GUEST POST // QUICK & EASY HOME IMPROVEMENTS YOU CAN DO YOURSELF

Hello there!

Today I'm happy to have Edna Thompson guest posting some easy DIY home improvement tips. 

You can complete one or more of these easy projects this weekend, and make a big impact on your home. What do you think? I know I'll be painting a room or two. :)

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DIY projects are often notorious for taking too long to be completed. But who says that this is always the case? There are a few home improvements that can be done in only a couple of days. Take a look.

REFINISH A DESK

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Give a breath of new life to your old desk (or dresser) by refinishing it. Here are the steps:

1. First things first, empty the desk. Remove all the stuff that it holds. 

 

2. Disassemble the desk, removing all hardware.

3. Strip and sand the desk. Go to the store and buy all the tools you are going to need: a sander, stripping agent, protective clothing, goggles, etc. Throughout the job, lots of dust will be created. Make sure to clean it with a brush or a cloth.

4. Buy a finish/stain and apply to your desk. Let sit for a day or two. Next, add a second coat. Allow enough time for the stain to dry. Finally, apply a third coat of finish. Polyurethane is best to use.

5. When the finish has dried, piece back all the hardware.

REPAINT A WALL

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Everybody can repaint a room. You just need to get used to the techniques. But choosing the right color can be a real challenge. It totally depends on how colors make your feel and what mood you want to create. To help you decide TootingRenovators in London give some more information about colors:

Yellow – ah, yellow. So bright and optimistic. It creates a happy, cheerful mood around the house. But be cautious. Yellow is also an energetic color and it is not recommended for nurseries and bedrooms unless you want to experience difficulty getting to sleep or your baby crying more. It's very powerful and it should be used sparingly.

Red – discos, bars and other entertainment facilities are likely to be painted red. This is an energetic color and it should definitely be kept out of your bedroom. Red is perfect for kitchens, hallways and dining rooms. It is believed to stimulate the appetite. If you still want to add red to your bedroom, use small doses and light tones.

Brown – depending on your personal preferences, brown can either be sad and gloomy or warm and reliable. Not many people would go for it when repainting their homes because it can really close in a room. However, if you combine light and dark color accents, you can create a nice room for boys (more often than not, brown is a preferred choice by men rather than women).

Purple – it's a great choice when it comes to a girl's room. It's creative, magical and sweet. But be careful not to use too much of it, as it can create an artificial atmosphere.

Green – does looking at the grass calm you? Green is a soothing color if the right tones are used.

Blue – as opposed to red, blue is said to suppress the appetite. It is tranquil, cool and soothing. Use it in bedrooms and study rooms.

MAKE YOUR OWN SHELVING UNIT

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A huge advantage of making your own shelves is that you can choose the shape and color of the pieces. Generally speaking, it takes more effort to cut the boards to specific widths and lengths. If you don't want to waste time (or effort), just go to the home improvement store. It costs extra to have your wood cut into pieces, but it is a great choice if you don't have the necessary tools, skills or time to do it yourself. Once the wood is cut, you just need to sand it and attach the pieces together to make a shelf.

INSTALL A CEILING FAN

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A ceiling fan is a great addition to your living room on hot summer days and just as useful in cooler weather. Believe it or not, installing a ceiling fan by yourself is not that difficult or impossible. You just need a partner because some of the work requires an extra set of hands.

These are just some of the improvements you can make in a weekend.

The article is written by Edna Thomson. Edna is a co-founder of Tenancy Clean Chiswick, a cleaning company in London, UK.