Eight fast ideas for home improvements

1. Start with a new welcome mat for each door.

Supplies: Durable welcome mats in colors to match your house and in whimsical or traditional designs.

Cost: $7.50-$25 for each mat.

Time: a few minutes.

2. Turn your master bathroom into a spa with a wide-spray shower head.

Supplies: Rain shower head, pliers and Teflon tape.

Cost: $30-$80

Time: 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Line your front porch and walkway with plants.

Need ideas? Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s “Helpful Hardware Man,” suggests visiting resorts to see what plants and design schemes are used along walkways.

Supplies: A variety of types, colors and sizes of flowers; hoe; ceramic or clay pots; dirt; and mulch.

Cost: $40-$100

Time: One to two hours, plus time to visit the resorts.

4. Install a ceramic-tile backsplash.

Supplies: Tile, tile cutter, tile nippers, waterproof mastic, waterproof grout, grout float, spacers, grout sealer, sponge and notched trowel, tape measure, level and bucket.

Cost: $150-$250.

Time: Five hours.

5. Get use out of leftover tiles from your backsplash.

Supplies: Use large tiles as coordinating trivets in your kitchen. Place other large tiles, along with dry-erase markers, next to phones for messages. Use smaller tiles for nameplates during dinner parties.

Cost: Nothing

Time: None

6. Clean out roof gutters.

When you’re done, check for leaks by running water through a hose into the gutters.

Basics: Ladder, gloves, hose and leaf blower.

Cost: Nothing

Time: One to two hours.

7. Set a homey tone in your family room with an electric fireplace.

Supplies: Electric fireplace, electrical outlet.

Cost: $350-$2,000.

Time: 10 minutes.

8. Turn your child’s room into an imagination haven with wallpaper, paint and border.

Paint the bottom third of the walls, wallpaper the top two-thirds. Connect the two with a matching wallpaper border.

Supplies: Paint, roller, paint tray, wallpaper, border, paste and drop cloths.

Cost: $325-$375.

Time: One weekend.