There is no need to spend a large amount of money to improve your home. Put in a little “sweat equity” through many low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. If you are planning on selling or just want a nicer place, read these tips on home improvement to add home value.

A. House-Wide Updates

1. Freshen Up the Walls. Make a dramatic difference by doing a repaint. It is best to choose a neutral color scheme to make the space bigger because it unifies the entire house.

2. Install Crown Molding. These decorative molding made from strips of wood add a lot of character to your home. Buy moldings from improvement stores, some even come already painted. To save time, have the store cut it for you.

3. Update Fixtures. Attractive metal switch plates and outlet covers can cost as little as $5 apiece but look much more expensive. Decorative curtain rods can be a little pricier but you can make an inexpensive one look elegant by having it spray-painted with an appealing shade.

4. Install Ceiling Fans. Ceiling fans are appealing addition to any home nowadays. Using ceiling fans can definitely cut down on air conditioning costs, and in fact, they can also reduce heating costs by circulating warm air away from the ceiling.

5. Improve Window Treatments. Consider replacing plastic blinds, paper shades or aluminum blinds with plantation shutters, wooden blinds or nice drapes. It doesn’t matter whether the drapes will come with the house if you are in the market as a seller. The important thing is that they make it look nice while it’s on the market and help you get top dollar for your home.

6. Restore Hardwood Floors. Older homes in particular are likely to have hardwood floors. Refinish them to restore them to their original splendor, but that will be much less expensive than installing new flooring from scratch.

B. Bathroom

1. Redo the Bathroom Floor. Installation makes up a major cost in home improvements. Save money on labor costs by attending a simple class from your local home improvement store. Also, you will be able to pick nicer flooring, remember to choose tiles in neutral shade.

2. Update Fixtures. Replace generic and outdated fixtures with newer, more customized versions available. Sometimes the upgrade can even be more energy efficient, increasing not only the aesthetics of your home but “greening” it up as well.

C. Kitchen

1. Paint or Stain Kitchen Cabinets. Rather than buying new ones, do a repaint instead. Clean the cabinets first and remove all its hardware, including the doors. White cabinets will go a long way for they don’t usually go out of style and are easy for future owners to repaint if they want something different.

2. Upgrade Cabinet Knobs and Drawer Handles. Even an innocuous element like a cabinet door knob can make your kitchen look cheap or outdated. Updating this hardware can give your kitchen an instant face lift.

C. Living Room

1. Clean Fireplace Brick. A nice fireplace can be a major selling point in a home, you’ll want to make yours look as nice as possible. Use a damp rag to wipe away some of the soot, then follow up with a fireplace cleaner designed to remove creosote. It will take some scrubbing with a stiff brush and possibly several applications, but you’ll have that brick looking spiffy right after.

D. Don’t Forget the Exterior

1. Install a New Front Door. A very basic steel front door costs about $100, but for adding $100-$200, you can get a door with a lot more character that will improve your home’s curb appeal. If you can’t afford a new door, a fresh coat of paint in an inviting color may be all you need.

2. Replace the Front Door Mat. Doormats can be easily overlooked. However, it’s one of the first impressions people get of your home. Buy a new one; your $20 can make a big difference.

3. Gutters. Well maintained gutters are more than increasing your home’s value. Without properly functioning gutters, rain may seep into your home causing expensive repair problems.

4. Power wash the Exterior of Your Home. For less time and money, a good washing can make your home’s exterior look almost as good as a fresh coat of paint.

5. Repaint the Exterior. Make your house look almost new from the outside. This task may not be a DIY anymore, hire someone to help you do this job. It’s still inexpensive as far as labor costs for home improvements go.

6. Power wash the Driveway, Walkways and Patio As long as you’re renting the power washer, you might as well clean your driveway, your patio, and any walkways. Be surprised by how new they’ll look afterward.

7. Upgrade Landscaping or Clean Up Existing Landscaping  Brighten up your exterior with flowers and plants. Choose perennial plants rather than annuals to save dollars. Patch any bald spots with fresh sod and trim exiting bushes and trees to achieve a new look.