Nothing brings two people together like creating something beautiful as a pair. Or, more bluntly, taking on a weekend project together may prove to be the ultimate challenge for a relationship or friendship. Whether your project induces laughter, tears or both, the outcome will leave your home—and your relationship—looking better than ever.

Start Seeds for a Summer Garden

Renew your sense of wonder by planting seeds and seeing them transform into sprouts before your eyes. In a matter of weeks, they’ll grow strong enough to transplant to your garden. You can give vegetables, herbs and flower bulbs a head start on Spring in the warmth of your home.

Before you head out to buy a thousand tiny plastic containers, scan your house for DIY seed start pots—toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, coffee filters and even newsprint can be repurposed to house nascent plants.

Paint an Accent Wall

If spending time in your living room or study is leaving you blue, it might be time to update it with a splash of yellow, a color associated with joy, energy and cheerfulness in the field of color psychology. Green, on the other hand, is said to elicit harmony. And don’t rule out blue—though it’s a stand-in for melancholy in language, the color may promote productivity and calm.

Color psychology references abound on Pinterest and home decor sites, but be sure to tune into your own emotional response to the shade you’re about to slather on the wall. According to Sherwin-Williams’s “Color Psych 101,” our own memories, preferences and the setting impact how colors make us feel.

Rehab a Piece of Furniture

Reimagine some of your own furniture—or snag a piece with all kinds of potential at a garage sale or thrift shop. On the scale of easy-to-difficult, reupholstering a chair may be a good place to start. For a more in-depth project, sand and refinish a retro desk or dresser, swapping out the drawer pulls for a final touch.

DIY furniture isn’t all about shabby chic, either. There are a million ways to mix-and-match the parts for IKEA furniture for brand new furniture that suits your weirdly-specific needs—perhaps a climbing wall for your cat. Or, just build it as it comes and use stencils or decoupage to make it your own.

Build a Birdhouse

The Northwest is home to hundreds of species of birds, from tiny swallows to majestic eagles. Invite a few of to take up residence in your backyard with a low-cost birdhouse and feeder. Lowe’s provides online instructions for a birdhouse requiring only one pine board, wood glue and a few other materials.

An old cake pan and some pretty pebbles make a perfectly good bird bath. To sweeten the deal, hang any open container from a tree branch—a vintage teacup or pretty bowl will do—and fill it with birdseed.