Not every home improvement project needs a lot of money or requires strategic planning with professionals. There are many smaller tasks you can put your hand to around the home that can improve the functionality and aesthetics of your home and help you to pick up a new skill or two.
For the most part, many DIY projects can be completed in a weekend.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets
This is a really simple task and doesn’t take too long. But the key here is the prep work you put in before you pick up a paintbrush.
First, you need to clear away any grease and grime using sugar soap. Inside and out. Then you need to sand back the existing finish. 120-grit will work as it gives the paint something to bond to. Then use a purpose-made cabinet paint rather than a standard emulsion.
For better results, choose a chalk-based or specialist furniture paint as these dry hard enough to withstand daily use, which is what you need.
Remove all doors before painting, work flat to avoid drips, and do two thin coats not one thicker one. Then reattach and add new hardware if you want to.
Painting a Room with Proper Prep
The difference between a room that looks freshly decorated and one that looks like someone painted over a problem is the prep work. There’s no denying you can tell when someone hasn’t put the right prep work into a paint job.
First, you need to fill any cracks or holes in the wall. Fine with a surface filler and sand flush when dry. Before you do anything else, make sure the entire wall is clean and dry. Make window formats, skirting boards, light switches, etc. Then apply a primer to the walls, covering any bare patches. From here, you can apply the paint until you reach the finish you need. The result will be much better than simply applying paint over problems.
Add Storage to An Understairs Cupboard
A tricky job, but one that is well worth completing if you’re able to. Fitting proper shelving or adding sliding drawers, etc., can transform how you use the space and give you back valuable real estate that isn’t sitting wasted.
You need to make sure you measure the depth at multiple points because the floor-to-ceiling height here will change the further you go into the space. Then cut each shelf individually, rather than assuming they all need to be the same dimension. Plywood cut to size works well here, as it can be ordered in the exact dimensions you need for an easier completion.
Create A Feature Wall
Creating a feature wall is a fun addition to any room and can really transform the space.
There are numerous options for you to choose from, too. You can wallpaper a chimney breast, paint one wall a deep jewel colour, or you can add panels to a wall or turn a section into a plant haven with various shelves and hooks to create a unique inside living wall feature.
It’s entirely up to you what you choose to do with your feature wall, but for a weekend’s worth of work, you can create something really special.
