Simple ways to update your decor

Although replacing a floor can give your room a new look, you don't have to spend a lot of money or be an experienced DIY'er to give your home an upgrade or two.

Here are some simple things you can do to your home or apartment that don't involve lots of tools and/or money.

Speaking of floors, you can put down a new rug instead of replacing your flooring. If the rug is large enough, it will almost be like a whole floor. It's easy to switch it out later, too.

Window coverings come in tons of colors, different materials and install with little or no big hardware installations. Tension rods can be installed for drapes in seconds and they even make tension window shades now.

Replacing a ceiling fixture can be a stretch for a novice handyman or woman, but anyone can plug in a new lamp. Table and floor lamps are much more stylish anyway. Sometimes just changing the lampshade can do the trick. And again, you can switch either out when your decor or your tasks change.

As far as existing ceiling fixtures go, you can change out the bulb covers in many cases, and no wiring needs to take place. Ceiling-fan blades and globes also can be replaced easily in most cases.

Painting doesn't need to be a big project, either. Sometimes just painting one "focal point" wall or area is all it takes to give your room a new look.

New pillows can change the color of your furniture. For even more of a change, put on a slipcover.

The idea is to compromise on big changes, especially if you are unable to make them. Sometimes it's the little things that can make a big difference.

Recycled containers

Reusing containers is a great way to recycle them and keep a busy workshop better organized. I love to store hardware in the empty containers that CDs and DVDs come in. The clear plastic top portion can hold a lot of stuff, and the bottom twists in place to lock it closed. Flip it upside down and use the top to hold your hardware. You can store a lot of different things in containers like this, so before tossing them, see what you can come up with.

Keep items handy

Hanging things on a garage or shop wall is one of the easiest and best ways to store them, especially those you need often or when you are in a hurry. All you have to do is install short sections of pipe is using a spade bit to drill a hole into a stud, about 1-inch deep, and tap the PVC pipe into the hole. There's no need for glue, as most will fit tightly. Plus, you can remove it later if you want to.

Super hints

• You can make your own coasters, and it's so easy and fun to do. Buy or use some old ceramic tiles. Glue rubber, felt or cork bumpers on the back side to prevent damage to your table. Then decorate the tops with photos, pictures, decals or any paper product. You can add a layer of clear protection with polyurethane if you need to. That's all you have to do.

• I've had to get rid of a lot of clothes through the years that had grease stains - either that or turn them into "work clothes." But I was advised by a reader to use waterless hand cleaner to get the grease out. It only works on grease stains that haven't been washed or dried yet, but it will work on most of these. Just rub it into the stain and let it sit for a few minutes and then wash it in cold water. If the stain doesn't come out the first time, repeat it. Dry it only after the stain is gone.

• If you need to use your circular saw to cut into a wall or any other vertical surface, start at the top and work downward. This way, your saw will work for you via gravity.

Q. I'm going to add a tile backsplash to my kitchen. I'm really excited to do this but am a little concerned about making the cuts around some areas. What's the best tool for a novice to use to trim the tiles?

A. Your best tool is a wet saw, which you can rent and use. There also are some manual cutters available at your home center, which work OK. It also might be possible to take the tiles, marked for your cuts, to a tile dealer and see if they will do it for you at a very small cost.

Q. There is a draft coming from the cabinet under my stovetop. I know the gas lines come into the kitchen behind the cabinet, but it looks sealed up from what I can see. How can I seal the cabinet up better and prevent the drafts?

A. See if you can see a gap on the outside of the house. If so, you can seal it up with expanding foam like Great Stuff. You can caulk the inside of the cabinet too. Don't forget to seal up the toe-kick under the cabinet, too.

Q. My kids go around the house "shocking" each other with static electricity. It's kind of funny, but I know it can be a symptom of a problem in my house. Is there some way to eliminate it, or at least cut back on it somehow?

A. Usually the problem is low humidity in your home. You can add a humidifier to your home. Many people do this not so much for the static electricity, but for comfort. One thing to watch out for is the static electricity discharge that may damage some electronics, like digital thermostats and even household electronics.

Reader tips

• I still use the wooden stir stick that you get with your paint at the hardware store. I usually use a freshly mixed bucket, so stirring isn't critical. But when I need to do more thorough stirring, I use my special stir stick. I drilled about 10 holes, spaced evenly apart into the stir stick. These holes help move the paint better when I try to stir it. It works about twice as fast, and I like it much better than a powered mixer that can make a big mess.

• I cleaned my vinyl screens after this summer. I took them all down and washed them with soap and water. After drying them, I decided to use some silicone car cleaner to condition them and help protect them from the weather. They look better, and I feel like the conditioner will keep them in good shape for another year.

• I found a solution for my walls at my home center that I must tell you about. I have two small boys and they are rough on our walls, banging into them and getting them dirty all the time. They make plastic corner strips that you can just attach over the wall corners. I paid $3 apiece for mine. They don't look bad and come in several neutral colors, including clear. I only wish I had found them years ago, but they will cover most of the recent boo-boos and prevent any more.

• My wife uses Velcro for some of her sewing projects, and I've learned how great it can be around the house. I used some of her leftover scraps and have started using it in my shop. I put a long strip of it on my shop wall and then put small pieces on some of my hand tools. Now I can stick the hand tools right to the strip on the wall and easily pull them off when I need to use one. I am also asking her to make me some strips that have one part on one end and the sticky part of the other for holding electrical cords and hoses together when stored.

• This summer we used our grill often. It got really greasy, and I found a great way to clean it. It's super easy: I place both grates into a plastic trash bag, with no holes in it, and pour a cup of ammonia into the bag and seal it up tightly. Leave it outside in a safe place, away from plants and pets, overnight. The ammonia fumes are strong and will dissolve the grease. Be careful when you open the bag and do it outside. Wash it off with a hose before bringing it inside for a final cleaning. You'll be amazed!

Shoptalk

• Most baseboard heaters aren't very attractive, even the newer models. Well now you can cover these and actually use them for decor in your home. OverBoards install easily over standard radiant baseboards, in as little as 15 minutes. They are made of heavy-duty aluminum, so they are completely safe and energy efficient. They can be custom-fitted, and they come in three distinct designs, which are very nice looking. They are powder-coated, so they are not easily scratched and are made to last a long time. Check them out at www.go-overboard.com.

• When you need to fill a hole in wood before finishing a project, you want to work fast but need to wait until the filler has set before sanding and painting. You can take the guesswork out of this step by using Elmer's Color-Changing Wood Filler. It goes on pink but, when cured, is white. This way, you can be sure when it's OK to move forward with your project. To find out more, go to www.elmers.com or see it in action at your hardware store or home center.

• Write to Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit online at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2014, Cowles Syndicate Inc.