Sweater Weather, Snug Home: 5 Easy Fall Projects Under $50

Westlake Ace Hardware shares quick projects that make the most of autumn before winter and the holidays arrive.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (September 29, 2026) – With cool mornings, crunchy leaves and pumpkin everything, fall is the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the weather and get your home ready for the holidays and winter. The team at Westlake Ace Hardware has five easy projects that every homeowner can tackle, each for under $50.

“Fall is the sweet spot for home projects,” said Alicia Weber, senior director of marketing for Ace Retail Group, the parent company of Westlake Ace Hardware. “The weather is on your side, the list is manageable, and a little effort now means fewer surprises later and a home that’s ready when the holiday guests start arriving.”

• Spray Paint Your Way to Curb Appeal. Tired light fixtures, planters, and urns can look brand new in an afternoon with a fresh coat of spray paint. To make a great first impression on holiday guests, choose a paint such as Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover. It is a “paint-and-primer” in one, works on metal, wood and most plastics. A few tips:

• • Clean and dry each piece, then lightly sand any shiny or flaking spots so the paint sticks. Test plastic pots in a hidden spot first.
  • Turn off the power at the breaker before working on a light fixture. If you can, take it down and paint it on a drop cloth. If not, tape off the glass, sockets and wiring.
  • Spray several light coats instead of one heavy one, and paint on a dry day when temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees.

• Spot Seed Your Lawn. Cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, establish best in fall, when the soil is still warm and the nights are cool. Rake out dead grass and debris from thin or bare patches, loosen the soil, spread a fall grass seed blend at the rate on the bag and keep the area evenly moist until new grass comes in. Don’t put this one off. The seeding window closes as the weather cools in late October and early November.

• Say So Long to the Garden Hose. Water left in a hose or an outdoor spigot can freeze, expand and crack pipes, which is a surprise no one wants in January. Before the first hard freeze, disconnect hoses, drain them, coil them and store them in the garage or shed. Then shut off the water to outdoor spigots at the interior valve if your home has one, open the spigot to drain what’s left and top it with an insulated spigot cover.

• Give Your Furnace a Fresh Filter. A clogged filter makes your furnace work harder to push warm air through the house, which can mean higher energy use and bigger utility bills. Check the size printed on the filter frame, swap in a clean one and pick up a spare or two. Write the date on the frame so you know when the next change is due.

• Power Up Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. October is National Fire Prevention Month, which makes it the perfect time to put fresh batteries in every smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detector in your home. Press the test button on each one, then check the manufacture date on the back. Smoke alarms need replacing every 10 years, so swap out any that are past their expiration date. 

Make sure there is one on every level and outside each sleeping area. With holiday cooking, candles and fireplaces on the way, it’s a small step that brings big peace of mind.