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" Building an addition, remodeling the kitchen, adding a pool\u2014these are the monster projects that can totally revamp a home. They also cost tens of thousands of dollars and can make your abode unlivable for months. If these projects don&amp;#039;t jibe with your present situation, consider a less disruptive undertaking. These five mini-endeavors\u2014projects that can be tackled in a few weekends by a handy homeowner, or in even less time if you hire a pro\u2014can drastically change the look and feel of your home for much less than a whole-home remodel. Organize a Scary Closet            Shelving units help maximize and define your closet space.    Why do it If opening your closet makes you cringe, take heart\u2014almost every home has at least one frightening storage space. Uncluttering a closet, using one of many storage systems on the market, is a quick project that pays off in peace of mind. To plan your own closet makeover, check out websites such as easyclosets.com, where you can design your space online. Several do-it-yourself systems are available for a few hundred dollars at large home centers. Time investment You&amp;#039;re looking at a day&amp;#039;s work. What to consider For storage, try pullout bins and baskets for smaller items, multilevel clothing rods, foldout laundry hampers, and over-the-door shoe compartments. A combination of hangers and shelves will help keep stuff off the floor and in its place. Plan to spend Companies like California Closets will send a specialist to your home for a design consultation. Such custom closets, installed by a pro, average about $2,500. But you can save big by designing and installing your own with a few standard tools. Reface Kitchen Cabinets       Rather than replace your old cabinets, reface them to get a brand-new feel for a lot less money.    Why do it  Breathe new life into your cooking space. Old cabinets can be replaced for a small fortune\u2014or refaced for considerably less, without gutting your entire kitchen.  Time investment A pro can reface cabinets in a day. What to consider Refacing involves applying a special adhesive veneer to the cabinet frames, and replacing the doors and drawer fronts. First, if you hate the layout of your current kitchen, don&amp;#039;t waste money refacing the cabinets. Refacing won&amp;#039;t make cheap cabinets stronger. Replacement doors come in two basic materials: real wood or a composite material called Thermofoil, which is made by bonding a supertough man-made veneer to panels of particleboard. Wood comes in a wide range of tones and types\u2014from stained cherry to paint-grade maple\u2014but it&amp;#039;s more expensive and can warp over time. Although it lacks the warmth of real wood, Thermofoil is more stable and virtually indestructible. Look for a refacing company with a solid reputation in your area, and check references, or take a trip to your local home store for a look at your options. Plan to spend Expect to pay anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 to reface an average 1,500-square-foot kitchen, but you can save money by doing the installation yourself. Reinvent a Space       Convert a wasted attic into useful space with a few skylights.    Why do it  Basements, garages, and attics are often wasted rooms you could make over into a home office or recreational space for the kids. Converting unused cellar space, for example, is a lot cheaper than building an addition. But before doing anything, play it safe\u2014check local building codes to be sure your basement qualifies as a living space. (Because furnaces are potential hazards, most communities regulate the use of basements.)  Time investment You can estimate at least three or four weekends, depending on the space, if you go it alone. What to consider Today&amp;#039;s engineered flooring and composite wall paneling are great for basements, where humidity can cause solid wood to warp. Engineered and composite material is much more stable and looks just like the real thing, because it is finished in real wood veneers. Best of all, most can be installed by a competent do-it-yourselfer. In a converted garage space, think about installing plywood panels and battens to conceal the unattractive wires, joists, and pipes. Consider an engineered wood floor that is &amp;quot;glue-down&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;floating;&amp;quot; both can be laid right on concrete\u2014look for a tough aluminum oxide finish for the wood. If these options don&amp;#039;t appeal to you, consider indoor-outdoor carpeting. For walls, check out prefinished composite beadboard systems that fit together like a puzzle. You&amp;#039;ll probably need to add lots of light, given that basements are usually dark. In low-ceilinged rooms, go with recessed halogen fixtures, spaced about every 6 feet. (This is definitely a job for an electrician.) Plan to spend Figure on dropping about $5,000 to create a 250-square-foot playroom\u2014not counting the lavish dollhouse you were talked into building. Tile a Bathroom       Brighten a dull bath (and up your home&amp;#039;s value) by installing new tiles. You can do it yourself over a couple of weekends.    Why do it  Waterproof and durable, tile outlasts vinyl, needs less care than wood, and adds value to your home.  A small bath can appear larger by tiling the floor in 1-inch mosaic tiles that come on easy-to-apply sheets.  Time investment Allow at least two weekends to tile a bathroom floor yourself, or just a few days with a pro. What to consider For an elegant and easy-to-clean bath, choose wall tiles that are glazed; floor tiles typi-cally have a matte finish, which is less slippery. Tiling is not difficult to install yourself, but it certainly takes patience and attention to detail. Tiles must be applied to a subsurface called mortarboard, which comes in 3-by-5-foot sheets and should be screwed down to the existing floor. If the floor has been weakened by water damage, you&amp;#039;ll need to replace any damaged wood first. When you are laying down tile, consider using a good premixed all-in-one adhesive and grout that resists mildew. Plan to spend Tile itself costs $5 to $50 a square foot; the higher end represents the finest handmade tiles. Add Old Charm to Your Exterior       A brick veneer, this one from Novabrik, can energize a tired foundation on any house.    Why do it  No wonder people hide their foundations behind bushes\u2014virtually all are made of poured concrete, which is strong and economical, but boring. Developments in brick and stone veneers have made it easy to apply a new facing to the surface of a conventional concrete foundation.  Time investment Most veneers are best left to a skilled mason, who can make over your exterior in only a few days. What to consider Some veneers are real bricks (made of fired clay or shale) that are just 1/2-inch thick; others are molded from concrete and stone aggregates, then tinted to look like real bricks or stones. Good ones, for instance, Cultured Stone, are nearly impossible to tell from the real thing, and they weigh less than half as much. When planning just a foundation veneer, be sure to match any new brick or stonework to the home&amp;#039;s existing chimney. Most veneers are applied to the existing foundation with epoxy mortars or other glues, then they&amp;#039;re grouted like tiles. A brand called Novabrik has interlocking grooves that eliminate mortar and can be installed by a handy homeowner. Plan to spend You&amp;#039;ll dish out $2,000 to $5,000 for the foundation alone, including materials  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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