Homeowners will spend $238 billion on remodeling this year, reports the National Association of Home Builders. But you don’t need a spa-like bath or a brand-new kitchen to improve a home’s comfort and value. And if you decide to sell, small rehabs may yield a bigger return than a major renovation. Here are five that pay off:

1. Create a Beautiful Backsplash

If you lack the cash for a significant overhaul, a new tile backsplash can be a relatively quick fix with a big impact. The right backsplash can make an outdated kitchen look contemporary. This is especially true of the sleek materials now popular: ceramic, stainless steel, glass and tumbled marble, which often is arranged in decorative patterns. “Smaller projects like a new backsplash, sink or countertop may not sound sexy, but your kitchen will look like new,” says Vince Butler of the Remodelors Council.

Ease Factor: Not for the beginner, but a handy person with a do-it-yourself book and tile-cutting tools (rented from a big-box store) could pull it off. Otherwise, hire a pro.
Cost: Up to $30 per square foot for tumbled marble.

2. Go for Glass

In a bathroom that lacks the space for a large-scale renovation, a glass shower door can be a key change. “A glass door vs. a curtain makes the room look bigger,” says real estate developer Simon Danforth of Marblehead, Mass. Although they require more frequent cleaning, glass doors are worth the extra effort for a more open look.

Ease Factor: Whether you’re buying an in-frame version or one that is specially made, you’ll want it professionally installed.
Cost: About $500 for an in-frame door to more than $1,000 for a custom-cut frameless version.

3. Make Over the Outdoors

Outdoor “rooms” are one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing your living space. If you already have a deck or patio, consider turning part of it into an open-air kitchen, a feature especially in demand among today’s buyers. Aside from a barbecue grill and maybe a small refrigerator, the rest of your “kitchen” can be a simple work area made of untreated wood that you build and paint yourself. In areas where a home’s square footage is used to assess property taxes, such backyard “additions” won’t increase your taxes.

Ease Factor: With a little help, skilled homeowners can assemble their kitchen in a few weekends.
Cost: From a few hundred bucks, for a counter area next to the grill.

4. Liven Up the Lighting

Lighting is an overlooked accent that’s fairly inexpensive to change but can bring depth and dimension, particularly to a small room. Adding a dimmer switch in a living room, for example, can make watching DVDs on a flat-panel TV feel almost like sitting in a theater. The typical upgrades include dimmers, track lighting and recessed incandescent or halogen bulbs.

Ease Factor: With a screwdriver and electrical tape, you can install a dimmer in an hour. You’ll need an electrician for recessed lighting.
Cost: From $10 for a dimmer to $100 and up for a track-lighting kit.

5. Customize the Closets

Sales of home storage products have ballooned to $3 billion a year as we seek out ways to organize the “stuff” now necessary for daily life. Clearly, storage is an issue for the average homeowner —a nd a selling point for potential home buyers. And while spacious closets are standard in new dwellings, older homes might require an update. One option is to take square footage from your room to make your closet larger. A less-pricey alternative is customizing your current closets. The standard system provides creative solutions for sorting and storing in an existing space—two-tiered hanging rods, shoe display racks, adjustable-height shelving and wire mesh drawers. You can enlist the services of a specialty company or go it alone with a do-it-yourself kit from a home-improvement store.

Ease Factor: If you can wield a drill and a level, the kits take an afternoon. For a total closet makeover, you’ll have to call in the pros.
Cost: From $100 for a do-it-yourself kit to $1,000 for the services of a design company.