The Cheater’s Guide TO HOME IMPROVEMENT

Not ready for a full renovation? Do these 5 things to improve a room.

1. DEEP CLEAN. It’s amazing what a difference deep cleaning can make. Scrub and reseal tile grout, wash the fronts of appliances and cabinets, and steam clean your carpet. Wash textiles too, such as pillow cases, sofa cushions and curtains.

2. PATCH JOB. Fix what’s broken until you can replace it.

For chipped tile, use a tile repair kit. For peeling caulking, pull it out and fill it in new. Learn how to patch small holes in your upholstery, and use YouTube to learn how to fix minor plumbing problems.

3. PAINT AND LIGHTING. If you want a new look for a room, a quick and easy fix is to paint the walls and install a different light fixture. This alone can make the room look new.

4. DÉCOR. Whether you’re renting or saving up for a room remodel, use décor in the meantime to disguise unsightly areas, such as an area rug to cover stained carpet or peeland-stick vinyl over ugly tile.

5. DIY ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES. Once you’re ready to create sawdust and use some power tools, customize your home through DIYed architectural features, such as adding trim and paint to doors, molding to windows and repainting cabinet fronts.