We often overlook the little things in life as we rush onto the next big project, a meeting, sports practice, the grocery store or even to bed. Rarely do we take time to slow down and appreciate a child’s newest piece of artwork, to smell the roses, or enjoy that last sip of coffee. Similarly, when it comes to decorating and home renovating, we often opt to fix the larger projects first; building additional rooms, repainting the exterior or replacing old appliances. One of the easiest, smallest and perhaps least expensive home remodel project you can do is to replace your cabinet handles. Getting started on this home renovation project is simple. All you need to start is to carve out some time, a small budget, your creativity and imagination.

Believe it or not, creating a budget for any home renovation project is probably easier than you think. While many falsely believe that winning the lottery or having a large salary is the only way to complete a home renovation project, you are quite mistaken. Oftentimes, you can save more than you need just by eliminating a few luxuries from your daily routine. Coffee, bagels and cigarette runs should be eliminated immediately; you can purchase all three of the above in bulk if you really need it and best of all, it is cheaper than buying each individual on a daily basis. If you already have cut out these luxuries, consider adding a small sum – ten to twenty dollars – to an overall budget each month.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is not by choosing a horrible wall paper pattern or grotesque outside paint color but rather not preparing for the home renovation project ahead of time. The larger the project, the longer time period you should plan ahead for. However, since replacing your cabinet handles is a smaller, less messy task, you might not need to plan ahead at all. It is highly recommended that you do not opt to undertake this project when you’ll need the kitchen such as for parties you will be hosting, children’s sleepovers or other high-occupancy events.

While you may think shopping for cabinet hardware is simple, you might not be aware of just how many options you must consider prior to purchasing. For instance, not all drawer knobs are the same size; knobs and handles are available in a variety of sizes to meet many demands (such as for a front door or a medicine cabinet). Next, you must consider what style of handle you would like. Cabinet hardware includes drawer pulls and levers, dummy knobs, turn cabinet knobs and finger wells.

Once you have determined the size and style, you are now ready to choose the aesthetic parts of your drawer handles. This includes both the materials and finishes of the knobs or pulls. Materials are available in practically everything you can think of; from chrome, nickel and iron to stainless steel and glass. Next, conventional finishes include satin, polished, burnished and antiqued. You now have the freedom the mix and match the materials and finishes to create a truly unique look for any room in your home, in addition to your kitchen.

Reinstalling your cabinet hardware is the least stressful part of this home remodeling plan. Simply unscrew your current accessories, collect them in a storage container and reinstall the newer pieces with a screw driver. Be sure to gently tug or pull on each new unit to ensure proper installation and security. Instead of tossing your old hardware into the trash, try to recycle them. Either place your old, used pieces on your curb, or post them on a free site such as craigslist.org or freecycle.com. Your trash could be someone’s treasure!