Seven Home Updates That Don’t Require Any Tools
Many people want to update their homes through a remodel, renovation, or small project. But cost is always a factor (and a barrier): The average cost of renovating a home is over $50,000 . These costs cause many people to watch too many home improvement shows and try to do DIY transformations, but DIY projects like these also require money, not to mention some basic skills and at least a few tools .
If you’re not the kind of person who’s comfortable swinging a hammer or plugging in a power drill, or someone who doesn’t even own a hammer or power drill, the idea of remodeling your home may seem impossible unless you have an extra 50 grand. But there are plenty of ways to update your home without any tools.
Towel racks
If your bathroom or kitchen needs a place to hang towels and you don’t have the confidence to drill holes, hammer dowels, and drive a few screws, you don’t have to: you can get Command towel racks for both hand towels and bath towels . As you can see in this video , they attach to your walls using the same Command strips you use for hooks and other products (they’re waterproof, for obvious reasons). While using a level may make this installation a little easier, you can download a bubble level app for your phone that will work in a pinch, or just have a look at it – the good news is that your towel rack will be relatively easy to remove and reset if you mess it up.
Lighting
There are many options for improving the lighting in your home that don’t require wiring, cutting, or opening walls. Flashlights like these rechargeable LED flashlights have built-in magnets so you can stick them to metal surfaces for instant, tool-free installation, as well as an adhesive backing so you can stick them under wood cabinets or on walls. They are motion activated, so they can act as night lights, closet lights, or work lights in the kitchen. These stick-on lights are programmable and come with a remote control to give your kitchen a truly futuristic look.
You can also find ceiling lights like these that mount to the ceiling without any tools, giving you the opportunity to add overhead lighting to any room without hiring an electrician or drilling into the ceiling.
Floating shelves
Need light storage racks? The High & Mighty Shelf requires no tools and holds up to 20 pounds of items (there is also a 25-pound version ). It even comes with its own level as part of the installation package, so all you have to do is attach the track to the wall, insert the brackets using only muscle, and hang the shelf. This is a very easy way to add attractive storage to your walls without having to drill 1000 holes.
Grout handles
Is the grout in your shower or kitchen backsplash looking a little dirty? You won’t need a grout saw, float, or even a stiff brush to clean or replace it. If the grout is still in good physical shape, you can lighten it in no time with a grout pencil like this . You can find grout markers in a variety of colors , so you can clean or transform almost any grout line in your home without tools. However, check the instructions before purchasing – some seam markers only work on unsealed seams, so if your seam is sealed they may not work correctly.
Peel and stick everything
Peel-and-stick products have come a long way and are a powerful way to reinvent any space without the need for tools or major renovations. Technically, they’re not completely tool-free, since you’ll likely need scissors to fit these materials to your space, but since most people own scissors and know how to use them, I’ll allow it.
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Wallpaper is the easiest way to hide an unattractive wall or simply change its appearance. Products like this are also easy to remove, so they’re ideal for rentals or for people who change their mind frequently – they can be applied and smoothed out using just your hands.
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Floor decals and tiles can update your floors quite easily. They can be installed over almost any floor (including existing tile), so you don’t have to tear anything down – just cut as needed, peel and stick. These tiles come in a variety of styles, from faux wood to porcelain to natural stone .
Another option to consider are tile stickers/decals , which are designed to be applied over existing tiles to give them a fresh new look. They can be cut to size and then simply applied to the existing floor or backsplash (you can see how it’s done here ).
Window Treatment
If you want to add some window treatment without drilling or screwing, it’s fairly easy to do with curtains that use a tension system: you simply insert a rod into the window opening and allow the pressure to hold it in place. You can easily install roller blinds , Roman shades , and even heavy duty shades on your windows without any tools.
Artificial headboard
If you feel like your bedroom needs a little more class, you might think that adding a headboard will require some woodwork and wall mounting, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You can create an illusionary headboard on the wall behind your bed by gluing different objects to it. If you have some spare wood paneling, grab some Command strips and hang them on the wall . You can also use tear-and-stick vinyl tiles or literally anything that can be artfully placed on the wall to create the outline of the headboard while keeping drywall dust off the bed.