FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2025
North Olmsted, Ohio
Becoming a first-time homeowner is a remarkable achievement, but the journey doesn't end at closing. With today's market challenges, making your new house feel like home can seem daunting. The good news: with thoughtful planning and a few proven DIY tips, you can create a space that's beautiful, functional, and uniquely yours, without stretching your budget.
Getting Ready: Budgeting and Planning
One of the biggest reasons to DIY? You can save serious dollars. In fact, a 2024 report by NerdWallet showed that on average, DIY projects cost less than half of professional projects*.
Before beginning any DIY endeavor, assess what your house needs and establish your budget. Determine how much extra money you can allocate monthly toward home improvements. Are there major things like a furnace or roof that need to be tackled first? Those should be handled by a professional and are essential investments that should be taken care of before anything aesthetic.
Once you determine what you need to do, what you want to do, and how much money you have to spend, prioritize projects by the most cost-effective yet impactful updates. Take a trip to a local home improvement retailer, or do an online search, to help you gauge the different costs, and don't forget to account for all the supplies you'll need.
“While it's tempting to cut corners on costs, investing in high-quality products up front can save you significantly in the long run. Quality materials not only offer durability and better performance, but they also minimize the need for frequent replacements or repairs. Think of it as buying peace of mind – a well-chosen faucet, sturdy cabinetry or durable flooring can elevate your home now and for years to come,” said Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager, Moen.
Once you have a map of projects in place, determine when you want to tackle each one and plot them on the calendar.
Defining Your Home's Aesthetic: Personal Style
Before you dive in, figure out your style to ensure you're investing in an aesthetic that resonates with you versus what is trending online.
“As you embark on the exciting process of styling your first home, it is essential to determine your personal taste so that it truly reflects who you are,” said DeBoe Harper. “Whether your style leans modern, traditional, industrial, farmhouse, glam, or a combination of a few, understanding your preferences will help you establish the overall atmosphere of your home.”
Luckily, there are many places to find inspiration right at our fingertips, both online and in real life. Try visiting a home decor store and browsing the aisles—what lamps or pillows are you just dying to put in your cart? When visiting a friend's home, mentally note what you love and what you'd leave. At the grocery store? Pick up a few home décor magazines on your way out. And, of course, your phone or computer holds a treasure trove of style inspiration. From renovation tutorials on social media to style and decor trends on your favorite brand's website, there are plenty of resources that can guide you through this part of the process.
Diving In: Project Implementation
Now it's time to embrace the DIY mindset and get to work. First, ensure you have essential tools: a hammer, flathead, Phillips screwdrivers, painter's tape, and a power drill, which are versatile supplies for various projects.
Once you've got supplies in hand and a space that's ready, it's time to DIY. Not sure how to approach a project? Lean on advice from friends and family, using YouTube tutorials to walk you through it, or getting instructions from an expert at your local hardware store. Of course, make sure whatever you choose is something that's safe to DIY.
“One of the first projects I recommend is painting, since it's a relatively affordable update that can completely transform the way a room comes together—and even how it makes you feel,” said DeBoe Harper. “You can paint an entire room or update a piece of furniture or cabinetry with a new color. Other high-impact projects that can be done at a lower cost include swapping hardware, like cabinet knobs or pulls, installing a new showerhead, building bookcases, changing the kitchen faucet or hanging peel and stick wallpaper, all of which can enhance your look almost instantly while also boosting DIY confidence.”
Purchasing your first home marks the start of an exciting chapter. With these DIY tips for first-time homeowners, you can shape a stylish, comfortable space tailored to your needs. Successful DIY renovation is built on planning, preparation, and a willingness to learn.
Visit Moen.com for more DIY renovation tips and inspiration.
*Source: NerdWallet Spending Data 2023
ABOUT MOEN
Moen is the #1 consumer faucet brand in North America, offering a vast array of stylish and innovative kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products, kitchen sinks, garbage disposals, leak detection products and connected home offerings for residential applications that give consumers more power than ever before to understand and control the water that flows through their homes. These thoughtful designs deliver an exceptional user experience and elevate how people interact with water daily.
In addition, Moen® Commercial offers superior-performing products that can deliver lower lifetime costs for today's facilities.
Moen is part of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: FBIN), a brand, innovation and channel leader focused on exciting, supercharged categories in the home products, security and commercial building markets. Moen anchors Water Innovations (WINN), which also includes several brands under the House of Rohl® including Emtek®, Perrin & Rowe®, ROHL®, Riobel®, Shaws® and Victoria + Albert®.
Fortune Brands' other brands include Fiberon® composite decking and railing products; Master Lock®, Yale® residential, August® and Sentry® Safe security products; LARSON® storm doors and Therma-Tru® entry door systems. For more information, please visit www.FBIN.com.
Contact:
Samantha Eastman or Emily Baker
Falls & Co.
(216) 696-0229
seastman@fallsandco.com
ebaker@fallsandco.com