Friday, December 30, 2011

Doityourself House Projects

DIY home projects can be good investments.


Do-it-yourself projects can range from the simple to the complicated. Around the house, DIY projects can include regular maintenance, decorating projects or renovation plans. Before you get started, make sure you have planned every step of your project and that you have all the materials necessary. DIY home projects can help you save money and learn new skills. Does this Spark an idea?


Small Repairs


For those who are new at DIY projects, tackling small repairs from your to-do list is a good place to start. Are there lights that need to be changed? Cupboard doors that aren't opening as smoothly as they should? Holes in your walls or chips in your paint? Study home repair resources then try your hand at these small projects. By starting small and then going on to bigger projects, you will increase your skills and avoid costly repairs from having to call in someone else to do it for you.


Redecorating


Try using as many DIY projects and tasks as possible to redecorate a room. Paint it yourself. Sew matching curtains and cushions. Rearrange your furniture. Install shelving and other organization accessories. Hang pictures, paintings and mirrors. For inspiration and tips, consult friends whose home style you like or professional interior designers.


Make Over Your Furniture


Once you've redecorated a room, you may find that a few pieces seem slightly out of place. This does not mean that you have to run to the nearest furniture store and buy new furnishings. Think about how you could modify your existing pieces. Creative transformation projects include painting a desk, reupholstering an armchair or transforming the purpose of an object for another such as using empty drawers to make a bookcase. Once you have made over a piece of furniture, you could also move it to a different room in your home. Giving existing furniture pieces a new life is a great way to reuse old furniture, save money and learn new skills.


Start a Garden


Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, with many purposes from being decorative to providing your family with fruits and vegetables for your meals. Starting a garden is a good way to take in some fresh air while adding value to your home and expanding your DIY skills.


When starting a garden, make sure to choose plants that thrive in your region and in the space you are using. If your garden in is a shady area, plants that need a large amount of sunlight to thrive won't grow. Staff at your local nursery can help you figure out which plants are best suited to your garden space.


Bigger Projects


If painting walls and sanding antique furniture piece are not big enough challenges, consider more complex projects. Renovating your home offers lots of opportunities for DIY projects, but they require a higher level of preparation, more time and often more money, but the rewards are well worth the efforts.


Before making any holes in walls, make sure you check with the local building inspection agency to determine if you need a permit, and if so, to confirm you posses the correct ones. Also, if your project includes electrical or plumbing work, make sure you get an expert to check and approve your work to ensure you are compliant with regulations. This can avoid disasters such as electrical fires and water damage inside your house.







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