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DIY Projects for First-Time Homeowners

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Owning your first home is an exhilarating experience. After years of saving and months of looking at different properties, you finally own a house with your name on it. As a new homeowner, you may feel anxious about starting some renovations or improvement projects to make the place your own. However, if you are inexperienced when it comes to these things, it’s best to take it slow. Below we’ve highlighted some of our favorite ideas for DIY projects for first-time homeowners. 

DIY Safety

First of all, before you even start drafting a plan, it is important to familiarize yourself with DIY safety best practices. The home holds many potential safety hazards that can turn a fun project into a big mess. Always put safety first with the following rules:

  • Read the manual before using power tools. Keep them out of reach for children and store them properly. Care for your power tools and avoid doing things like yanking the power cord out or placing them near sharp edges, oil, or heat.
  • Wear the right clothes when working on projects. Your outfit should be comfortable but not too loose. Avoid things that dangle like jewelry. Finally, always wear proper safety attire such as goggles, gloves, earplugs and closed-toe shoes when working.
  • Be aware of your surroundings while you work. Take your time with projects and avoid rushing through to finish.
  •  Use proper ladder placement. Recruiting a spotter, if available, is always a good idea.
  • Have a first aid kit handy and stocked with things you might need such as bandages, antibacterial wipes, and wraps for sprains or breaks. 

Beginners DIY Home Projects 

Paint or Wallpaper

Adding a splash of color to a room emits energy through the entire house. Painting or wallpapering is a safe project that helps you make your first house your own. How you decorate your walls is a direct expression of your tastes and creates the vibe of a particular area. The styles and colors you use can have a big impact on the room itself. For instance, outfitting a bedroom in blue tones encourages relaxation as the color is said to bring down blood pressure and slow respiration and heart rate.

Plant a Rain Garden

When it comes to landscaping your yards, you may want to call in a designer before committing to major changes. However, a simple rain garden is something even a novice homeowner can do themselves. A rain garden is a patch of flowers that intercepts runoff when it precipitates. Not only do they keep pesticides and fertilizers from entering your sewer system, rain gardens also absorb excess moisture that would otherwise build up around your foundation, risking flood damage. Check out this tutorial on how to start a rain garden and how to maximize its potential. 

Add Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a homeowner’s secret weapon against sky-high utility bills. By circulating air throughout the room, a ceiling fan helps regulate temperature throughout the year. You can even change its direction to optimize it for the season you are in. During the summer, adjust fans to run counter-clockwise to create a current that moves down and out, which help the ground feel cooler while hot air rises. 

In the winter months, switch the fans to clockwise as a way to create an updraft that pulls cold air up to the ceiling while distributing the warmth the room receives from your central heat, space heater, or fireplace. Learn how to install a ceiling fan in a room yourself with these helpful instructions provided by The Family Handyman. 

As a first time homeowner, you probably want to make your mark on the house. If you want to start a DIY project, always put safety first and start slowly to ensure you don’t bite off more than you can chew. Projects such as painting, planting a rain garden and adding ceiling fans to rooms are all great places to start. 

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