January 6th, 2020 by Chris Chapman

Everyone likes a fresh start around the new year. That means there’s no better time to pick up all those little home improvement jobs you’ve wanted to do for months, but couldn’t find the time for over the festive period. These five affordable DIY tips are a great way to breathe new life into your home. And the best part? You can do all of them without breaking the bank!

A New Coat of Paint

Adding a lick of paint to your home is a quick and easy way to freshen up your home décor. Using a paint sprayer, you can give an entire room an even coat of paint in just a few minutes (just make sure you put sheets and masking tape down first!). If painting a whole room isn’t what you’re after, you could try making a feature wall by painting one wall of your room a bold colour. Compared to a brush or a roller, this means you can get the job done faster, so you spend less time painting and more time enjoying your exciting new-look home!

You can also add a new coat of paint to your furniture, window frames, or even your door to start the new year with a splash of colour!

Smart Appliances

One of the good things about 2020 is that smart devices are so common it’s possible to pick up a decent one fairly cheaply. There’s never been a time to pick up some app-controlled panel heaters, smart light bulbs, and all sorts of other smart appliances to make your year a little more convenient.

Seal Any Cracks

Now is the best time to seal up any cracks and reinforce the timber around your home (such as roof beams and door frames) as the coldest months are still to come! When it gets really cold, your home will start to warp and shift as the timber inside expands and contracts with the temperature. It’ll only shift very slightly, but it’s still enough to cause paintwork and doorframes to crack. Touch them up as they appear to keep your home looking bright and modern.

If you don’t want to do any painting, hanging pictures or mirrors is a great way to cover up any cracks in your walls! It’s smart to keep a lightweight cordless drill around the house for these little DIY jobs so you’re always prepared for things like this.

Lag Your Pipes

It’s a new year, but that cold winter weather isn’t going anywhere just yet. In fact, the coldest months are still to come! Now is a good time to protect the pipes in your home. You can do this by using what’s called lagging. Lagging is a special form of insulation that’s designed to fit around pipes. It’ll protect them against freezing, which is one of the worst things that can happen – frozen pipes will get backed up and burst pretty quickly.

You can do this on any pipe that’s at risk of freezing. If you have any outdoor water pipes or an outside tap, these should be your top priority!

Feed Your Lawn

Winter is hard on your lawn. The cold weather and long nights can severely weaken grass, leaving it more vulnerable to disease and pests. Add a splash of rain and you could be left with a bare mudbath of a lawn!  To avoid this, make sure you feed your lawn over winter. Use some iron sulphate and some high-nitrate lawn feed just before rain is forecast – these two things will help keep your grass strong and healthy in the most punishing conditions. The stronger your lawn is, the fewer opportunities diseases and pests have to take over