I’m a property expert – 5 DIY budget renovations to make space in your home & £12 window hack to stop draughts
SINCE the pandemic many of us have decided to get our hands a little dirty and give DIY a go.
Many homeowners are staying put and choosing to make cheaper improvements to their homes to improve its value.
But if you’re going to try your hand at DIY you need to get it right.
We spoke to DIY and property expert Michael Reading from Housetastic.co.uk to get some top insider tips on creating ‘must have’ spaces in your home on a budget.
1. Spruce Up Outside Space
When it comes to your garden Michael says artificial grass is the way to go.
Michael: “Lay artificial grass. Artificial grass is the best and easiest way to achieve a beautiful lawn that requires very little maintenance. Modern faux grass varieties are extremely realistic, allowing you to achieve a perfect-looking lawn.”
“Laying artificial grass is fairly straightforward and won’t require much upkeep in the long term. If your outdoor furniture is looking a little old and tatty, you may want to consider upcycling it.”
“Instead of forking out on brand new furniture, you can give your existing furniture a new life. Consider a lick of paint to greatly improve the appearance of your existing garden furniture.”
If you’ve got a green thumb add some planters for your flowers and herbs.
“Pots and planters are a great simple and effective way to keep your garden looking aesthetically pleasing. If you want to get crafty, you can also build your own planters and pots from recycled materials.”
2. Draught proof your windows
With the UK still experiencing a cold spell make sure you’re not letting cold air into your homes through one of the biggest culprits… your windows.
Single-pane windows can lose a significant amount of heat, resulting in cold homes and higher energy bills during the winter.
The property expert says: “Draught-proofing your windows can help to keep the heat in and, therefore, results in your home being more energy efficient. You can easily draught proof your home with draught proofing strips.”
Window draught excluders are really cheap and can be collected from Screwfix for £12.09 (per 20m).
“Make sure you choose strips that are the right size so they fit in the gap in your window. If the strip is too small, there will still be a gap so it won’t be completely effective and if the strip is too big, it will get crushed and you may struggle to close the window. If your windows don’t open, you will need to use a silicone sealant.”
“If you want to improve the appearance of your double glazed windows, you can paint your wooden window frames.”
3. Utilise The Spare Room
Michael says, “If you work from home full time or even if you just work from home occasionally, a home office is a great use for a spare room.
Investing in a desk with plenty of storage drawers is a good place to start.
“You can find desks that are suitable to fit in any space, no matter how large or small your spare room is. You can choose from a floating desk that is fitted to the wall or a freestanding desk that you can place in a convenient spot in the room.
You could also consider a foldable desk, so when you need to return your home office to its original state, you can just close it and put it away.
“Adding some plants to a small office space is a great idea as this can bring some life into the room without making it feel too cluttered or overwhelming.”
Other options for making use of a spare room, turn into a playroom for your kids or build a home gym.
4. Lighten Up Your Eaves
Painting your eaves white are a great way to maximise the natural light in your home.
Michael says, “Paint your eaves white! Eaves or soffits are the parts of the roof that overhang your property. They are either left as open eaves, or they are covered up with a horizontal soffit. Regardless of which type you have on your property, these roof sections can reflect natural light into your home.
“If you paint your eaves white, this is a simple but effective way to boost the amount of natural light that flows into your home. Even if the colour of the outside of your home is different, you can still paint your eaves white.
“The eaves are angled towards the house, so painting them won’t have any effect on your home’s kerb appeal. You will usually only see the eaves from inside of the house through a window.”
5. Step Up Your Storage
The DIY expert says: “If your home has a staircase, one of the best things you can do is make the most of the empty space underneath the stairs instead of leaving this area as an unused space. Consider adding some shelves for displaying books, ornaments, or other things in the home.
“Alternatively, add a storage unit to this area underneath the stairs. If you want to go a step further, you could also choose to install a small cupboard under the stairs for storage.
“If you want to get some larger storage solutions in your home, you may want to consider purchasing some large furniture pieces and upcycling them to suit your home’s style. Places such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay are great for finding second hand furniture. Alternatively, look at charity shops for larger furniture pieces.
“Then, you can bring these items home and sand them down before painting or staining them. You can even alter them slightly to provide additional storage such as adding sections to larger cupboards or drawers which will help you organise your items much better.”
Create DIY shelves
“Shelves are very important if you are struggling for storage space in your home and it’s very easy to create your own – all you’ll need is some wooden boards and a drill.”
“Paint or stain them in any colour you wish to really make the shelves your own. If you choose floating shelves, you can create a lot of extra storage space without taking up any floor space.”