Paint the Banister/Railing of Stairs
Taking an unattractive banister from lacking to luxurious with a coat of black paint is one of the most transforming do-it-yourself projects for your home. Like great plastic surgery, it's one of those renovations that will make all the difference in the world but admirers won't be able to quite guess what you had done. "Yooooou...painted the ceiling!"
"Nope"
"...Oh! Replaced the carpet!"
"Uh Uh"
"Is the crown molding different???"
And just like that, you've performed thousands of dollars in home improvements with one quart of paint and more than a half day to spare.