The past few years have brought about a huge shift in the way we live. Since the start of the COVID pandemic and a move to a work-from-home situation, many people across Manchester and indeed the UK have turned their attention to interiors. Many have spent time during lockdown repainting or planning to redecorate areas of their house or apartment. As a result, the decor and home improvement industries have seen a massive upward trend over the past 18 months. Whether you want to freshen up a room with a new coat of paint, upcycle some old furniture or make a DIY office desk, below are some tips and tricks to help get you started.
DIY Prep
No matter what DIY task you are undertaking, it is important to plan the job and ensure you have all the essential materials and tools to hand. When it comes to painting, in particular, it is very helpful and a huge time-saver to have brushes, sufficient paint, plastic, a ladder, and masking tape set up and ready to go when you get started.
Household Repairs
DIY jobs around the house can be tricky and anything we can do to make them easier will help ensure the task gets finished. Adhesives for specific DIY projects are a great way to keep household tasks convenient and inexpensive. There are adhesives available for a wide range of materials including wood, tile, plastic and metal. Making household repairs with epoxy glue, for instance, is quick, easy, and highly durable.
Living Room Decor
The living room is one of the easiest rooms to design and makeover in a house or apartment. It doesn’t have the plumbing and wiring required in a kitchen or bathroom, for instance. A lot can be achieved with some careful selection around colour, furniture and layout. There are lots of living room DIY ideas available online, many of which are cheap and easy to implement. One especially easy way to update your living room is to simply add home decor accessories. This is a quick way to add colour or pattern, and give your living room a lift.
- Textiles such as blankets, a rug, cushions and curtains are inexpensive and are ideal for injecting colour or pattern to your living room
- Lighting is one of the most effective ways to create a warm, inviting and cosy atmosphere. Invest in dimmer lights, floor lamps and table lamps to create a soft ambiance in the evenings
- Candles are a great way to add colour, warmth and aroma to any room. They work particularly well in the living room and are perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere in the evenings
- Wall prints and framed pictures go a long way in making a living room feel cosy and homely. Opt for white or pale grey frames for a chic, stylish look
Upcycling DIY
Whether you are redecorating your living room, bedroom or kitchen, up cycling some existing furniture is a quick and satisfying way to update a room, and it’s even more rewarding when you do it yourself. Keep an eye out online for upcycling inspiration and ideas, but generally, you will just need a piece of furniture and some chalk paint. Revamping an old chest of drawers or side table with some suitable paint in your favourite colour is a fun and rewarding task. A fresh coat of paint can make some old furniture look new and give it a new lease of life. Reusing existing household items also help to cut down on costs when you are redecorating or updating your home.
Many DIY jobs are straightforward and easy to undertake without the help of an expert – plus, most home decor tasks are satisfying and fun to complete. Larger tasks, however, may require a professional and when it comes to electrics, plumbing, tiling or laying floors, you will generally need to hire an expert. Save costs by researching the market, planning what is needed, and investing in good materials that will last well throughout the years.