Quick hacks for winning DIY projects

When it comes to doing DIY around your home, sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that can be the most effective ones. You shouldn’t have to spend days - or even weeks - on a project when you could achieve something great in just a few hours.

To inspire you, take a look at our quick hack ideas below:

Add shelving

If you’re desperate for extra storage space, why not add some shelving above your door frames or above your bed?

If you have lots of cosmetics, there’s nothing stopping you from repurposing a spice rack, attaching it to your bedroom wall and using it to hold your nail varnishes and makeup.

Wanting to create a space-saving dressing table? Try mounting two shelves at the right height, and pushing a small stool underneath.

Create a reading area

Whether you love books, or have children in your family who do, why not makeover an unused corner of your home and turn it into a mini-library? The space under your stairs, for instance, could look great with a small bookcase.

You could even upcycle it with a new coat of paint, or some picture ledges, which would allow you to display books face out.

To tie it all in, it might be a good idea to put a few memorable book quotes in a frame and make a couple of book-themed cushions or beanbags, if you’re handy with a sewing machine.

Spray paint your kitchen

 If your kitchen could do with a refresh, why not spray the cupboard doors? It’s the easiest way to paint them and all you need to do is unscrew them, lay them on your patio and get spraying. Once they’re dry, you can reattach them and your kitchen will have been given a new lease of life.

If your kitchen has vinyl flooring that’s scuffed and tired, why not paint it using white floor paint? This could take you more than an afternoon, depending on the size of your kitchen, but could be well worth it and give your kitchen that fresh look you’ve been missing.

Make a portable bed

This idea is perfect for when little ones come to stay, or for cinema nights at home.

All you need to do is sew four pillowcases together, one beneath the other. Once you’ve added the pillows, whoever comes over can just lie back and relax. This is also very easy to store away when not in use, simply by removing the pillows and placing them in a drawer.

Art wall

Did you know you can buy charcoal paint? It’s very easy to apply and it allows you to transform a wall of your home into a giant chalkboard.

Once the paint is dry, you can draw away to your heart’s delight - plus it’s pretty handy for writing family memos and shopping lists, too.

If you’d like to have a magnetic wall instead, you can buy a large sheet of magnetic galvanised steel from a DIY store, attach it to your wall and then paint it to match the rest of your walls, or opt for a more contrasting colour. Then all you need are some cute magnets and you can put any artwork, quotes or notes on display.

Safety first

It’s important that you don’t take on any DIY job that’s too big for you to handle safely.

Any project involving electrics, for instance, needs to be done by a professional and it’s not worth the risk – to you or your home.