Holiday-Ready Home on a Budget: 15 DIY Projects You Can Start Now
Feeling overwhelmed about hosting this holiday season because your house isn’t “ready”? Take a deep breath – you’re not alone. Maybe the budget is tight. Maybe the to-do list is way too long. Or maybe you don’t know where to begin.
We’ve been there — juggling kids, chasing deadlines, squeezing pennies, and wondering if anyone would notice the scuffed baseboards or outdated light fixtures.
But here’s the good news: You don’t need a magazine-perfect makeover to make your home feel warm and inviting.
Sometimes, all it takes is a weekend project, a $10 fix, or just one small win at a time.
So take a deep breath. Grab a cup of something cozy. And let’s tackle a few easy projects together – little by little, starting now.
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Hi! If you’re new here…
We’re Jen and Trent – your DIY-obsessed, budget-conscious home buddies. We’ve renovated multiple fixer-uppers while raising two kids, navigating financial curveballs, and even recovering from open-heart surgery. We believe your home should bring you joy — without maxing out your credit card or your sanity.
We share real life renovations, affordable DIYs, and hard-earned lessons so you can create a space you love – starting right where you are.
Simple Paint Projects That Instantly Refresh
Give Baseboards & Trim a Quick Touch-Up
Time: 1-2 hours
Cost: Under $20 (using leftover paint)
You don’t need to repaint your entire house. Just touching up those scuffed baseboards and door frames makes your space feel clean, fresh, and cared for.
Pro Tip: A small angled brush and painter’s tape are your best friends. You can knock out one room at a time during nap time or in the evenings.
Paint a Statement Wall
Time: One Weekend
Cost: approx $25-50
Want to give your room a little “wow” factor before the tree goes up?
A painted accent wall or limewash treatment can completely change the vibe.
Check out our favorite ideas:
Tip: Use leftover paint or snag a sample size to keep costs down.
Patch and Paint High Traffic Walls
Time: 2-3 hours
Cost: ~$15
Entryways and hallways see the most wear and tear. Yeah, we’re side-eyeing you – that one scuffed wall behind the chairs!
Patching dents and scuffs and doing a quick paint touch-up can completely refresh a space without a full repaint.
Refresh the Front Door
Time: Half a day
Cost: ~$30
Your front door is the first thing guests see — and one of the easiest upgrades you can make that costs very little.
Choose a color that reflects your style or the season, grab a quart of exterior paint, and boom: instant curb appeal.
Tip: Don’t forget to clean the door first and lightly sand if it’s glossy. A smooth start means a longer-lasting finish!
Here are some of our favorite front door projects:
Lighting and Hardware That Feel Like Upgrades
Swap Light Bulbs for Warm White LEDs
Time: 15 minutes
Cost: $10-15
The right lighting changes everything – literally. Warm white LED bulbs make your space feel cozy and inviting.
We love these wifi RCA Lights and have them all throughout our home. They work with an app that allows you to adjust brightness or create an on/off schedule for each bulb.
Upgrade Switch Plates and Outlet Covers
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $10
These are so easy to ignore, but something all your guests will touch if staying with you.
Replacing old, yellowed or mismatched ones gives the room a cleaner, more cohesive look and will make a big difference once updated.
You can often find multipacks and is one of the easiest ways to make a room feel fresh!
Upgrade Curtain Rods or Hang Real Curtains
Time: 1-2 hours
Cost: ~$25
Curtain rods can instantly elevate a room’s appearance. Even if your curtains are staying, swapping basic rods for wood, matte black or aged brass can level up the look.
Window treatments make rooms feel finished. Choose a more substantial or stylish rod, and hang your curtains a little higher and wider to make the windows look bigger.
Update Hardware on Cabinets or Drawers
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $20-40
One of the fastest ways to make your kitchen or bathroom feel updated on a tiny budget is to switch out dated handles or knobs for something modern and fresh.
You can find lots of affordable options on Amazon and only take a few minutes to change out.
It’s a small swap that makes a big visual difference.
Bigger DIYs That Are Doable
Transform Your Fireplace
Time: 1 afternoon
Cost: $30-40
Your fireplace is the heart of your holiday space. So giving it a new look will definitely help create a space you love this season.
When we applied lime slurry to our fireplace, it changed the entire feel of the room making an instant improvement.
A deep clean or a quick limewash makeover can completely transform it.
Add Wall Molding for an Instant Upgrade
Time: A weekend
Cost: $50-100
Want your space to feel more high-end without spending a fortune? Wall molding is one of our favorite tricks. It adds depth, texture, and charm to any room—and it’s surprisingly beginner-friendly!
Whether you choose picture frame molding, board and batten, or a modern grid, this project instantly makes your space feel custom and cozy.
Start with one wall (behind your tree is a great spot!), grab a level and some trim boards, and you’ve got a weekend DIY that looks like it came straight from a magazine.
Powder Room Refresh
Time: 1-2 Weekends
Cost: $200
If you’ve got holiday guests coming, the powder room is the perfect space to give a little love. It’s small (read: fast and affordable to update), and it’s one of the few places every visitor is guaranteed to see—so why not make it shine?
Freshen it up with a coat of paint, swap out that builder-grade mirror, or add a peel-and-stick wallpaper feature wall for a little wow. Even switching to new hand towels, updating cabinet hardware, or adding a scented candle can make it feel intentional and cozy.
This is one of those weekend wins that makes your whole home feel more pulled together—without pulling apart your wallet.
Install a New Stair Runner
Time: 1 Weekend
Cost: $200 (depending on the runner you purchase)
If your stairs are looking a little tired—or feel a bit slick during sock season—a DIY stair runner is a gorgeous, functional upgrade you can tackle in a weekend.
Not only does it add warmth, texture, and instant character, but it also helps prevent slips (hello, excited kids running to the tree). Choose an affordable rug runner, a staple gun, and a little determination—you’ll be amazed at the transformation.
Tip: Look for washable or indoor/outdoor runners for durability, especially in high-traffic homes.
Whether your vibe is classic, modern, or cottage cozy, this project delivers a big visual punch for a pretty low cost. Plus, every time you go up and down the stairs, you’ll think, “Yep. I did that.”
Projects You Can’t See That Make A Difference
Inspect Your Fireplace or Chimney
Time: 1 Day
Cost: $75 – $125
Nothing says “holiday magic” like a crackling fire—but before you light that first log, take a few minutes to give your fireplace and chimney some love.
Check for built-up soot, debris, or any odd odors. Make sure the damper opens and closes properly, and if it’s been a while, consider scheduling a professional chimney sweep. It’s one of those not-so-glamorous tasks that can make a big difference in safety and peace of mind.
And while you’re at it? Give the hearth a good clean and consider a cosmetic refresh—limewash, paint, or a DIY mantel makeover can turn it into the heart of your home this season.
Here are some fireplace projects we completed:
- How to Makeover a Brick Fireplace with Lime Slurry
- How We Replaced Our Log Lighter with Gas Logs
- Fireplace Makeover: Filling Recessed Mortar Joints
Chalk Your Windows and Doors
Time: A Weekend
Cost: $50
Cold drafts have zero place in your cozy holiday home. One of the easiest ways to keep the warmth in (and your energy bill down) is by caulking around your windows and doors.
This small, budget-friendly project makes a huge difference in comfort. Look for cracks or gaps where the trim meets the wall, or where old caulk has dried and pulled away. A $5 tube of paintable caulk and a little patience can tighten up your home and make it feel snug as a bug in a Christmas rug.
Rearrange A Room or Add a Rug
Time: 1-2 Hours
Cost: Free
I have to confess, I’m a constant redecorranger. So swapping furniture from room to room is an often occurrence in our home. But it truly can make a space feel completely new! And it’s free!
And adding texture underfoot makes a room feel complete. Rugs help define a space and add warmth during chilly months. It grounds the room and adds instant coziness.
Try moving your furniture around or switch an existing rug to a new spot or look for secondhand options.
You don’t have to do it all. Just choose one thing this week. Then another next week.
Creating a peaceful, festive home doesn’t mean a huge budget or HGTV makeover. It means doing what you can, with what you have, where you are.
We’re cheering you on. And we’ll be right here with ideas and support every step of the way.
I’m so glad this inspired you and that you are taking the time to go ahead and prep! That will save you a bunch of stress getting those projects completed before the craziness of the holidays starts. Good luck with your cabinets!
I love these ideas! I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I found this post. We agreed to host family for the holidays and as soon as I got off the phone agreeing to it, I started looking around our house and realized we needed to do some serious updates. We were already planning on investing a lot into painting our kitchen cabinets, so all of these other ideas are perfect things that we can do on a budget to give our home a refresh without needing to make it a huge project. Thank you so much for sharing! You gave me the inspiration I needed!