13 Projects That May Suit Minneapolis Homeowners Looking For Weekend DIY Ideas

Looking to spruce up your Minneapolis home without breaking the bank? Weekend DIY projects are perfect for adding personal touches while building your skills as a homeowner.

With our changing seasons and unique housing styles, from Craftsman bungalows to Mid-century ramblers, there are plenty of projects that specifically suit our northern climate and architectural heritage.

Here are 13 doable weekend projects that can transform your space without overwhelming your schedule.

1. Floating Shelves Installation

Want to showcase your favorite books or plants while maximizing space? Floating shelves offer stylish storage without the bulkiness of traditional bookcases, perfect for Minneapolis’s charming smaller homes.

I recommend using solid pine or maple both locally abundant woods that handle our seasonal humidity changes well. The installation requires just a drill, level, stud finder, and screws.

For winter months, these shelves create perfect display areas for candles and hygge-inspired décor. During summer, they’re ideal for showing off farmers market finds or lake-inspired collections. Most homeowners complete this project in under three hours, making it perfect for a Saturday morning.

2. Accent Wall Painting

Nothing transforms a room faster than a bold accent wall. Minneapolis homes often have fantastic architectural features like brick fireplaces or built-ins that can be highlighted with strategic color choices.

You’ll need quality paint (look for low-VOC options), painter’s tape, drop cloths, and good brushes. Consider rich blues that complement our lake culture or warm terracottas that brighten our long winters.

The key to success lies in proper preparation filling holes, sanding rough spots, and using primer when needed. Many local paint stores offer Minnesota-specific color consultations to help choose shades that work with our northern light. This project typically takes just one day, including drying time.

3. Peel-and-Stick Backsplash

Tired of your dated kitchen but not ready for a full renovation? Peel-and-stick backsplash tiles create instant impact with minimal effort ideal for Minneapolis’s many mid-century homes with original kitchens.

These adhesive tiles come in countless patterns, from subway styles to geometric designs. They’re particularly valuable for renters in Uptown or Northeast who want personalization without losing deposits.

The application process is straightforward: measure your space, clean thoroughly, and carefully apply each tile. Most installations take just 2-3 hours. For added Minnesota flair, consider blue patterns that echo our lakes or warm wood-look tiles that complement Scandinavian-inspired interiors so common in our neighborhoods.

4. Regrout Shower Tiles

Is your bathroom showing its age with dingy, cracked grout? This affordable weekend project dramatically refreshes spaces without the cost of retiling especially helpful for Minneapolis’s older homes with vintage tile work worth preserving.

Start by removing old grout with a grout removal tool or oscillating multi-tool. After thorough cleaning, apply new grout with a float, working it into joints at a 45-degree angle.

Given our extreme temperature swings and high indoor heating during winter, choose grout with mildew resistance. Most Minneapolis bathrooms can be regrouted in 4-6 hours, plus drying time. The transformation is remarkable often making old tiles look completely new while preserving the character that makes our local architecture special.

5. Replace Cabinet Hardware

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference! Swapping outdated cabinet hardware instantly modernizes kitchens and bathrooms in Minneapolis homes, many of which feature quality cabinets that just need a refresh.

I found that brushed brass or matte black hardware complements the warm wood tones common in our Craftsman and Mid-century homes. The beauty of this project is its simplicity you’ll need just a screwdriver and measuring tape.

Before shopping, count your existing pulls and measure the hole spacing. Many Minneapolis homeowners bring one old piece to local hardware stores like Bauer Brothers or Hirshfield’s for perfect matching. This transformation typically takes under two hours but delivers years of visual improvement and daily tactile satisfaction.

6. Install Smart Thermostat

Minneapolis homeowners know our extreme temperature swings make energy efficiency crucial. Installing a smart thermostat is surprisingly simple and pays dividends through our brutal winters and increasingly warm summers.

Models like Nest or Ecobee learn your patterns and adjust automatically, potentially saving 10-15% on heating costs. The installation usually requires disconnecting a few labeled wires from your old thermostat and connecting them to the new one.

Many local energy providers offer rebates specifically for Minneapolis residents upgrading to smart thermostats. Take photos before disconnecting anything, and follow manufacturer instructions carefully. Most installations take under an hour, making this one of the highest-value weekend projects for our climate-conscious community.

7. Build Outdoor Planter Box

After our long winters, Minneapolis residents cherish outdoor living spaces. Creating custom planter boxes allows you to maximize your growing season and add personality to porches, patios, and yards.

Cedar is ideal for our climate naturally resistant to our freeze-thaw cycles and looking beautiful even as it weathers. Simple box designs require just a saw, drill, and weather-resistant screws.

Consider building slightly elevated planters to extend your growing season in our shorter summers. Many Minneapolis gardeners use these for herbs, native pollinators, or vegetables. The project typically takes 2-3 hours, and materials cost $30-60 depending on size. When fall arrives, these planters can transition to autumn decorations before snow covers everything.

8. Swap Light Fixtures

Outdated light fixtures drag down even the most beautiful Minneapolis homes. Replacing them delivers dramatic impact with minimal effort and moderate cost perfect for our Prairie, Craftsman, or Mid-century modern homes.

The process is straightforward: turn off power at the breaker box, disconnect old wiring, connect new fixture wires (matching black to black, white to white, ground to ground), and secure the mounting hardware. Always use a voltage tester before touching wires!

For Minneapolis homes, consider fixtures that maximize light during our darker months while complementing architectural styles. Local architectural salvage shops like Bauer Brothers often have period-appropriate options. Most replacements take under an hour per fixture, making this project easily completable in a morning.

9. DIY Tile Tray

Creating a custom tile tray lets you showcase Minnesota style while building a practical home accessory. These versatile trays serve as coffee table centerpieces, vanity organizers, or serving pieces for entertaining.

Start with a simple wooden tray frame, then add ceramic tiles in patterns that reflect your taste. Locally-made tiles from Minnesota artisans add special meaning.

The process involves measuring and cutting tiles (if needed), applying thin-set adhesive, placing tiles, and finally grouting. Allow 24 hours for proper drying. This project typically costs $25-40 and takes about 3 hours of active work time. Many Minneapolis homeowners create seasonal trays using cool blues and greens for summer and warmer tones for our long winters.

10. Wallpapered Closet

Transform ordinary storage into a delightful surprise! Wallpapering the inside of a closet creates unexpected joy each time you open the door perfect for Minneapolis homes where we spend significant time indoors.

This project works beautifully with peel-and-stick wallpaper, making it apartment-friendly and removable. Choose bold patterns you might hesitate to use in larger spaces botanical prints, geometric designs, or even Minnesota-themed motifs.

The application requires basic measuring, cutting, and smoothing skills. Most standard closets need 1-2 rolls of wallpaper and take 2-3 hours to complete. This hidden personality moment particularly brightens our winter months when many Minneapolitans experience the winter blues, creating small moments of delight in daily routines.

11. Custom Headboard Mount

If you’ve been dreaming of a statement headboard but worried about installation, this weekend project delivers major impact with minimal wall damage. Perfect for Minneapolis’s many historic homes where preservation matters.

Creating a wall-mounted headboard using plywood, foam, batting, and fabric allows for customization without floor space requirements. The French cleat mounting system makes it secure yet removable.

Choose fabrics that add warmth for our cold winters perhaps wool plaids, rich velvets, or textured linens. The project requires basic tools: staple gun, saw, drill, and measuring tape. Most Minneapolis DIYers complete this in 4-6 hours for around $100-150, significantly less than store-bought options. The result transforms your bedroom while respecting original architectural features.

12. Refinish Nightstand

Minneapolis has amazing thrift stores and estate sales filled with quality wood furniture needing just a little love. Refinishing a nightstand builds skills applicable to larger furniture projects while creating a unique piece.

The process typically includes cleaning, light sanding, possibly stripping old finish, then applying new stain and protective topcoat. Chalk paint offers a shortcut for those wanting to skip extensive prep work.

Many Minneapolis homeowners update hardware while refinishing, transforming pieces to match our popular Scandinavian-inspired or mid-century aesthetics. The project usually takes a weekend, including drying time, and costs $30-50 in supplies. Beyond saving money, this sustainable approach keeps beautiful old pieces from landfills something our environmentally-conscious community values.

13. Window Trim Refresh

Many Minneapolis homes feature beautiful woodwork that’s been painted over through decades of changing trends. Refreshing window trim whether stripping paint to reveal natural wood or applying fresh paint dramatically enhances rooms.

For painted trim, quality brushes and paint make all the difference. Choose semi-gloss for durability and easier cleaning. If restoring natural wood, patience with chemical strippers or heat guns pays off with stunning results.

This project connects you to your home’s history many Minneapolis houses from the early 1900s feature irreplaceable old-growth timber that’s worth showcasing. While time-consuming (plan 4-6 hours per window), the transformation honors our architectural heritage. Many local hardware stores offer specific advice for Minneapolis’s common wood species like oak, pine, and fir.