With spring cleaning out of the way, it's time for summer remodeling. Summer is the biggest time of the year for moving and home repair. While many of us dream of upgrading our homes, our budgets may already be tapped. Here are some simple do-it-yourself ideas to spruce up your home, specifically the kitchen and bath, without breaking your budget.

Jazz Up Cabinets

One of the simplest ways to add oomph to the kitchen is to install new cabinet hardware. At your local hardware store you'll find a huge variety of drawer pull designs - from painted ceramic and metal knobs, to whimsical designs shaped like knives and forks. Simply unscrew your existing cupboard hardware, replace with the new, and voila! You've got a new look for a few bucks.

Upgrade Faucet Hardware

A beautifully designed faucet can change the look of your sink area, and way you feel about your drinking water in a flash. Faucets with simple design lines make a clean and modern addition to the kitchen or bathroom sink and some faucet models can even improve the taste of the water coming from the tap.

Keep the Kids Amused

Mustard, red crayon, scuff marks, mud . . . all these things can just be wiped clean from some of the new high-performance paint finishes available today. Some interior paints now have a scrub-ability rating, established through standardized testing, making them the perfect solution for those marked up areas. This rating may not be posted on paint cans, but paint retailers should have the information available.

Got Clutter?

Is a small-sized kitchen or bath causing space problems? Try adding drawer organizers to increase your storage space. You can find a nice range of inexpensive racks and slide-in baskets at discount and hardware stores. Whether you store cleaning utensils, old pots and pans, or your favorite bubble bath, you can create new niches for all of your stuff, and get the clutter out of the way.

New Floors

Flooring makes a huge difference in the appearance of a kitchen or bath. Try the newest in vinyl or laminated wood, which can easily be placed right over your old flooring in some cases. Many of the flooring options available today give the appearance of ceramic tile or natural wood - for a lot less money.

Let There Be Light

For an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up a kitchen, install under-the-counter lighting. Head to the hardware store for help and to completely change the way the light hits the surfaces of a room. You can also save energy dollars by choosing the right lighting. Switch from incandescent light bulbs to highly efficient compact fluorescents, and you'll use about one-quarter to one-third less energy to produce the same amount of light. Another tip: move natural light further into rooms by bouncing it off the ceiling. A window located close to the ceiling works for this, as do louvers or operable blinds that can help direct light.

Adding Space

Even a bathroom the size of an address book can look larger with a little thought: Try using lighter, cooler colors: they feel airy and can add new dimension. Wallpaper with a smaller pattern also helps expand the space. Try some on the ceiling, or emphasize horizontal lines with a coordinating border. Or try installing bath tile that contains a subtle pattern and then repeat it onto the floor. If your bath is too small, try using a trim pedestal lavatory or wall hung fixtures -both free-up valuable floor space. Also, remember to go heavy on the lighting and choose reflective surfaces, such as a shiny marble vanity.

By adding even one of these ideas to your summer remodel, you should feel better about the look and feel of your home. So, let the sunshine in and get busy!