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3 Simple DIY Home Projects For This Fall

October 6, 2022 By: Great Midwest Bank
interior of a home living room decorated in fall colors and decor

There’s something about the Fall season that makes many of us want to add more coziness and warmth to our homes. Maybe we’re trying to nest in preparation for Winter. Or maybe it’s those pumpkin spice lattes getting to our heads! Either way, it’s rewarding to add a little new life and personal touch to your home — without having to invest too much time or money.

We’ve talked about some easy home DIY projects like painting the walls, replacing old light fixtures, adding storage spaces, installing a backsplash in the kitchen, and updating drawer knobs and cabinet handles. What else does that leave us with? Don’t worry — we’re full of great ideas!

If you’re looking for easy projects that will make a big impact inside — and outside — your home, you’ve come to the right place! It’s not always about knocking down walls or overhauling a room with a remodel. We’ll be keeping it simple with small home projects you can tackle and complete in as little as one day. You won’t even have to bribe your friends with pizza and drinks in order to get these projects done!

Give your space an instant lift! Let’s fall into it.

Spice up Your Kitchen

Your kitchen serves a very specific function. But it doesn’t need to stop at that! There are lots of easy ways to not only help make your experience in the kitchen easier but to spruce up the space so it looks amazing too.

Add more personality to the kitchen with pops of color in your smaller kitchen necessities: soap dispensers, hand towels, rugs, small appliances, salt & pepper shakers, and more. The sky’s the limit — think about the look and feel you want in the kitchen. Maybe you want simple elegance with sophisticated minimalistic features. Or perhaps you gravitate toward the eclectic and choose to incorporate fun colors and statement pieces. Whatever you choose, go with pieces that either serve a purpose in the kitchen or that won’t get in your way!

Make some simple quality-of-life changes in your kitchen, too. Perhaps your pots and pans take up too much room in your cabinets or your spices are overflowing from the pantry. Consider hanging a pot rack and adding or upgrading to a big spice rack on the wall.

Another wonderful solution is adding a kitchen cart — it can provide additional storage space and act as a small counter when needed. You can also move it around to wherever you want it. Choose from lots of fun styles and affordable options that fit your vision.

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Freshen the Space up with Plants

Although the leaves are changing colors outside, you can still embrace some greenery inside! Add freshness and flavor to your meals and your decor with a mini herb garden. Start with oregano, thyme, mint, basil and rosemary. A great place for an herb garden is the kitchen. These plants all need at least a little sunlight so space near a window is ideal. Your indoor garden will look beautiful and give you easy access to fresh herbs whenever you need them! Plus, herb gardens look impressive when you entertain guests.

Accent other rooms with plants, too. You can go as big or small as you like! If you feel like you bring bad luck to plants that enter your home due to your lack of a green thumb, start small and easy. Try a low-maintenance succulent plant like aloe vera. Succulents do not need to be watered as often and tend to be resilient if you accidentally over- or under-water them.

If you do have a green thumb and have some house plants already, consider mixing it up a little. Bring in new, interesting plants to different rooms. Experiment with hanging plants and even air plants.

Fall is also a great time to assess your current plants and re-pot existing plants if they need it. Have some of your plants outgrown their current pots? Upgrade them to bigger ones! If you have baby plants sprouting up give them their own little place to grow too. This is also a great opportunity to pick out interesting planters to decorate your house. Think beyond terracotta — pick out different colored planters that complement each room.

Now that you’re on a roll with the house plants, bring your plant project outside by arranging a chrysanthemum planter on the porch. It’s the perfect way to add some Fall flair to your home with minimal effort and expense. With care, they can last all season. And while you’re outside, we have more projects for you!

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Add Simple Outdoor Touches

How about refreshing your home on the outside by painting your front door? This can change the entire feel of your home, boost its curb appeal, and help it stand out in the neighborhood. Some of our top choices for door colors are navy blue, sage green and brick red. If bold colors aren’t your thing but you still want to switch it up, try going with a neutral color that contrasts with the rest of your home. For example, if your home is a warm neutral color, like tan, try a cool gray color for your door.

Do all your entries have outdoor motion-sensing lights? Maybe you have a front porch light, but your side entry is pitch black at night. Installing a motion sensor light by that side door can be life-changing when you come home with groceries at night — no more fumbling with keys and bags! Simple models are inexpensive and you can easily install them yourself.

While you’re at it, why not make your entryways more inviting to your guests for the holidays? Try adding solar lights to your pathway. They are a simple and inexpensive addition that both look great and help light the way for yourself and visitors.

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Time for a bigger project?

If you want to take your home to the next level and are considering a bigger renovation, we can help you finance whatever project you have your sights set on. Simply contact your local loan officer to get started on covering your renovation financing needs. You can also visit a branch near you, visit our site to apply for a loan, or just give us a call! You’ll experience a state of Bankquility when you choose Great Midwest Bank. Let’s get to work!


This post was originally published in September 2017. It has been updated as of October 2022.

Posted in  Home Equity Loans