3 Budget-Friendly Helpful Household Projects

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 30, 2022) – Now is a great time to take advantage of late-summer weather and tackle a few household projects that will beautify, organize, and preserve your home for the months and years ahead – all without breaking the bank. Westlake Ace Hardware suggests these budget-friendly projects:

Less Than $150: Revitalize Your Front Door

Whether you’re planning to welcome guests this holiday season or want to improve your home’s “curb appeal,” one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to accomplish that is with a colorful and stylish front door. With a quart of paint and some new hardware, you can produce stunning results in a weekend.

Since it’s a relatively small area compared to the rest of the house, you can afford to take risks with the front door and be more adventurous with color. When choosing color for a dark-toned or brick house, try a classic red or vibrant yellow to add a bright pop to the facade. If your home is painted a lighter color, try a more fashion-forward option like teal green or a robin’s egg blue.

Just a quart of exterior paint in a cheery yellow like Clark+Kensington “The Bright Side” is plenty to cover most front doors. Adding a new doorknob and hardware gives the door a crisp and finished look.

To repaint a front door, you will need a scraper, painter’s tape, a paint roller, and an angled paintbrush. Follow these eight steps to ensure your front door painting project produces the beautiful results you deserve.

• Remove any non-permanent hardware to provide an even work surface.
• Scrub down the door and remove any built-up dirt and dust.
• Use a paint scraper to remove weathered paint and create a smooth surface, if needed.
• If your door is painted with water-based paint, give it a good sanding with fine-grit sandpaper.
• Use painter’s tape around existing hardware to prevent drips, splatters, and rough edges.
• A primer coat helps produce even paint coverage and lasting results.
• Once painted, let the door dry for at least 24 hours before applying a second coat.
• Remove the painter’s tape and reattach the hardware once everything is fully dry.

Less Than $100: Feed, Weed, and Prep Your Lawn

It’s been a long, hot, and dry summer in many parts of the country, so lawns everywhere are in dire need of a little TLC this fall. September through November are the best times of year to clear out weeds, give your lawn some much-needed nutrition, and prepare it for the winter months.

From late August to mid-September in most parts of the country, apply Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed and Feed with a drop- or broadcast-style spreader. A single 14-pound bag is enough to provide even nutrition and kill pesky summer weeds for a typical 5,000 square foot lawn. For the best results, make sure your lawn gets at least one inch of water per week through the first freeze.

Approximately six weeks later (late October to mid-November), apply Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food. This second feeding is crucial, as it helps prepare your lawn for the stress of winter. The slow-release fertilizer will also help the lawn “green up” faster in the spring.

Less Than $75: Organize Your Garage

Between lawn and garden work, storing equipment for summer activities, and the general wear and tear of active lives, garages can take a beating and get messy in the blink of an eye. For less than $75 and a small investment of time, you can clear the clutter and organize things like tools and sports equipment so they’re safely stored and easy to find.

A Crawford Black Plastic Rack is ideal for hanging lighter items like folding lawn chairs and many garden tools. The Crawford Black Steel Rack is ideal for heavier items like folding lawn chairs. The heaviest items – such as bicycles, leaf blowers, and kayaks – can be securely stored using a series of Racor Rubber Coated Steel U Hooks. When properly mounted on wall studs, each hook can safely hold up to 40 pounds.