Although not the most glamorous kitchen improvement, the addition of a garbage disposal will be greatly appreciated by the chef of the house. Because disposals vary greatly in size and bowl depth, check the dimensions to make sure the disposal you've chosen will fit under your sink.

Since installing a disposal requires both plumbing and electrical skills, it's a project best taken on by experienced do-it-yourselfers. One way to simplify the task is to have a licensed electrician install a GFCI (ground fault circuit interruptor) outlet under the sink and a separate wall switch adjacent to the sink--then the only electrical work left is to wire a power cord to the disposal. Always shut off the power to the circuit that will serve the disposal before beginning any work. If you're replacing a disposal, turn off the electricity to that circuit and unplug the disposal or disconnect the wiring before removing the unit.