4 Rooms Where Mom Will Love DIY Home Improvements For Mother’s Day

Showing your appreciation on Mother’s Day can be tough if you’ve already given the usual gifts like jewelry, essential oils, flowers or baked goods. Instead, you can consider sprucing up a room in the house to show how much you love her. It doesn’t have to be expensive either — many inexpensive DIY home improvement projects can dramatically improve your living space and make a great gift.

Knock your mom’s socks off on her special day by completing a home improvement project that she’ll love for years to come.

The best way to show your mom you love her is to complete a home improvement project in a space that she’ll use the most. For instance, if she loves to sit outside and read a book to unwind, it might be a good idea to upgrade your outdoor space or build a window seat. Taking some time to think about what your mom will truly enjoy will make an even bigger impact when you surprise her for Mother’s Day.

Other ideas, as you’ll see below, are the living room and the kitchen. Since both these spaces tend to be used the most, your mom might appreciate elements that’ll improve her standard of living or something that is pleasant to her eye.

Although you want to do whatever it takes to make mom happy, you’ll need to consider your budget. You can use that as a guide to determine the best project and squeeze as much value as you can with the money you have.

This room is one of the most used rooms in the home, so it’s natural to want to spruce it up. Many older homes have outdated features such as Formica countertops, older appliances or grimy cabinets.

The great news about the kitchen is that this space offers a lot of potential for remodeling. Maybe you want to completely redo the room or complete a few small DIY home improvement projects here and there. In fact, most projects, no matter how tiny, can really change the feel of the kitchen.

If you have a large budget, some ideas include remodeling the cabinets or updating the countertops. Sure, you can completely replace the cabinets, but that can set you back thousands of dollars and perhaps even more, if you decide to hire a professional.

Instead, you can add a new layer of paint, attach molding and install new hardware to existing cabinets. There are lots of tutorials online, or you can head to your local home improvement store and ask professionals there what types of equipment you’ll need. All of these DIY projects will set you back a few hundred dollars and up to a week of your time.

As for countertops, it’s generally a good idea to hire a contractor to install them if you’re completely replacing them. The cost will depend on the material but can still cost thousands of dollars — more if you’re opting for stone countertops. More budget-friendly options like butcher block countertops are widely available. For a super low-cost project, you can create a concrete finish or lay down contact paper on top of existing countertops.

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to spend a lot of money on a project, consider updating your backsplash. You can purchase tiles in myriad styles and colors and install them fairly simply. For an even simpler project, there are peel-and-stick tiles that look just as nice. Otherwise, adding or improving storage spaces throughout the kitchen can have a great effect — you’ll only need a few hours of your time.

Sprucing up your outdoor space, whether that’s a balcony or backyard patio, will offer your mom the chance to unwind and entertain friends for brunch. A simple yet effective project is a  patio power wash and other outdoor surfaces (like the siding) — it’s amazing what a few hours of your time (and a trip to Home Depot) can do. Other small but mighty projects include repainting the deck, rearranging existing furniture, and repairing worn-out patio furniture. Again, these may take you a few hours and less than $50 for a can of paint.

Larger projects include laying flagstone to extend or create a new patio space — you can use it as a sitting area or place a fire pit to use at night. Adding large planters or a water feature can provide soothing elements. Most of these projects will set you back a few hundred dollars.

Depending on how your family uses the space, ideas for improving the living room include installing a new media or sound system and upgrading light fixtures. There are options that will range from the low to high end of your budget. For instance, light fixtures can set you back a few hundred dollars, whereas a fancy sound system can cost thousands.

A simple improvement would be to repaint the room — a gallon of paint costs around $30, and how many you need will depend on the size of your room. Perhaps your mom would appreciate a space to store her overflowing book collection or hobby supplies. In this case, grab some screws and a drill so you can install shelving units or a custom bookcase. That way, your mother can store all her items safely without your home looking cluttered.

The bathroom is similar to the kitchen in terms of makeover potential (and comes with a similar price tag). For those who feel adventurous, you can do a complete remodel where you replace the bathtub, vanity and even the tiles. However, this will probably cost thousands of dollars depending on the size of your room and whether you hire a contractor. Even replacing one element can be pricey.

Vinyl is a great alternative if you want to replace your bathroom flooring but aren’t interested in ripping up what’s already there. In most cases, you can place it on top of existing flooring, though you may want to check with a home improvement professional before you start. You’ll pay a few hundred dollars in materials but once installed, the flooring can last you a long time.

If you’re looking for a smaller project, you can frame bathroom mirrors with molding or pieces of stained wood, refinish faucets with paint, or add shelves for extra storage space.

There are so many choices for home improvement projects you can complete to give Mom on Mother’s Day. Creating a large impact is easy if you choose rooms she’ll spend the most time in, whether that’s an outdoor space, kitchen or living room. And once you decide on which project, big or small, you want to tackle, make sure you figure out how long it’ll take so you can get it completed in time.

But don’t forget your budget. Saving up a few hundred dollars on short notice can be feasible if all you’re looking to do is to embark on a DIY home improvement project. However, for larger ones, don’t let the initial cost put you off. Using a home improvement loan from Rocket Loans® can be an affordable way to help fund your household projects in time for Mother’s Day. Learn more about Rocket Loans and how you can get pre-qualified today.