LONE STARS

THE cheapest of all renovations is the do-it-yourself renovation. And there are many relatively easy jobs you can do to add flash and value to your apartment — even if you don’t have a hubby or boyfriend to help you.

Home-improvement queen and Post columnist Barbara K — whose new line of female-friendly D.I.Y. products called Barbara’s Way will be available at Wal-Mart and Meijer stores in August — suggests making these improvements.

In the kitchen:

* Reface or repaint your cabinets.

* Add wainscoting.

* Make a tile backsplash.

* Upgrade the faucets.

* Add a thermostat system.

In the bathroom:

* Install a pulsating showerhead.

* Upgrade the faucets.

* Add new towel bars.

* Make sure the toilets and plumbing are in good shape. Try the Barbara’s Way drain-cleaning kit ($14.99) the toilet repair kit ($19.99) and a plunger and scrubber kit ($12.99).

“All these products help women by giving them the tools and easy instruction to get the task at hand completed and achieve their goal,” says Barbara. “Not only is this empowering, but it also saves them time and money.”

Visit barbarasway.com.