The most used rooms in the home, kitchens and bathrooms, can be exciting to renovate – but can also be expensive. As rooms that should be designed to withstand moisture and messes, the cost of waterproof surfaces, plumbing re-routes and new appliances can really add up.

Yet for those who are ready for a rewarding renovation (but the budget is not), here are two DIY-compatible solutions for transforming a kitchen or bathroom this season.

Countertop warmers

This upgrade is a great gift for your kitchen this holiday season, and it might also be perfect for that certain someone for whom it is always a challenge to shop.

Perhaps the only criticism one could make about beautiful stone countertops is that their cool-to-the-touch feeling has a few drawbacks. While feeling lovely on a hot summer day, it can feel downright frigid on hands and arms in the winter, especially for those suffering from joint pain. Furthermore, people who like their food steaming hot notice that plates and coffee mugs cool down much more quickly on a stone surface.

Countertop warmers are a simple and effective remedy to these complaints. These ultra-thin heating mats can easily be stuck under the overhangs of existing kitchen countertops and islands. They can be cut to custom shapes, including curves or around corbels, but for kitchens with a straight, rectangular area to warm, peel-and-stick standard cuts make the project even more affordable.

Countertop warmers plug into a standard outlet, keeping the temperature in a safe range whether it’s used on solid stone, stone composites, concrete, and stainless steel or other metal countertops. Energy estimates for leaving the mat on all day can be compared to leaving on a 75-watt lightbulb.

DIY “Stone” Showers

Mildew in a shower insert that’s increasingly hard to eliminate… tile grout that always seems to need scrubbing… these are the types of complaints often heard from people who are longing for a bathroom renovation, which can be costly. However, an innovative product allows homeowners to upgrade their bathrooms with a high-end look for a fraction of the budget.

These “before” and “after” promotional images show how Wetwall, new hardware and a little redecoration can transform a bathroom.

Wetwall is a waterproof panel system for tub and shower enclosures, backsplashes or wall cladding. Made from plastic laminate sheets bonded to a wood-plastic composite core, Wetwall is scratch resistant and has anti-microbial protection built right in. Panels range from eight to 60-inches wide and up to 96 inches tall, which allows them to appear as dramatic and expensive as solid stone walls. The material is available in patterns that mimic marble, granite and wood, as well as neutral white or beige tones.

At less than half an inch thick, Wetwall panels can go right over existing tile, which eliminates the inconvenience of having a bathroom out of commission for multiple days. A typical DIY installation can be done in a few hours, or a licensed contractor can be hired to complete the job.

Experiencing the look and feel of this innovative material in person is easy. Blue Rock Industries‘ showroom in Westbrook has samples of Wetwall available to take home. Countertop warmers can also be ordered there, along with a wide range of natural stone slabs and tiles to inspire even more rewarding home upgrades.