Nothing screams “bank holiday” quite like a trip to the DIY store. Whether you’re sick of your home after a winter sheltering inside from the rain, or the urge to spring clean and spruce up has taken over, the Easter weekend could signal the perfect time to change your decor and brighten up your home.
Emma Downer, of DIY With Emma, shares practical, easy-to-follow home projects that help people look after their space. With over one million followers across her social media platforms, she focuses on projects in her own home, often showing the inevitable mistakes that come with learning, proving that DIY doesn’t have to be perfect. Here, Downer shares seven DIY ideas to get you started that won’t break the bank.
Paint something small
Painting is the most common DIY job that people are willing to take on, because it’s affordable and makes a huge impact. But how many times do you buy paint for a large project and get so intimidated that you don’t even begin? Downer says: “A full room repaint is great, but if you’re on a budget, focus on impact zones like the front door, internal doors or kitchen cabinets, instead.”
What if you’ve always fancied painting the stairs, but are put off by the fiddly nature of the spindles? Downer’s number one tip: Use a sock or glove to paint those awkward spots, as it helps you get into all the crevices, and then, once the gaps are filled, run a brush up and down to prevent drips.
Upgrade your handles and hardware
Achieving the high-end look in your home doesn’t always have to break the budget – or require a complete renovation. Simply updating your drawer pulls and handles on your cabinetry can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your space – plus it can cost as little as £5.
Downer says by swapping cabinet handles, door handles and light switches, you can make an entire room feel updated in under an hour.
Improve your lighting
Downer says lighting is one of those things people ignore, and it’s why their home never quite feels right.
Improve your home lighting by layering multiple sources, rather than relying on a single overhead fixture. Use LED bulbs for energy efficiency and install dimmer switches to adjust brightness. Add lamps at different heights to create warmth and eliminate harsh shadows.
“In my house I really like to have primary and secondary lighting, the lamps and LEDs for the evening and main light for the day,” she says. “Nobody wants the dreaded ‘big light’ on in the evening.”
If you’re after a quick upgrade, Downer suggests swapping harsh bulbs for warm white ones, adding a floor lamp to dark corners, or using stick-on LED strips under cabinets or on the stairs. Smart bulbs are also great for adjusting the light of a room.
Smart bulbs and LED strips can adjust the entire lighting of the roomCreate ‘drop zones’ for clutter
Removing clutter can be a fast way to improve the appeal of your home. To make this as easy as possible, one of Downer’s favourite tips is to create “drop zones” by your front door for when you get home, and to place a basket at the top and bottom of the stairs for things you need to carry up and down. “Most homes feel messy because there’s no designated place for everyday chaos. I have a drawer in my house that is specifically designed for other people’s belongings. When people visit and leave things by mistake, I want them all in a single space so I can give them back,” says Downer. She also suggests using baskets for shoes or post.
Revive outdoor surfaces
If everything is looking a little grubby outside after the very wet winter, Downer suggests giving everything a good clean with a pressure washer. You don’t have to splash out for one; hire one locally, or use a tool-borrowing app like Hygglo. In addition to cleaning patio slabs and driveways, a power washer is great for garden walls and decking.
Downer says: “There is always a dramatic before and after following the colder months and pretty much anyone is capable of doing it. I live on a main road so it gets very grubby, and jet washing always brings my house the biggest change in the spring.”
Do one small job you’ve been putting off
Often, when we have a DIY failure, it’s because we started too big. Downer says the key to building confidence with DIY is to start with the small jobs that you keep postponing. “Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the enormity of a project; we don’t need to do the whole thing at once,” she says.
If you want small wins, try fixing that dripping tap, replacing silicone around sinks and baths or installing a shelf or rail.
“My motto is just start. I’ll promise myself that I will do only five minutes of a job and see how I feel. If, after five minutes, I don’t feel like continuing, then no problem.
“But more often than not, just five minutes is enough to get into the swing of things and I can get a job done. Action comes before motivation.”
Make use of dead spaces
Most homes have random “dead zones”: the space behind doors, beside sofas, and along narrow hallways. Downer suggests maximising these dead spaces by using vertical storage, creating functional nooks, or placing slim furniture, such as consoles, benches, or ottomans, in empty corners.
Utilise that space beside the sofa by installing a super slim shelf, even 10–15cm deep, to store your drinks whilst you sit. Build a bookcase in that stairwell. Build a spice rack behind doors or by the side of the fridge.
As Downer says: “We often think we need more space, when there’s often ample room that’s yet to be exploited.”
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