Saturdays are for DIY.
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Transform Your Backyard with a Gravel Path
Numerous areas in your yard would benefit from a gravel pathway, such as leading to your front door, a shed, through a garden, or connecting the front and backyard through the side yard. Gravel paths are less costly and labor-intensive than other options, like creating a brick walkway or pouring concrete. What’s also great is that they can be made as simple or elaborate as you like.
Skip hiring a pro with this weekend project for how to make a gravel path. “Gravel comes in 50-pound bags, and you should budget for at least 20 bags for a short walkway,” Niemela says. But be sure not to skip on a $40 tamper tool, he says, or you will spend all year raking loose stones back into place. “That is about $200 in supplies for a 15-foot path that actually lasts.”
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Upgrade Your Mailbox
Is your mailbox looking a little rough around the edges? Does your mail carrier shake their head in shame every time they deliver your letters? Not to worry, because in just a few hours you can add instant curb appeal to your home by upgrading your mailbox. Here’s how to paint your mailbox, or if it needs more than a little color, how to install a brand new mailbox.
You might also need to think about replacing the mailbox post, which is another easy project you can do in a few hours.
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Add a Touch of Class with Modern House Numbers
Here’s another cool way to add to your home’s curb appeal: installing modern house numbers. We designed this project to show how a set of numbers on the front of your home can set the stage for what lies beyond the door. Plus, it’s beginner-friendly.
Just be sure to invest in the right hardware when choosing this weekend project, Niemela says. “House numbers sound basic, but I see people splurge on $70 modern metal numbers and then attach them with the wrong screws, so they are crooked after the first rain,” he says. Niemela recommends stainless steel fasteners, drill pilot holes, and also always checking the numbers for visibility from the street before you install them.
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Install a New Porch Light
Installing hanging porch lights can dramatically improve your outdoor space’s ambiance. And while it’s true that installing or changing a basic light fixture requires a high regard for safety and some attention to detail, it’s not complicated. Nor does it require expensive tools. Just remember the cardinal rule: Cut off the power to the source and test it before you touch it. Here is the process for getting it done.
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Build a Garden Arbor
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can give your garden a major upgrade with this easy-t0-build garden arbor project. Building and installing the arbor in your outdoor space takes about two days of work, but you’re best off spreading it over a three-day weekend. You can build it in a day, add a coat of finish the next morning, let it dry overnight and set up the arbor the following day.
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Make a Birdhouse
Here’s a woodworking classic that’s easy to do with the kids or grandkids. We built this birdhouse with scraps from around the shop, and it only takes a few hours to make. Rather than re-do someone’s old summer camp project, this one features a unique teardrop shape. It also uses the Japanese art of Shou Sugi Ban, charring wood to waterproof it and create an interesting contrast in the wood.
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Create Custom Patio Chairs
It’s challenging to find patio chairs that offer greater comfort, ease of maintenance and simplicity than these. This patio chair weekend project is hard to beat and easy to make and maintain. The design is based on a couple of chairs our editor had at his family cabin for more than a decade.
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Build Your Own Cornhole Boards
Cornhole is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, and with this DIY weekend project it’s easier than ever to get set up to play. Here is how to build your own cornhole boards that are easy to customize and carry around the yard — let the games begin!
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Install or Replace Your Storm Door
Not all Saturday morning projects are fun and games, but adding a storm door will allow you to bring the outside in … without bugs bothering you. Plus, storm doors serve a purpose, protecting your exterior door from the elements. Here, we show you how to add a storm door in less than an hour.
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Build Yourself a Hammock Stand
After spending your Saturday morning crushing some awesome projects, it’s time to relax. So put the tools away, crack open a cold one, and slink down in your hammock. This foldable hammock stand will take just a few hours to build, while providing endless hours or chill time.
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Organize Your Closet with a New Shelving System
Closet storage and organization starts from the top down. If you have standard ceilings there could be a good 24 to 30 inches of open space above the rod in your closet. To throw one shelf above a clothes rod in a closet would be easy but, why not take advantage of all that space and customize it a bit further to fit closed plastic shoes bins and fabric boxes? This how-to for building a two-tiered closet organizer shelf for the upper portion of a closet will take a day to complete less than $200.
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Make a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall transforms a blank wall into a personal narrative, and while this type of artistic display requires careful curation, thoughtful selection, and intentional arrangement, it’s perfect for DIY beginners. The art of creating a gallery wall involves understanding how various elements work together to create a cohesive visual story. Colors, sizes, textures, and themes must harmonize to produce a statement that reflects your unique style and personality. Here’s a step-by-step guide for designing and installing a stunning gallery wall, from the initial concept to the final installation.
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Step Up Your House Plant Game with Kokedama
For plant enthusiasts, Kokedama, which translates to “moss ball” in Japanese, offers a creative and visually appealing way to incorporate greenery into your home. Rather than using pots, making your own Kokedama masterpiece involves wrapping the plant’s root system in a moss-covered soil ball, resulting in a natural and visually striking presentation.
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Turn Your Old Phone Jack Into a Secret Hiding Spot
Looking for a quirky weekend project? We all know landlines are a thing of the past, rendering the phone jacks in most homes useless, so we created a weekend project that turns your old telephone wall jack into a mini secret safe. With the wires removed, you’ll have space to hide some cash, jewelry or small collectibles. Then find or make something decorative to cover the opening, and no one will ever suspect there’s loot hiding behind it!
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Build a Clothing Rack On Wheels
Let’s face it: We probably could all use a little more space. If your closet is jam-packed with coats, shoes, and everything in between, consider this beginner level woodworking project for building a custom clothing rack on wheels.
This is weekend project is the perfect carpentry 101 lesson because the only cuts you will need to make are with the 1×2 trim — the plywood sheet you can purchase already cut. The process is more about putting the pieces together than crafting intricate angles.
FAQs
How do I know if a DIY project is too advanced for me?
Before starting any project, Niemela recommends asking yourself three questions to determine if you feel it is within your scope of ability: How much will it cost me to fix if I mess up? Can I finish in a weekend? Do I need a permit? “If a mistake means spending $300 to call a pro anyway, I suggest you pass,” Niemela says. If you need a ton of expensive new tools just to start, they project is not ‘cheap’ anymore, he adds, which may mean skipping.
Are DIY projects worth the effort compared to hiring someone?
In general, you should hire a professional for any DIY project requiring code compliance, finish-level precision, or structural work, Niemela says. “I always you can swap out a light fixture for under $30 in parts and an hour of your time, but rewiring an electrical panel is where I recommend calling in a licensed electrician every time, no matter how tempting the YouTube video looks.”
And a last piece of advice: If a task takes longer than three hours and is still going sideways, stop! “There is nothing wrong with asking for help or even bailing halfway through a project,” Niemela says. “In fact, knowing when to stop is a skill — $60 for a pro to fix a misaligned drawer saves you $300 and three weekends of anger.”
Expert
Danny Niemela is the Vice President and CFO at ArDan Construction, a luxury home remodeling company in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a professional home designer and remodeler, Danny has been leading high-end kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home remodels since 2007. He is also the current Board Chairman and former President of the Greater Phoenix Chapter of National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
