4 Weekend DIY Projects to Finish Before Christmas

Holidays are coming and holidays mean guests. Now that the weather has turned colder and you're spending more time indoors, small flaws inside your home may have started haunting you. From the bathroom to the guest room, tackle these five projects before the holidays.

Clean and Repaint Interior Doors

Do your family members tend to close doors by placing their hands on every part of the door around the handle? Bathroom doors and front doors can attract finger prints smudges and unsightly marks. Clean the door from top to bottom, paying special attention the areas above and below the handle.

Consider repriming and repainting the door on a day when most of your family won't be home. Send them to the movies or to a relative's house for an afternoon visit. Remember to repaint the threshold, too.

Declutter and Clean Up the Guest Room

The guest room, during the "off season" becomes an easy target for summer fans, clothing, empty boxes, vacuum cleaners, and seasonal items. Find a better and more permanent place of storage for the items you need and get rid of the rest. You may not really need to keep some of the items when you consider that you need the guest room space more than you need the box for the blender you bought six months ago.

* Remove and wash all curtains. Shore up any loose shades or curtain hardware. Clean the windows and pull the storm windows down. Hang winter curtains if you like to change them seasonally.

* Clean out a couple of drawers or shelves where guests can put their items when they visit. Store extra blankets in cushioned ottomans and extra pillows in storage boxes under the bed.

* Rearrange the guest room so it functions as a multi-tasking room (but not a storage unit!). The guest room should be a place to sleep but it can also serve as home office, a craft studio, a library or a quiet reading place.

Paint the Trim

Brighten your rooms by repainting vertical trim, doorways and horizontal surfaces including extended window sill shelves. Lower trim and baseboard heaters need a good cleaning, too. Vacuum under and inside your baseboard heating using a thin vacuum cleaner extension or a handheld vacuum. Pet dander, dust and human hair all collect in between the metal fins.

Mini Makeover: The Bathroom

Remove the existing curtain liner and give the tub and shower walls and extra good cleaning. Wash the liner and curtain. Consider replacing the liner if you need a new one.
* Recaulk the tub.
* Tidy up the collection of shampoo and conditioner bottles.
* Consider changing the look or theme of the bathroom with a new shower curtain.
* Find matching throw rugs and add a few extra for winter warmth.
* Add an extra mirror across from a window to maximize natural light during.
* Buy some extra plush and large towels for guests.
* Stock up on trial size toiletries for guests.