Spring is here, so now is the time to shake off that winter malaise and tackle some new home-improvement projects � whether it�s a fresh shade of paint on the walls or installation of new countertops in the bathroom.

www.uglyducklinghouse.com

Follow quirky homeowner Sarah as she fixes up and renovates her Atlanta home. A self-proclaimed diehard DIYer, she makes home improvement a little more humorous than it should be. �I�m not going gray. That�s just paint in my hair,� is her blog tagline. She tackles everything from tiling over a concrete subfloor to building an outdoor fence. She invites readers to join her in her DIY adventures and pick up some interesting home-improvement tips and tricks, or even learn from her mistakes.

www.familyhandyman.com

The Family Handyman is the DIYer�s best friend, offering a variety of print and digital resources for do-it-yourself homeowners. Its forte is accurate and complete how-to instructions for improving homes, yards and vehicles. As one reviewer wrote, �TheFamilyHandyman.com is a very middle-of-the-road advice spot for home remodeling topics that anyone can get into. They also have excellent graphics.�

www.doityourself.com

Established in 1995, DoItYourself.com is the leading independent home-improvement and home-repair website. It was named �One of the Top 50 Sites in the World� by Time magazine. In addition to its broad list of DIY topics, it operates the most active home improvement forums on the Internet.

www.backyard-landscape-ideas.com/Backyard-Landscape-ideas-blog.html

Backyard Landscape Ideas provides ideas for landscaping or designing your backyard. You will find a plethora of lawn-and-gardening tips and advice. You can even find articles that focus on patios and plants here.

www.hammerzone.com

HammerZone covers a lot of the heavy stuff like house-siding and foundation work that other home-improvement sites do not cover. Site owner Bruce Maki patiently leads visitors step-by-step through difficult topics like refinishing wood floors, installing ceramic tile, framing, and installing windows. Bookmark this site if you ever plan to remodel a house.

www.home-improvement-home-improvement.com

If you think you might find yourself tackling a do-it-yourself project like changing out your kitchen countertops or flooring, installing a wine rack, building a deck, installing a phone jack, or making your own slipcovers, this is the place to go.

www.diyonthecheap.com

The mission of DIY on the Cheap is to share creative ideas for home decorating on a budget. This blog focuses on everything from bargain shopping and thrifting, to craft projects, to furniture refinishing and other DIY projects. There are currently two regular series on the blog: �Ask Five,� where blog owner Erin, a 30-year-old Southern transplant originally from Indiana, periodically conducts quick five-question Q&A interviews with experts in home decor, crafting and �DIY�; and �Frugal Friday,� where a list is shared of hand-picked bargain-priced home decor items that she comes across each week. This site features everything from furniture makeovers to building an affordable toddler bed.