1. Paint
The quickest and easiest way to revamp a room is to add a splash of new paint. Unfortunately DIY stores are also aware of this and it is reflected in their prices. But despite this there are still a number of ways to re-paint your room without re-mortgaging your house.
One option is to stick to a single neutral colour throughout the house. A white paint will never go out of fashion, is easy to touch up and costs less than a coloured paint. Buying in bulk also brings better value.
Alternatively you can buy a small quantity of one colour you really like and use it to paint a high contrast accent wall. Other ways to re-paint on a budget include buying small tester pots and mixing them with a white matt paint to create a cheap bespoke colour or asking about used paint. This is where some big stores may have left over pots of custom paint they can’t put on the shop floor. Not all stores will have it but it is always worth an ask.
2. Insulation.
With a disappointing summer giving way to a stormy autumn now is a great time to think about insulating your house. One of the simplest and most effective ways is to line your loft with sheets of mineral wool quilting. These are normally laid down between the joists that make up the floor of the loft and cross laid with a second sheet.
To do this yourself will cost between £50 and £350 for materials but the work will pay for itself in two to three years. You could save around £145 a year on your energy bill based on the average figures for insulating a three-bedroom semi-detached house.
3. Where to shop?
When doing DIY on a budget it is always worth shopping around to get the best bang for your buck. The big chains often offer the best value for money and always have some kind of deal on. If you know exactly what you want online stores can also offer great value. If you have the room to store excess materials then buying in bulk from a builders’ merchant is also a good way to save money. Although often slightly more expensive, good independent hardware shops will normally be able to off you a more informed and personal service.
4. Cabinets/Cupboards
If you are looking to brighten up your bathroom or kick some life back into your kitchen then giving your cabinets and shelving a bit of TLC can do the trick.
By repainting rather than replacing you can save yourself money and add a bespoke look to your bathroom. If you have wooden shelves or cabinets simply sand them down and repaint. If they are made of melamine you can buy a special spray that allows you to paint over them. If you are buying extra shelves or cabinets, go for untreated wooden ones and finish them yourself in order to keep costs down.
5. Power Tools
Most people who fork out on expensive power tools use them once or twice and then confine them to the back of the garage or tool shed. Renting tools when you need them is usually a much more cost effective approach. Everything from power washers to paint sprayers and chainsaws are readily available for hire from a whole host of places. This will also allow you to get a professional finish by using top of the range gear without paying the full price.
If you know you will need a particular tool for a longer period of time then many manufacturers now have online outlets where they sell reconditioned equipment at a discount. These tools are certified so you have a guarantee they will work.
6. Big names vs home brands
If you are talking power tools or expensive fixtures and fittings then big names are nearly always the best bet and will probably save you money in the long run. However if you are buying things like nails, screws and plumbing supplies the generic home brand products are often just as good as a well-know brand but cost a lot less.
7. Tiles
If you are renovating your bathroom and want to replace your tiles a trade pack of plain white ones is the best value. Cheaper than coloured or patterned designs you can also stamp your own style on them by using tile transfers or tile paint.
8. Cleaning
There if nothing like a good old clean for sprucing up your house without spending a fortune. From steam cleaning your carpets and couches to simply de-cluttering you will be amazed at the results. For the really frugal there are also a number of websites that advocate creating your own cleaning products using things like lemon juice, white wine vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
9. Soft furnishings
Whether it’s re-dying old curtains, sewing new cushion covers or trying a bit of amateur upholstery there are any number of ways of freshening up your soft furnishings. If you are new to needlework try making new seat covers for dining room chairs using upholstery foam and a material of your choice. Simple but effective.
10. Sharing the cost
Obvious but often overlooked. If you are about to embark on a DIY project it is always worth checking if any of your neighbours need similar work doing. This could lead to sharing the cost of materials and tool hire as well as any additional labour.
Source http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/
The quickest and easiest way to revamp a room is to add a splash of new paint. Unfortunately DIY stores are also aware of this and it is reflected in their prices. But despite this there are still a number of ways to re-paint your room without re-mortgaging your house.
One option is to stick to a single neutral colour throughout the house. A white paint will never go out of fashion, is easy to touch up and costs less than a coloured paint. Buying in bulk also brings better value.
Alternatively you can buy a small quantity of one colour you really like and use it to paint a high contrast accent wall. Other ways to re-paint on a budget include buying small tester pots and mixing them with a white matt paint to create a cheap bespoke colour or asking about used paint. This is where some big stores may have left over pots of custom paint they can’t put on the shop floor. Not all stores will have it but it is always worth an ask.
2. Insulation.
With a disappointing summer giving way to a stormy autumn now is a great time to think about insulating your house. One of the simplest and most effective ways is to line your loft with sheets of mineral wool quilting. These are normally laid down between the joists that make up the floor of the loft and cross laid with a second sheet.
To do this yourself will cost between £50 and £350 for materials but the work will pay for itself in two to three years. You could save around £145 a year on your energy bill based on the average figures for insulating a three-bedroom semi-detached house.
3. Where to shop?
When doing DIY on a budget it is always worth shopping around to get the best bang for your buck. The big chains often offer the best value for money and always have some kind of deal on. If you know exactly what you want online stores can also offer great value. If you have the room to store excess materials then buying in bulk from a builders’ merchant is also a good way to save money. Although often slightly more expensive, good independent hardware shops will normally be able to off you a more informed and personal service.
4. Cabinets/Cupboards
If you are looking to brighten up your bathroom or kick some life back into your kitchen then giving your cabinets and shelving a bit of TLC can do the trick.
By repainting rather than replacing you can save yourself money and add a bespoke look to your bathroom. If you have wooden shelves or cabinets simply sand them down and repaint. If they are made of melamine you can buy a special spray that allows you to paint over them. If you are buying extra shelves or cabinets, go for untreated wooden ones and finish them yourself in order to keep costs down.
5. Power Tools
Most people who fork out on expensive power tools use them once or twice and then confine them to the back of the garage or tool shed. Renting tools when you need them is usually a much more cost effective approach. Everything from power washers to paint sprayers and chainsaws are readily available for hire from a whole host of places. This will also allow you to get a professional finish by using top of the range gear without paying the full price.
If you know you will need a particular tool for a longer period of time then many manufacturers now have online outlets where they sell reconditioned equipment at a discount. These tools are certified so you have a guarantee they will work.
6. Big names vs home brands
If you are talking power tools or expensive fixtures and fittings then big names are nearly always the best bet and will probably save you money in the long run. However if you are buying things like nails, screws and plumbing supplies the generic home brand products are often just as good as a well-know brand but cost a lot less.
7. Tiles
If you are renovating your bathroom and want to replace your tiles a trade pack of plain white ones is the best value. Cheaper than coloured or patterned designs you can also stamp your own style on them by using tile transfers or tile paint.
8. Cleaning
There if nothing like a good old clean for sprucing up your house without spending a fortune. From steam cleaning your carpets and couches to simply de-cluttering you will be amazed at the results. For the really frugal there are also a number of websites that advocate creating your own cleaning products using things like lemon juice, white wine vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
9. Soft furnishings
Whether it’s re-dying old curtains, sewing new cushion covers or trying a bit of amateur upholstery there are any number of ways of freshening up your soft furnishings. If you are new to needlework try making new seat covers for dining room chairs using upholstery foam and a material of your choice. Simple but effective.
10. Sharing the cost
Obvious but often overlooked. If you are about to embark on a DIY project it is always worth checking if any of your neighbours need similar work doing. This could lead to sharing the cost of materials and tool hire as well as any additional labour.
Source http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/
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