Home makeover tips for the long weekend

Friday, 4 May 2012 4:11 PM

The bank holiday has given everyone in the UK an extra day to do those home DIY projects that have been on hold since Easter.

We caught up with interiors expert Ellie Tennant from the Ideal Home Magazine to discuss what jobs to tackle this weekend.

“If you only have one day fixing walls is an easy job,” she said.

Walls inside and outside the home go through a lot of wear and tear, especially in family homes.

It only takes one day to fill in holes, clean off scuff marks and fix botched paint jobs.

Plus this DIY job will really make a difference to the look inside the home.

According to research from interior finishes company Artex, about 20 million Brits have DIY jobs on their to-do list and at least five are in need of urgent attention.

Even Ellie was planning to utilise the extra day to prime and paint her dining room.

“I am in the middle of decorating my dining room,” she said.

“But I have a bit of a reluctant partner so Monday is going to be DIY day.”

In fact having a reluctant partner when it comes to DIY is a very frequent occurrence.

According to the research 41 per cent of women would prefer their partner to finish a DIY project that is on the to-do list rather than cook a romantic dinner for two.

If you are attempting a DIY task this weekend Ellie has three main tips.

1. Be prepared: She suggests listing rooms in the home and dividing tasks between the rooms that need to be done.

2. Research: do the research before starting the job so you know what you need and how long it will take.

3. Be brave: She said jump in and get as much done as you can rather than thinking a DIY job is hopeless.

If you were planning to redecorate a room during the weekend Ellie also has the top tips for a makeover.

“The trend I am noticing when it comes to décor is a 1920s ornate and glamorous look," she said.

“Everyone is excited about the film re-make of the Great Gatsby and about the art-deco look.”

If you are painting a room grey is the on-trend colour choice.

“I can’t believe I am saying this but pearl grey is the new white,” she said.

But if the area you are painting is a high-traffic area such as a hallway or foyer it is best to be bold and go for a colour burst to completely refresh the space.

“It is amazing what you can do in just one afternoon,” Ellie said.

To find out more about easy DIY projects for the long weekend visit the Artex website.