The Spring Bank Holidays are the perfect time to tackle those tasks around the house you've been putting off, especially since April 6, 2024 is National DIY Day.
Painting, cleaning carpets, and building a gallery wall are just some of the jobs you can easily tackle in a weekend.
However, before you begin, make sure you can safely complete your project. Avoid jobs that involve high ladders, power tools, and other elements that pose a risk of injury unless you have the necessary skills and knowledge.If you need skilled support, we're here to help Find a reputable trader.
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1. paint the room
Repainting can instantly make any room feel better, whether it's refreshing tired walls or transforming a space with a completely different color. A tiled bathroom with relatively few painted surfaces is easier (but more tedious) to work with than a room with more wall space.
Consider choosing a paint that suits your room. For example, you can buy a special anti-mold emulsion for the bathroom, or a more durable emulsion for rooms that are frequently used, such as the hallway.please discover best washable paint Perfect for children's rooms or messy kitchens.
Before you start painting, give yourself plenty of time to prepare your room. Making sure the holes are filled and the walls are sanded and washed will make a huge difference in the look of the finished job.
Follow expert tips from Which one?trusted trader To start decorating:
2. install some shelves
Shelving is a great way to utilize vertical space in your home, creating space for books, wall art, treasured vases, heirlooms, and knick-knacks.
Options range from picture shelves with nooks to keep prints from slipping, to corner shelves, floating shelves, shelves with brackets, decorative shelves and wall-mounted units.
Before choosing your shelves, decide what you want to display. If you have a lot of heavy books to display, choose shelves with brackets that can withstand heavier loads than floating shelves.
Also make sure you have the right fixings for your wall type, such as drywall, brick, or concrete. If you are unsure, ask the staff at your local He DIY store for advice.
Read our guide on Should you upgrade your toolbox? best cordless drill
3. install new curtains or blinds
Controlling light levels in different rooms is important to ensure comfortable sleep and computer screen use. If your home receives too much light from street lights or other light sources at night, blackout-lined curtains can reduce the light and make it easier to sleep.
Please measure carefully to ensure that your new curtains or blinds will fit correctly. Measuring guides can be found on websites such as: blind direct. No-drill blinds are also available from online retailers such as: blind 2 go.
Depending on the room, you can decide whether to use eyelet curtains on poles, curtain rails with hooks, blinds, or a combination of these. New blinds for the bathroom are moisture-proof so they don't suffer from moisture.
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Four. deal with humidity
It may sound like the most exciting task to tackle, but solving the root of your home's moisture and condensation problems should be satisfying and help you save money in the long run. There is a possibility.
The worse the situation, the more time, effort, and money it may take to resolve it in the future.
There are several types of humidity.
- condensation
- rising humidity
- penetrating moisture
The first step is Find out what kind of moisture is affecting your home.
Condensation is the most common type of moisture. It occurs when warm, humid air condenses on cold walls and windows. This is most common in rooms where there is a lot of moisture, usually bathrooms and kitchens, and tends to be more of a problem in the winter.
If you notice water droplets on your windows or walls, dark mold growing near your windows, or a musty odor, this is probably the cause.
First, wipe off any condensation with a cloth. If lack of ventilation is an issue, open a window if possible or use an extractor fan.a dehumidifier It may be useful in some situations.
read How to stop condensation and how to remove moisture Need more advice?
Five. protect your home from drafts
Protecting your doors and windows from drafts is a quick way to make your home feel more comfortable and reduce your energy bills by around £20 a year. energy saving trust.
Start by looking for the source of the draft. Common locations include windows, doors, keyholes, mailboxes, chimneys, fireplaces, and loft hatches.
Once you find them, countermeasures against drafts are very easy. Depending on where you're sending your draft, you have different options:
- Sash window: Sealants and metal or plastic brush strips can help fill in gaps around windows.
- External door: Install a weather bar or door brush strip or use a draft excluder.
- Letterbox: A draft excluder or plate covers the opening without blocking the post.
- Keyhole cover: It prevents drafts and slides sideways when you insert the key.
- Loft hatch: Foam strips around the edges of the hutch help prevent drafts.
- Chimney and fireplace: If your fireplace is not in use, you can install a chimney draft arrester.
Products are available at most DIY stores.
Click here for details How to protect your home from draftsincluding when to contact a professional.
6. Clean and re-grout the bathroom
Over time, limescale, dirt, and mold can build up, leaving your bathroom looking dirty and tired.
Professional limescale and mold removal products are available in supermarkets and DIY stores. If these don't work, try an anti-mildew grout revival pen. They come in a variety of colors to match your grout color (or desired color).
If you have more time, you can also completely redo the grout. Look for products that prevent stains and mold from forming in the future to keep your bathroom looking its best for longer.
For more ideas on how to improve your bathroom, read our guide below. Update your bathroom on a budget
7. please clean the carpet
Buying a carpet cleaner may not be the right option for you. They aren't cheap and you may not have the space to store them with your vacuum cleaner and other household appliances. However, you can often hire them at large DIY stores and some supermarkets.
Small stains can usually be dealt with using appropriate methods. carpet stain remover.
Act quickly to avoid stains from ruining your carpet. The sooner you address it, the more likely it is to be removed. Perform the following steps:
- Scrub, remove, and blot as much dirt and spills as possible.
- Test your carpet shampoo or stain remover on an inconspicuous area to make sure it won't damage or discolor your carpet.
- Avoid using boiling water as this may make the stain worse.
- Do not scrub too hard as this can damage the carpet fibers.
read how to clean carpet Need more advice on how to remove soda, mud, coffee and wine stains?
8. create a gallery wall
A gallery wall is a collection of framed photos, artwork, prints, and posters that covers an entire wall. Collecting and framing enough suitable pieces is a small investment of time and money, but it's a great way to show off your favorite prints and holiday photos. Easier to update than wallpaper.
Arrange your collection on the floor to find the best configuration. A combination of large and small photos in landscape and portrait orientation is usually best. For a professional look, try to keep the distance between frames constant. It's up to you whether you want matching, coordinating, or eclectic collections of frames.
Hanging requires time and patience. You can also create paper templates. Otherwise, starting from the center, mark the top corner of the wall frame with a light pencil, add a mark where you want the nail hole, then drive in the nail or picture hook.
You can also purchase sets of hand-picked wall art prints, so you don't have to spend years building a collection or figuring out where to hang each piece.
please discover Best online photo printing service
9. Improve your Wi-Fi signal and speed
Slow or patchy Wi-Fi can be very frustrating. If you're frequently disappointed during video calls or streaming the latest box set, it's time to boost your connection.
The solution may be as simple as moving your Wi-Fi router to an unobstructed location in the center of your home.Read our guide for tips Improve and extend your Wi-Fi signal.
If you need a bigger performance boost, consider purchasing an upgraded router or Wi-Fi extender.
our Best Buy Wi-Fi routers and extenders
Ten. increase bathroom storage
Bathrooms can be overflowing with bottles, containers, and toothbrushes. Improving your bathroom storage will help you get rid of clutter. Keeping surfaces clean will make it easier to spot mold so you can deal with it right away.
Freestanding cabinets and shelving units are usually easy to assemble and can be slipped into a niche. Wall-mounted cabinets, on the other hand, require a little more planning and effort to hang, but can free up floor space. A vanity that fits under the sink is an efficient way to utilize this awkward space.
There are plenty of smart shower storage solutions out there, including corner shelves that hang over the shower screen, attach to bathroom tiles with suction cups, or attach to a spring-loaded pole that plugs into the shower stall. A towel rack can be hung on the bathroom door.
read our article Choose the best bathroom furniture and storage
11. Painting cupboards and cabinets
If your kitchen cupboards and cabinets are looking better, consider revitalizing them with a fresh coat of paint.
Cabinets require several coats of paint and additional preparation (usually sanding, cleaning to remove dust and dirt, and then applying a primer or undercoat) .
Make sure that the type of paint you use is suitable for your kitchen cabinets and that it is suitable for the material.
You can also use vinyl wallpaper or vinyl wrap to give your worn-out kitchen appliances new life and match them with newly painted cabinets.
Read below for more ways to update your kitchen without spending a fortune. Renovate your kitchen on a budget: 8 ideas to refresh your space
12. convert your shed into a pub shed
Pub huts became a popular trend on social media during the lockdown. Some conversions include full corner bars with working taps and optics.
But it doesn't necessarily have to be a bar. A shed can be converted to create space for an art studio, workshop, reading nook, yoga studio, meditation space, or just a resting place for busy gardeners.
If you're feeling particularly inspired, you can enter the Readershed. this year's hut This competition has been recognizing outstanding shed conversions since 2007.
If you don't have a shed but like the idea of ​​a pub shed, read our guide below. buy the best shed
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