Please name a very simple, inexpensive home improvement that changed your life for the better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swapped out all of of the preexisting, white plastic switch plate covers and replaced all with oil rubbed bronze covers. Huge difference.

I also have silk cord covers that blend with room wall colors. Nice, simple improvement.

I swapped out cheesy, decorative switch plate covers for clean, white (plastic) ones!

[Anonymous]

I removed the newspaper boxes (all 3 of them) and repainted my mailbox post. I read my news online, and I can't believe I let those ugly, dirty, plastic things stay on there so long. It looks so much nicer.

[Anonymous]

In my first house I replaced all the door knobs on closets and interior doors. Made a huge difference, as the originals were peeling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swapped out all of of the preexisting, white plastic switch plate covers and replaced all with oil rubbed bronze covers. Huge difference.

I also have silk cord covers that blend with room wall colors. Nice, simple improvement.

I swapped out cheesy, decorative switch plate covers for clean, white (plastic) ones!

What are silk cord covers?

[Anonymous]

My husband would say purchasing a large screen tv was life changing ~ I know many of you won't think that's an improvement.

[Anonymous]

So I googled the nest thermostat, had not heard of it before!

My doors/windows/etc are all new and my house utility bills are fairly low. But I still wonder if it would help me. PP, can you tell me what you saved?

I have 2400 sq feet, love LOVE to run my a/c and my power bill in summer is about $130-150/gas is $40. in winter, they start to reverse, gas goes up to around $80 and power goes down to about $8-90ish.

[Anonymous]

Ceiling fans every room. New toilet seats (yes you can replace those old ones). Outdoor lighting.

[Anonymous]

Installing a shelf/coat rack by the garage door. Everyone hangs up coats when they come home and puts mail on the shelf instead of cluttering up the kitchen table. The shelves can still attract junk, but at least it is off the table

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swapped out all of of the preexisting, white plastic switch plate covers and replaced all with oil rubbed bronze covers. Huge difference.

I also have silk cord covers that blend with room wall colors. Nice, simple improvement.

I swapped out cheesy, decorative switch plate covers for clean, white (plastic) ones!

In addition to changing out the switch plates, we replaced the old dingy plugs themselves with nice clean new ones. It's amazing how much difference it makes. We didn't realize how bad the old ones looked until we put in the new ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Light sensors for the outdoor lights. $10 each and now the lights by each door go on a dusk and off at dawn. I used to just turn them on and leave them on all the time (on CFL's) but it still cost money. This will save money and do it right, lights on at night, off during the day.

Can you post a link? I've never seen ones you can add to existing lights!

I bought these. You screw it into the lamp and then screw the light bulb into this socket and it converts and existing light into a dusk-to-dawn light.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_314355-207-SLC5BCWL_0__?productId=3126425&Ntt=dusk+to+dawn+light+control&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Ddusk%2Bto%2Bdawn%2Blight%2Bcontrol&facetInfo=

You can also buy switches with timers in them. Not hard to install if you're handy at all.

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Econoswitch-RPLS740B-Programmable-Switch/dp/B004AP92N2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369800492&sr=8-2&keywords=three+gang+timer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In a rental - replaced bright brass kitchen cabinet knobs with "vintage" Anthropologie ones. And when I moved, I took my knobs with me!

Question for you!

I notice many specialty knobs bought a-la-carte have very long bolts. How do you install them so they are tight and so that the bolt doesn't stick, like, an inch beyond the interior of the cabinet. Know what I mean?

[Anonymous]

replaced painted over, bent vent covers throughout the house. Cost about $300 but HUGE improvement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ceiling fans every room. New toilet seats (yes you can replace those old ones). Outdoor lighting.

Joan Crawford used to do that every time she got a new husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a rental - replaced bright brass kitchen cabinet knobs with "vintage" Anthropologie ones. And when I moved, I took my knobs with me!

Question for you!

I notice many specialty knobs bought a-la-carte have very long bolts. How do you install them so they are tight and so that the bolt doesn't stick, like, an inch beyond the interior of the cabinet. Know what I mean?

Washers. Stack as many as needed inside the door to get the knobs to fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a rental - replaced bright brass kitchen cabinet knobs with "vintage" Anthropologie ones. And when I moved, I took my knobs with me!

Question for you!

I notice many specialty knobs bought a-la-carte have very long bolts. How do you install them so they are tight and so that the bolt doesn't stick, like, an inch beyond the interior of the cabinet. Know what I mean?

Cut the bolt to length with a hacksaw.