Sample a grab bag of home-improvement tips

  • By Melanio Gomez / Editorial Director of Home,
  • Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:00pm
  • Life

Sometimes all a house needs are a few clever touches to put it in tiptop shape. Here are a handful of ideas for quick, easy home improvements that will add charm and functionality to your living space.

Address doormat

A mat displaying your house number will reassure guests that they’ve arrived at the right place – and prevent dirt from getting tracked in. You’ll need an 18-by-30-inch coir mat, which is made from the stiff fibers of coconut husks and is available at home stores.

Assemble the following materials and tools: scissors, masking tape in 3-inch and 3/4-inch widths, card stock, a utility knife, a ruler, T pins, and a 12-ounce can of enamel spray paint in a color that contrasts with the mat.

Start by creating a border around the mat’s perimeter with 3-inch tape, positioning it 11/4 inches from the edge. For the second border, affix the 3/4-inch tape, leaving 1/2-inch between borders.

On a computer, type up and then print out your house number – try using 650-point type – then photocopy it onto card stock. Cut the number or numbers out from the card stock with a utility knife. Or you can use numbers from a hardware store.

Using a ruler, center the numbers in the middle of the mat; affix them with T pins.

In a well-ventilated area, hold spray paint 4 to 6 inches over the mat and spray in small circles; bring the can a bit closer to paint the edges of the mat. Let the paint dry for at least two hours before removing the tape and the numbers.

Easy-access appliances

Self-adhesive felt protectors – the kind that usually keep chair legs from scratching the floor – have another handy application: Stick them under kitchen appliances, such as the toaster, coffee maker and electric can opener, so you can pull out any gadget you need without marring the countertop.

Efficient display

For a burst of color and a good use of space, install a cloth-covered bulletin board inside the roomy shelf of a traditional hutch or bookcase.

You’ll need the following materials: a ruler, Homasote recycled-paper fiberboard (available at home stores), pinking shears, linen in a pretty color, a staple gun, and adhesive Velcro closure strips.

Start by measuring the space, and have a piece of Homasote fiberboard cut 1/4 inch smaller all around. Cut a piece of linen that’s 2 inches larger all around.

Lay the linen on a flat surface; center the board on top of the cloth. Pull the fabric over one side of the board, and staple it in place. Repeat on the opposite side, pulling the fabric taut; then do the same on the other sides.

Affix Velcro closures along the perimeter of the underside, about 1/4 inch from edge. Affix matching Velcro closures around the perimeter of the area to be covered on the bookshelf or hutch, measuring in 1/2 inch. Attach the board.

Handy hooks

In the entryway closet, hang umbrellas on broom hooks affixed to the back of the closet door, where they will be easy to grab as you head out of the house.

Mount the broom hooks to the inside of the door, and hang them high enough so that the umbrellas won’t touch the floor and far enough apart that the handles won’t knock.

In a utility closet, use tool hooks, available at hardware stores, to hang mops and brooms with their “business ends” up, so they won’t bend or mildew. A dustpan, too, should be kept off the floor: Hang it on a hook that goes through the hole in its handle.

Stair safety tip

In the dark, basement stairs can be dangerous. Make them safer by adding a fluorescent stripe to the edge of each step.

Simply affix an adhesive strip of fluorescent tape or apply a 1-inch stripe of fluorescent paint – both are available at hardware stores – to a clean, dust-free surface. Position each strip 1 inch from the edge of the step to minimize wear.

Tidy cords

Eliminate the tangle of unused extension cords by storing each one in a piece of pipe insulation-foam tubing – available at home-supply stores – with a slit along one side. Using a utility knife, cut the insulation to the desired length – about 13 inches for every 6 feet of cord. Fold the cord to size, insert it and label the foam to indicate the length of cord enclosed.

Towel-bar trick

Not many bathrooms have enough places to hang towels. The solution? Attach up to three towel bars behind the bathroom door. It’s easier to affix them to a wooden door than to wallboard or a plaster wall. Hang the hardware according to package instructions, evenly spacing the bars along the length of the door.

Questions should be addressed to Living, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10168. Please include your name and daytime telephone number. Questions can also be sent via e-mail to iving@nytimes.com.

Copyright 2004 MSLO LLC

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