Tag Archives: home improvement

What your front door says about you

front-doorFirst impressions count – quite literally, when it comes to opening up your home to visitors! You may not realise it, but the colour of your front door might say more about you than you think!

According to home website www.newhomefinder.co.uk, your front door reveals more than just your entrance hall. So if you are about to move or if imminent home improvement plans involve a new front door, you might want to read New Home FinderÔÇÖs guide first:

Red

Passionate red is vibrant, lively and exciting – and so too is the person behind the door. People who choose to paint their front door red are amongst the most hospitable souls, delighting in entertaining guests. A red door says ÔÇÿwelcomeÔÇÖ – and means it!

Orange

Orange is the colour of warmth, expressing energy, happiness and confidence. A blend of the primary colours red and yellow, it represents a mixture both – the happiness of yellow and the boldness of red – and people with an orange door are often social butterflies.

Yellow

Yellow is the colour of logic and represents the left side of the brain, which is responsible for critical thinking and original thought. As the lightest colour in the spectrum it also inspires feelings of cheerfulness, fun and positivity. People living behind a yellow door have a vitality for life and a ÔÇÿget up and goÔÇÖ attitude!

Green

front-doorYou might expect a whole lotta shakinÔÇÖ to be going on behind the green door, but in fact it represents tranquility and tradition. Green is the colour of health and wealth, and people with a green door are often successful and ambitious, valuing the wellbeing of their family, hard work hard and self improvement.

Blue

Relaxing, calming and honest, blue is the colour of peace. Those who choose a blue front door see their home as a refuge from the outside world and tend to be grounded, honest and true to themselves.

Brown

The colour of earth, brown is warm, stable and organic. Whether the door is painted brown or is natural wood, the person behind it will share the same characteristics, being grounded, down to earth, warm and friendly. But darker brown can reflect a private soul, trying to avoid too much interaction.

Black

The colour of sophistication, black is classic, authoritative and stylish. Painting your front door black is a bold statement to the world that your home is a place of order and control. Anyone living behind a black front door is likely to have a place for everything, with everything in its place.

White

White is the colour of perfection, symbolising wholeness, equality and creativity. People with a white door will be fair, balanced and also highly imaginative, able to fill the blankness of white with ideas and creativity.

Glass

Last but by no means least, the person with a glass door is like the glass itself – friendly, outgoing and open!
If reading this has made you think your own main entrance could do with a revamp, read our handy guide on how to freshen up your front door.

 

home-improvement

Budget ways to boost your home

home-improvementIf your property is in need of a makeover, there are plenty of ways to do it without breaking the bank! Whether you want to spruce things up in order to sell or simply make your home a cosier place in which to curl up, here are some inexpensive improvement ideas!

First impressions

They really do count, so make sure the entrance to your property looks its best. Keep the lawn mown and the path well weeded, and place a few potted shrubs near the front door. If youÔÇÖre not particularly green-fingered, artificial topiary or plants can look smart and inviting without requiring maintenance! Try a specialist such as Evergreen or check out the range at High Street and home improvement stores.

Running theme

Fitting a new carpet throughout the hall and stairs can be expensive, but an eye-catching stair runner can have the same impact at a nicer price! Stair runners look fabulous over painted floorboards and can also rescue a tired, old carpet, covering the well-worn centre of each step and giving your hall a welcoming appeal.

Splashing out

kitchen-sinkA well-presented kitchen can clinch the deal for prospective buyers – but thereÔÇÖs no point spending thousands on new cabinets only to find your buyer plans to rip it straight out again. Instead, enhance an existing kitchen with a few added extras such as a splashback. Splashbacks can transform grimy or dated tiles around the cooker or sink and the choice of materials now available ÔÇô including glass, wood, gloss acrylic and tiles ÔÇô might be wider than you think. New worktops can also be bought and installed reasonably cheaply and they take the focus away from less-than-perfect kitchen cupboards underneath!

Loo-sen up

bathroomAs with a new kitchen, it can cost a lot to install a new bathroom suite, but there are plenty of ways to brighten up your bathroom on a budget! At the very least, buy a new loo seat, shower curtain and bathmat, as well as accessories such as toothbrush holders and soap dishes. Scrub the tiles and re-grout between them if needed, or buy a grout pen to disguise discoloured areas. Adding fresh bathroom sealant is an easy job, whilst most homeowners are able to fix new bathroom cabinets and shelves (and itÔÇÖs a good chance to re-paint the walls when the old units have been taken down!).

Light of your life

Lighting is an often-overlooked element of home improvement, yet the right lighting can transform a room. Accent lighting highlights focal points, drawing the eye towards features you want guests to see and creating mood. Spotlights are a brilliant way to light up corners and recesses, whilst a striking pendant light or chandelier can make a statement in a large room. A table lamp in the hall will create a welcoming atmosphere and a standing lamp next to your favourite armchair provides the perfect place to relax at the end of a busy day doing DIY!

Make a date with DIY!

diy-showsWith the new year now well underway, thoughts are turning to all those home improvement projects put on hold over Christmas. If, like us, you have big DIY or building plans for 2015, you might be in need of a little inspiration ÔÇô and where better to get it than from the many home shows coming up!

Throughout the year, DIY Advice Online will be rounding up details of our favourite home, building and lifestyle events in the UK, starting with the winter months ahead. So get your diaries at the ready and start planning your year of DIY!

The Southern Home Show, Alexandra Palace, London

Start the year in style at the Southern Home Show, returning to the Ally Pally for the second time. Covering interior design, DIY, self building, renovation, energy efficiency and gardens, the show is a chance for visitors to take part in workshops and seminars, find products such as power tools, hand tools and building equipment and get tips from the experts. You can even bring along your plans and drawings to the advice area, whilst kids can get stuck in to their own DIY workshops!┬áJan 30 – Feb 1, ┬ú8 (children free),┬áhttp://www.southernhomeshow.co.uk

The Listed Property Show, Olympia London

If you live in a listed building, this oneÔÇÖs for you! Here you can chat to conservation officers, property regulations experts, planners and architects, as well as source specialist builders and suppliers of things such as windows, doors, paint and flooring. And donÔÇÖt worry if you live up north ÔÇô thereÔÇÖs another show in Harrogate in March!┬áFeb 14-15, free (register online),┬áhttp://lpoc.co.uk/property-show / @Listed_Property

The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, Birmingham NEC

camping-showOk, so itÔÇÖs not a home show exactly, but you might be surprised at the array of ideas you can glean for your home and garden here, not to mention inspiration for the outdoor lifestyle! Held during half term, this massive show is staged over several of the NECÔÇÖs huge halls and includes plenty of activities such as rock climbing, dog agility displays and discovery zones to keep the kids happy while you canvas opinion on essential outdoor style!┬áFeb 17-22, from ┬ú7 (children free),┬áww.caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk / @CaravanCampShow

Wilton House Antiques Fair, Wiltshire

This independent and renowned annual fair is the one to visit if you like period pieces. From furniture, paintings, maps, silver, porcelain, glass, clocks and collectibles, your home will certainly stand out from the Ikea crowd if you invest in a unique antique or two. With more than 40 top class, vetted dealers setting up stall in the cloisters area inside the main house and in the old riding school, experienced buyers and novices alike are welcome.┬áFeb 27 – March 1, ┬ú5.50,┬áwww.wiltonhouse.co.uk

Ecobuild, Excel London

This trade event is the UKÔÇÖs largest built-environment show and is packed with interactive and innovative attractions, live demos and brand new products and techniques. Speakers in the Nature and Built Environment Hall include experts from conservation trusts, the British Bee KeepersÔÇÖ Association and the Grass Roof Company, whilst visitors can even earn a spot to pitch their eco retail solution to Marks & Spencer!┬áMarch 3-5, free (register online, no under 16s),┬áhttp://www.ecobuild.co.uk / @Ecobuild_Now

First Time Buyer Home Show, Business Design Centre, London

You can only dream of DIY if youÔÇÖre yet to put a foot on the property ladder, but this show can get you started. Home-owning hopefuls can get free advice from housing associations, lawyers, credit check firms and home builders, and although the experts on hand do tend to be a little London-centric, there is also information on first time buying outside the capital. TV property expert Nicki Chapman will chat to first-time buyers about their experiences, and thereÔÇÖs ┬ú5,000 towards a deposit up for grabs too!┬áMarch 7, free,┬áhttp://www.ftbhomeshow.com / @firsttimebuyer

Vintage Home Show, Victoria Baths, Manchester

Do you think kitsch is cool? If your style is old style, make a date with Discover VintageÔÇÖs next show, where thereÔÇÖll be 50 fabulous stalls selling everything from furniture and lighting to ceramics and textiles. With items from the 1930s to the ÔÇÿ70s, youÔÇÖll be sure to pick up timeless treasures to make your home the envy of the street!┬áMarch 15, free,┬áhttp://www.vintagehomeshow.co.uk / @VintageHomeShow

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Birmingham NEC

homebuilding-showWhether youÔÇÖre planning to build your dream home, add an extension to your current property or remodel your garden, this show is a one-stop shop of advice and bright ideas. The show features thousands of products on display, more than 500 specialist businesses, a planning clinic and experts from Homebuilding and Renovating magazine on hand to answer questions. Visitors can also book a free one-to-one consultation with an impartial expert at The Advice Centre – but hurry, as these slots are extremely popular!┬áMarch 26-29, from ┬ú12 in advance,┬áwww.homebuildingshow.co.uk / @MyHomebuilding

Ideal Home Show, London

ItÔÇÖs hard to believe, but this year marks the 107th Ideal Home Show! And, as befits the grand duchess of all home shows, the IHS has home improvement ideas, garden gadgets, terrific technology and heavenly homeware bursting from every room. Celeb experts include Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, money saving expert Martin Lewis, TV presenter and campaigner Katie Piper and gardening god Alan Titchmarsh, whilst there will be lots of food and drink-related attractions and even a catwalk and daily fashion shows! And with the show returning to its original home, where it was launched by the Daily Mail way back in 1908, itÔÇÖs sure to be one of the most special events yet.┬áMarch 20 – Apr 6, from ┬ú12 in advance, children free (ticket required),┬áhttp://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk / @ideal_home_show

Main photo: Steve Burden