseboard Trim with a Mitre Saw

The beauty of hardwood floors are a sought after flooring material in any home. If you've got them, but they've seen better days, consider refinishing them instead of doing a full replacement. A weekend job that pays dividends, you can even change the color of your floors to better suit your style. Plus: How to Clean Hardwood Floors with Natural Products

Instead of replacing your old kitchen cabinets, make them new by repainting them. With an inexpensive paint sprayer and a few gallons of paint, you can transform your kitchen in a weekend. Plus: How to Choose Paint Colors

Few energy saving improvements pay off as fast as a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can easily save you anywhere from 5 to 20 percent off your home energy bills and can even learn your patterns and self-adjust saving you even more. Here's how to install a programmable thermostat quickly and easily.

Having a smart home doesn't have to mean futuristic. There are several ways to take advantage of new technology in an older home. Whether you equip your home with wireless entry to make life a little easier or install technology to keep your home safe in an emergency, you can keep the character of your home intact while taking advantage of all of the perks technology has to offer!