Category Archives: Decorating

Nine nifty tips for nicer DIY

diy-painting DIY neednÔÇÖt be hard work if you know the rules! Our handy hints donÔÇÖt cut corners but they do cut down on the work in the long term. If you want to start as you mean to continue, read on!

1. First things first

Always check what type of screws and rawlplugs you need before you get started. ThereÔÇÖs nothing worse than drilling into the wall only to find youÔÇÖre without the right fixtures – and theyÔÇÖre not always supplied with the product being fitted.

2. On the level

Invest in a spirit level and always use it when putting up shelves and rails. You might think you can judge just by looking, but chances are you canÔÇÖt!

3. Primed for perfection

DonÔÇÖt assume that painting over a stain will hide it completely. Try a coat of primer first, to seal it in, and then add a fresh coat of paint for a clean finish.

4. ItÔÇÖs a wrap

When leaving paint to dry before applying the next coat, wrap the brushes and rollers in cling film. It stops them drying out and prevents you having to wash them out multiple times!

5. Stick with it

The same goes for grout and tile adhesive. If youÔÇÖre taking a break, place a damp towel over the bucket to stop the mixture hardening.

6. Silver lining

DonÔÇÖt skimp on the lining paper, particularly if you live in an older house or the walls are bumpy. Quality lining paper evens things out and makes it much easier to hang the main wallpaper, as well as giving a nicer finish if youÔÇÖre painting the walls. Paste the lining paper horizontally if you are papering on top, but vertically if you are painting over it.

7. Building relationships

If youÔÇÖre a regular DIY-er or have a large project on the go, check out your local buildersÔÇÖ merchant as many accept public as well as trade customers. You might get a 10% discount on all purchases and staff are also likely to be extremely knowledgeable and give great tips and advice.

8. Check, mate!

Check, check and check again. The silliest mistakes can be made when a DIY-er is tired or in a rush, with handles being fixed upside down and even doors opening the wrong way! Take your time, enlist someone you trust to provide a fresh pair of eyes and have plenty of tea breaks!

9. Know when to go pro

Recognise your limits and accept you might have to call in the experts for the hard stuff!

DIY Advice Online is brimming with clever ideas for your home and garden, as well as step-by-step guides. Check out our decorating dos and donÔÇÖts, as well as how to avoid a DIY botch job!

Families divide over decorating disagreements!

Decorating your home is one of the most stressful tasks you can do as a family and a huge cause of arguments, according to new research!

Nearly nine of out 10 people have fallen out with relatives about redecorating and refurbishing. Money is the main reason behind arguments, whilst more than half of those quizzed have rowed about colour schemes and textiles. And another area of contention is whether or not to bring in the experts, with ÔÇô perhaps surprisingly – more men wanting to pay a professional than their wives and girlfriends!

Interiors online retailer Furniture123.co.uk surveyed 1,000 Brits on their family home improvement feuds and found that:

Finances are the biggest cause of decorating disagreements, with 69% of respondents admitting to rows about money. One in three disagree over how much to spend, whilst one in 10 canÔÇÖt agree about who pays for what
More than half (54%) of those surveyed have fallen out about colour schemes, wood finishes, textures or fabrics
The third most common squabble involves whether or not to bring in professional decorating services. One in three families disagree about it, with women proving more in favour of a spot of DIY than men. More than two thirds of women (67%) are prepared to roll up their sleeves and do the job themselves, compared to 44% of their husbands and partners

Other hotly debated topics include where to put personal possessions, trinkets and family photos, and what to use rooms for, such as a study, ÔÇÿman caveÔÇÖ or cinema room.

Furniture123 marketing manager Mark Kelly said: ÔÇ£The research has uncovered some interesting findings surrounding differences in opinion when re-decorating the home, such as the costs incurred or which colour scheme to go for.

ÔÇ£A family can be made up of many different personalities, so naturally people are going to have different tastes, but itÔÇÖs important to have a bit of everybody in the home you live in. Anyone looking to re-decorate their home should take time when making decisions, perhaps creating a mood board of ideas that all of the family has fed in to.ÔÇØ

Avoid a DIY botch job this bank holiday!

This weekend, chances are youÔÇÖll either be jetting off for some late summer sunshine, sewing nametags into school uniforms or indulging in a spot of DIY. The three-day August bank holiday is the perfect chance to carry out a big project or several odd jobs ÔÇô but, unfortunately, this favourite hobby can all too often end in tears!

Before you get started, read our guide to make sure your bank holiday plans are brilliant, not botched!

The best laid plans

DonÔÇÖt jump straight in without careful planning and preparation. Think about what you need to do and how long itÔÇÖs going to take; many DIY projects fail because they end up being rushed. DonÔÇÖt be embarrassed about popping to your local DIY store and asking for advice ÔÇô staff will be happy to help and youÔÇÖll probably come away with tips for other tasks, too!

Well equipped

Line up in advance all the tools needed for the job. If you donÔÇÖt already have a toolbox, buy an inexpensive one and fill it with basics such as a hammer, pliers, crosshead and flathead screwdrivers, a measuring tape, superglue and a spirit level, as well as spare nails and screws in a range of sizes.

A clean sweep

Think the cleaning is only done after DIY? Wrong! Cleaning the area you are working in beforehand will make the job go more smoothly and result in a nicer finish. Wash any surfaces that are to be painted, spend time masking off floors and covering furniture and vacuum up dust as you go along.

Dressed for success

ItÔÇÖs obvious that DIY should be done in old clothes, but think about safety too. DonÔÇÖt wear loose clothes that could get caught in power tools and tie long hair back. Dust masks are a good idea when sanding and painting, whilst safety goggles are a must when using electric tools and drills.

Quality counts

When it comes to painting, budget isnÔÇÖt always best. Very cheap paints can require more coats, whilst poor quality brushes will leave you peeling bristles out of your handiwork. Opt for at least the mid-priced range and always clean brushes and trays thoroughly after use.

Measuring up

Measure twice, cut once, so the saying goes. Be thorough and donÔÇÖt guess. Err on the side of caution and take a bit off at a time if youÔÇÖre not confident ÔÇô you can always cut more off but itÔÇÖs harder to stick some back on!┬á

Start small

If youÔÇÖre new to DIY, tackle a few small jobs first to get used to your tools and gain confidence. Re-grout tiles, put up a shelf or repaint a table before attempting to replace a radiator or install a new kitchen! A good tip is to practice on jobs in small rooms or out-of-the-way corners, such as the downstairs loo. If things go wrong, itÔÇÖs easily covered up and not on show in the best room in the house!┬á

Ask the experts!

ItÔÇÖs always advisable to hire a qualified professional if the job involves electrics or plumbing and, similarly, if DIY just isnÔÇÖt your ÔÇÿthingÔÇÖ, admit defeat and stick to what youÔÇÖre good at! Wait until you have several small tasks in need of attention and ask friends or relatives to recommend an odd job man (or woman!), many of whom charge a daily or half daily rate. Thousands of people are admitted to hospital every year following DIY disasters, and a botched job could even invalidate your home insurance, so donÔÇÖt let your pride lead to a monumental fall!

Also see: Decorating dos and donÔÇÖts