Photos By: Unsplash

The lockdown has meant that many of us have turned our hands to DIY. With the amount of time we’re spending within our own four walls, is there any wonder why we want to try and make tweaks and improvements to our space?

Before we pick up our hammers and drills, it’s important to remember that safety is paramount. Data recently collated by National Accident Helpline showed that almost three quarters of the population have injured themselves in their home multiple times over the last 12 months. They found that the kitchen is the most likely place for you to injury yourself, with the garden second, followed by the living room. If you’ve injured yourself and want to see if you’re eligible for compensation, it’s super easy to use their claims calculator and get the ball rolling.

As long as you’re taking precautions and ensuring you’re working safely, let’s get into some of the inexpensive DIY hacks that you might want to try.

Floating Shelves

Not only do they look great, but they can also add height to your space. Whether you opt for them all on the same level or create a more modern masterpiece with them, DIY floating shelves have so many uses. Follow any of the simple guides available online and make sure you have got all the correct hardware and tools to fix them in place properly. The last thing you want is to put your favourite decorations on them for them to fall off.

Mirror Wall

A mirror wall is a great way to add additional light and also a focal point to a room. With some mirrored wall tiles, you can instantly open up a hallway or landing by reflecting any existing light into the space. Mirror walls are also a great design feature that’s aesthetically pleasing. Why not give it a try in your dining room, as a headboard above your bead or even as a splashback in your kitchen. A variety of different mirror designs can also transform the appearance of your home.

Bookcase

You can fill up any dead space with a slim bookcase. Whether you use a slim bookcase to surround an archway, fill up an empty nook or even to add a feature to your hallway, they’re an ideal bit of storage for books or even to house your favourite vases and nick knacks.

Kitchen Under-cabinet Lights

Who wouldn’t want to completely change the ambiance of the heart of their home? Instead of having glaring spotlights on all the time, LED lights can really transform your space. Add them to light up your worktops and your flooring with ease! There are many ways to make your kitchen look bigger, and lighting can dramatically expand your room. You’ll also be able to pick from an array of colours too, whether it’s warm or cool white or even something a little bolder.

DIY Wall Panelling

Wall panelling has become a staple in many people’s homes. It can add character and depth to pretty much any space. It’s easy to do with the right materials and by following a step-by-step guide. Make sure to measure your wall and sketch out your design first, this will help you to work out what width of batons will be best and how much space will be between each one. Why not finish your space off by painting your panel with a contrasting colour to bring texture to your room!

Photo: Via Pinterest

This is why, one of the first things to do before starting with the actual redecoration is to prepare a budget, especially if you happen to be an impulsive spender. Now, preparing a budget and sticking to it are two completely different things; a fact which impulsive spenders know all too well. To help those that need it, here are four effective ways to keep your redecorating budget under control, even when the urge to go on a spending spree is particularly strong.

Photo: Style Caster

Defining a Clear Budget

A very important part of creating a budget is to define it clearly and in as much detail as possible. Use a paint cost calculator for calculating the cost of painting a room in precise details, so that there is no gray area left for the final price to soar above the allotted budget. If you leave multiple sections of the budget open to changes or forget to define them clearly, there is a chance that you will end up overspending there because, as an impulsive spender, you always have the sub-conscious urge to do so.

Your home is an important part of your life, something you invest in and enjoy for a long time. When looking at all the ways you can redecorate and improve your home, it is important to look at all your options for your home renovation.

Whether you want to make home repairs, remodel, buy new appliances, install a pool or just furnish your house, a personal loan makes it easy to finance any home improvement you’ll want for your house.

Photo: Girlfriend is Better

The Envelope System

This is an old trick which is effective for just about any other field where you might overspend. For each separate section of the remodeling project, mark an envelope with headings such as Painting, Repairs, Materials, etc. and put the preset amount of money inside those envelopes for each respective sub-project. The amount you are going to put inside each envelope should be decided in the previous step, which is laying down a clean and precise budget. Once you do this, you now have a physical representation of the budget that you prepared earlier, which will further reinforce the financial boundaries in your mind. Remember that you will not always be able to stop your impulses from being triggered, but your best defense against them is a psychological boundary that has been reinforced in multiple ways. Therefore, the mental setup from the beginning should be as if the money inside the envelope is the last dollar you have.

Follow the 24-Hour Rule

If your contractor has convinced you of something extra that was not in the initial budget or if you yourself want it really bad, follow the 24-hour rule. The rule itself is quite simple really; wait for a day (or 24-hours to be precise) and then reassess the situation. If at that point you don’t want it as much as you did earlier, you should skip it altogether, which should be easier to do this time. Feel free to stretch the 24-hour period by another 24-hours if you need to, but don’t make the choice based on an immediate impulse.

Photo: Dimples and Tangles

Leave it to Someone Else

Sometimes, the desire is so strong that we are simply unable to control it, and at others, we just don’t have the self-control in us, to begin with. If that is truly your situation and you have failed to control yourself from overspending on previous redecoration projects, in spite of sufficient attempts, it’s time for someone else to step in and take responsibility. Find someone you trust and who is also good with money. You can hand over the entire budget details and the money to this person so that he/she has the financial authority here. Alternatively, you can let the person handle the entire redecorating project if they agree to it. You will still be in charge of the project; it’s just that this trusted individual will stop you from impulsively exceeding the budget that you had set yourself.

Resisting impulses basically involves two major steps; cutting out the sources of temptation and resisting the impulses through a reinforced mindset. Since we have discussed the latter in details so far, it might also be a good idea to give some consideration to the former. Stop searching the net for redecorating ideas after you have already made your decision because it’s very tempting and it will confuse you further. A good rule to follow is once you have set something down on paper (or laptop!), you cannot change it.

Photo: Anchor Builders

Pay Attention to Function

The function of your property is one aspect that should never be ignored. Doing so can lead to less than desirable and catastrophic results. For example, you may want new carpets on your floors and be in love with a particular type and color. However, before you buy it you really need to ask yourself about its function. One of my friends did some refurbishments in Windsor on her home and installed carpeting throughout the whole upper level. Shortly after she noticed she was allergic to dust. Make sure you re-think any renovations and test a small area before going “all-out”.

Do you have kids or pets in the home, is the carpet easy to clean and maintain, and how well will it hold up against the amount of foot traffic you have in your home are all questions you need to keep in mind.

Photo: PaintBox, London

If the carpet you are interested in can’t meet your need for the long-term in regards to the conditions and activities inside of your home, then you’ll need to choose a different product that is more functional. If you are already stuck with a carpet, check out this article on how to clean it!

Get the Best Value for Your Home

Even if you are renovating on a budget, you need to remember that value counts. Using cheap items to improve the look and comfort of your home will only give you subpar results for the short-term.

This increases the chances of you needing to save up money in the near future to redo everything all over again. Renovations should be changes that add to your home’s potential for a long time and increase your home’s value, not ones that give you fleeting memories of what could be.

Photo: Pickell Architecture

Save Money By Using Existing Structures

As liberating as it may seem to tear down the walls that connect certain rooms in your home, you can’t afford to be careless with your duct system. If your home is an older one and it is in need of some extensive work, you should consider upgrading to ductless systems. You’ll save more money on your energy bills, have significantly better air quality, and have an easier time of keeping your home’s temperature regulated the way you like.

Make Your Home All You!

There’s no point in you splurging on new fixtures, flooring, countertops, and other home improvement items if you are just trying to keep up with the Joneses. Every modification that is made should be one that you really want. If you are on the fence about something, it is better for you to leave it alone until you can further research your options.

Photo: Pineamar, Inc

Your home’s overall look and comfort should be all about you. You live there and every aspect of it should make you feel as if you’re in the most lavish castle around according to your personal preferences and tastes, not someone else’s.

With so many things for you to take into consideration about your home, failing to consider every possible option can put a damper on your results. Even though carefully planning your project may add more time to it, the end results will be more amazing and enjoyable than you could have ever imagined.