With NSW’s extended lockdown, it’s a given that many of us feel down and restless. We all miss the freedom of going out, non-essential shopping trips, and the decline of face mask usage. But did you ever feel as if you were already having the blues well before the pandemic made its comeback?
A new study has revealed that the average Aussie suffers from SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of mood disorder that’s related to changes in seasons and is known to bring on feelings of moodiness and low levels of energy.
As the temperature continues to drop and the gloomy weather forces people to stay inside, it comes as no surprise that half of Aussies (52%) believe that winter negatively impacts their mood, with the majority (56%) saying they feel less motivated during the colder months than they do at any other time of the year.
So what’s the solution and how exactly can we bring spark joy back in our lives especially in an indefinite lockdown?
The study commissioned by Bunnings reveals that improving your living environment actually increases your happiness, not only due to productivity but also because the end results are so rewarding. More than four in five Australians (84%) feel happier after completing a project around the home and research shows the rooms Australians spend the most time in during winter also make them happiest, with the lounge (43%) and bedroom (32%) bringing the most joy in the coldest season of the year.
With many looking to tackle home improvements to remain productive this winter and lockdown, Bunnings general manager of merchandise, Tracey Lefebure, suggests some simple but effective DIYs to refresh a space while creating a sense of accomplishment.
“There are so many indoor projects that can be done, no matter your skill level or budget,” says Tracey. “Giving a room a new lick of paint, adding panelling or wallpaper can make a huge impact or even simply changing handles on your cupboards or reorganising your drawers can give you that feeling of accomplishment.”
Finding the motivation to start a project may seem to be a big hurdle, but Bunnings found out that once customers completed their first, they became hooked and really enjoyed getting their hands dirty to make their homes a happier place.
DIY reno solution: How to overhaul your kitchen for just $700!
We love an affordable DIY renovation solution around here so when Dulux shared a couple of budget kitchen makeovers with us recently, we couldn’t click through fast enough. Created for…
Before & after: 90’s kitchen renovated on a budget using DIY
Originally built in the 90’s, this home’s original kitchen was in dire need of some love when Melbourne’s Haus of Cruze design studio began overhauling it recently. Completed as part…
Starting an interior design project can be both an exciting and an overwhelming venture. You have an array of ideas and want your design to come together, and you risk jumping in head first before you even have a plan.
To help Aussies looking to transform a space, Luke Davidson, interior designer and co-founder of online interior design platform Inscene, shares his top tips to translate your design dreams into reality.
1. Discover your personal style
The process of interior design is deeply personal. Not all design styles will work for everyone, so it is up to you to decide how you want the space to feel. One way to help figure this out is to look at your closet. You can spot the colours and patterns that work best for you, giving you an indicator as to what you should look for when designing.
2. Determine what you don’t like
It may go without saying, but another tip to help you find out what styles you like is to eradicate everything you don’t like! This can narrow your options considerably, giving you a smaller pool of design styles to choose from and keep you from being paralysed by having too many choices.
3. Understand your needs
Be sure to focus on the practicality of each space of your home. You’ll want to consider the location and surroundings of your property. This will help you figure out the appropriate styles and materials for your interior design. Additionally, accurate room measurements are vital to ensuring that what you buy fits in your space. Measuring each room ahead of time will prevent purchases being disproportionate to your design or the room itself.
Before and after of an Inscene project
4. Create a mood board and sample everything
Crafting a mood board can help you visualise what your space will look like and is a valuable resource in planning that can help you avoid costly design mistakes. It is also best to sample materials such as paint, flooring, and surfaces. Observing the paint in natural light both in the morning and at night can help you determine how the paint makes you feel when it’s on your walls and not on a little swatch. The same can be said for flooring and surface samples.
5. Quality doesn’t always mean expensive
Quality is always essential, especially when it comes to building materials. Skimping out by going with the cheapest option may save you money upfront, but it will cost you more in the long run when you need to redo or replace it. In saying this, though, quality doesn’t always translate to the most expensive. You can find durable materials that mimic the aesthetic of more expensive ones at a fraction of the cost. Don’t be afraid to mix high and low-price points, either. Filling the space with affordable and practical pieces can allow you to splurge on one or two hero items that will stand out even more.
6. Plan rooms one at a time
Breaking down your interior design process by planning one room at a time can help a larger project become more manageable. This can also help you focus on the individual room and its unique needs. For those worried about the final design not being cohesive or rooms clashing, don’t be. If you have a plan, you can keep on top of this. For those with an interior stylist, they will ensure everything looks seamless when the project is finished.
7. Hire a professional
We all appreciate input from our family and friends, but too many opinions can be overwhelming and confusing. By hiring a professional, you get the expert opinion and help of one qualified individual. You can avoid common interior design mistakes and be confident that the end result will match your original design dream, if not better.
Before & after: 90’s kitchen renovated on a budget using DIY
Originally built in the 90’s, this home’s original kitchen was in dire need of some love when Melbourne’s Haus of Cruze design studio began overhauling it recently. Completed as part…
Before & after: A fabulous $550 DIY bathroom makeover in Adelaide
When writer, stylist and former magazine editor Alexis Teasdale bought her 1920’s Tudor-style home in Adelaide a few years ago it was with a view to renovating it. But with…
Fibre arts like knitting and crochet have been on the rise during lockdown, with people turning to relaxing new hobbies they can do from the comfort of their own homes. There’s nothing more satisfying than curling up under a large afghan and knowing that you’ve knitted it yourself, but learning the basics can be intimidating. Knits and purls, tension gauges, needle sizes, yarn composition – it’s difficult to know where to start!
The finished Home Blanket
Luckily, We Are Knitters has everything you need to start your knitting journey in one simple kit. With each one of their four Décor Cotton kits, you will learn the basic skills of knitting or crochet, and by the end you’ll have a beautiful handmade item to show off in your home. Each pattern explains the steps stitch by stitch, with additional video tutorials if you get stuck.
The kit for the Foyer Blanket
Their Décor Cotton kits provide skeins of high quality Peruvian Pima cotton, the pattern, handmade Beechwood knitting needles or crochet hook, and a We Are Knitters label you can sew into your finished product. All of this comes in a recycled brown paper bag, meaning that the materials are as eco friendly as can be.
You can choose between a crochet blanket, cushion, or basket, or a knitted throw, all in a range of colours that you can chose yourself. The kits range from Beginner to Intermediate difficulty, so you can still make something if you’ve never touched a knitting needle in your life. These We Are Knitters kits are the ideal gateway to a fantastic hobby with a diverse and vibrant community.
Designer Rugs’ latest range is inspired by vintage handcrafts
From crochet to knitting, tapestry and cross-stitch, Designer Rugs’ latest range ‘New Again’ was created by designer Petrina Turner and is full of nostalgia and vintage charm. Designer Petrina Turner…
Winter throw blankets: 10 of the best
Winter is most definitely here, so interior designer and stylist Kathryn Bamford, shares her favourite throws available this season. There is no easier way to warm up your space (literally…
As we spend more time at home, Aussies are picking up their tools and diving into DIY reno projects of all shapes and sizes. But knowing where to start can be daunting for even the savviest of renovators, and tiles can be especially tricky if you’ve never tiled before.
Kyal Demmrich on the job
As a renovation expert, carpenter and The Block alumni, Kyal Demmrich has spent his fair share of time diving into DIY renovations with his wife Kara. “We have completed more than 35 reno projects now, and over that time I’ve found that knowing what our end goal is, including the style we’re going for, really does help with the rest falling into place,” Kyal says. With the right information and the right tools, most renovations are relatively easy, particularly when you follow a few simple tips.
With tiling, once people have landed on design elements like choice of tile and laying pattern, most of the hard yards have been run – though caution needs to be taken to avoid missteps such as using unsuitable adhesives, tiling on surfaces that are not dry, and failing to measure and cut accurately.
“There is a great saying in the trade: Measure twice, cut once. That’s my golden rule for all things tiles and DIY,” Kyal says. “From calculating how many tiles you need, through to the cuts and configuration of the tiles themselves, never underestimate the importance of a good old tape measure and solid forward planning.”
Other tile ‘tricks of the tradie’ offered by Kyal:
Dry surfaces: Before you start, your surface should be dry, clean, and smooth. If you are tiling in a wet area, it must be waterproofed correctly before you commence tiling.
Clean tiles are a must: Tiles should be dry and completely clean. Any loose powder on the backs of tiles should be removed to avoid contaminating the adhesive. A fine bristle brush is good to help with this.
Not all adhesives are created equal: Do not skimp, and make sure you choose the right adhesive for the surface and type of tile. There are many brands of adhesive out there, and they are all designed for specific types of tiles and tile surfaces.
Size does matter for the novice DIYer: Tiling with big tiles is tough, even for seasoned pros. Large format tiles are heavy and are expensive to replace if mistakes are made, so DIY novices should aim for tiles no bigger than 300 x 600mm.
Start with the grate: The secret with tile layout is starting from the floor grate (either inside or outside the shower) and working your way outwards. Draw up a plan of your floor/wall/splashback and map out where your tiles will go. At this point, you should also check that you have the correct fall to the grate. This ensures that your water will drain away correctly.
Dry laying is everything: Dry laying tiles first ensures you have the correct number of tiles as well as creating a vision of how they will look. Dry laying is also the perfect time to confirm whether you are happy with your tile choice, or if you need to make last minute changes.
Lay tiles carefully: Tiles that are placed unevenly create an uneven joint (or ‘lip’) which could be a trip hazard – there are levelling products out there to help with this. Make sure you tile the floor before your wall – wall tiles should slot neatly above your floor tiles. Where silicone is used, leave a 2-3mm gap where walls and floors meet.
Peel and place technologies: A fantastic product to make your tiling even easier is BT-Instalay CTU by Gripset. This flooring system is a game-changer and can prepare a surface for tiling in only four quick and easy steps. BT-Instalay CTU is also 10 times lighter than cement sheets, making it an ideal flooring system for DIYers. It is also a waterproofing membrane if you are using it in wet areas.
Grout is a gift: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly. Wait at least 24 hours after laying before grouting and protect the tiles from any water or weather conditions by covering them with old clean sheets. Do not grout where walls meet floors or where two walls meet. Instead, apply silicone when the surrounding grouted area is dry. Epoxy grout is a fantastic option due to its durability and stain resistance. It is a breeze to clean and perfect for outdoor or wet areas, making it an exciting alternative to cement grout.
Kyal is an ambassador for Beaumont Tiles, Australia’s biggest retailer of tiles and bathroomware with 118 outlets across most states.
When not to DIY. And when it’s ok!
Stuart Tucker, Chief Customer Officer at hipages, talks about when to DIY and when you really need to hire a tradie. As a nation, we are obsessed with renovating and…
Move out during renovation or live through it? That is the question!
To move out or stay living in? That is the question when renovating. Stay and navigate your way around a barrage of builders walking through your home (risking dust and…
Give yourself a present this Christmas with a DIY project that is both cost effective and adds a certain je ne sais quoi to your outdoor space. Below are three projects that are under $3000, easy to do (I promise!) and will compliment your home for years to come.
The outdoor shower
Embrace nature and create a tranquil space in your backyard with an outdoor shower. For those who don’t have the space for a pool, an outdoor shower is a great alternative to cooling off during those scorching Aussie heatwaves. It is important to consider the plumbing points, screening for privacy and a sustainable water management system. Opt for pavers that are specially designed to allow water to permeate through the surface into the layers below, where water can be harvested or redirected. Surface water runoff is minimised and the need for additional surface drainage is reduced.
BBQ grilling station
The Aussie love affair with the great outdoors means we can create an outdoor kitchen and grilling station that is both enjoyable and practical. Creating the perfect base for a BBQ bench top is made easy with Adbri’s AB Courtyard Blocks. They provide a genuine DIY solution to creating functional, individualised outdoor kitchens for any backyard. The beauty of these blocks is that they don’t require glue or mortar to keep them in place, which means you aren’t stuck to one location. If you want to move your BBQ in the future, you can easily do so.
Built-in furniture
Extend your entertaining possibilities and invest in built-in furniture that will add structure, dimension and aesthetics to the backyard while maximising your space. You can easily construct custom, freestanding walls that double as seats using the same Adbri AB Courtyard Blocks. The DIY walling system allows you to build directly atop of existing paved or flat concrete surfaces. The great thing about using the AB Courtyard Blocks is that they can withstand harsh weather conditions, ensuring longevity and functionality.
You hear the words reno or renovation and you immediately think: expensive! Am I right?! As regular readers will know, a few months ago we bought a family home, the “nanna house,” and boy, does she need some making over! I have a wish list as long as my arm and while some things (like the next on our list: new kitchen!) undoubtedly require serious cash and a lot of tradespeople, you’d be amazed at how some smaller, easier and cheaper upgrades can make a huge difference. Today, I’m giving you some ideas of what you can do with $1,000, $3,000 or $10,000 in your home to get maximum bang for your buck, no matter how flush you are.
You can’t do anything for $1000 these days, right? Well, no. Of course, you can’t do any major work and it’s unlikely you can pay a trade to do any of it for you, so we’re definitely talking DIY. But there are plenty of little makeovers that can be achieved at this budget.
For around $500 you can carpet your average bedroom (including installation). And you don’t need me to tell you what a difference new flooring can make. Game changer! You’d have money left over for a few litres of paint to paint the room yourself and perhaps even an affordable change of window dressing; say a roller blind. Just think what a nice blank canvas that would give you for a guest bedroom, or perhaps giving your older child a fresh tween space.
Don’t neglect your exterior! For a $1,000 you could could buy a new letterbox, house number, welcome mat, a couple of great pots and plants for either side of your entry and paint your front door in a show-stopping colour.
$3,000
Kitchens cost a lot of money (I know because I’m about to do mine!) but if you don’t have it, there are plenty of DIY products out there and they get better all the time. You’d be amazed what you can do with things like tile and laminate (for your cupboard fronts and bench tops) paint, vinyl floor and a new light fitting (you’ll need an electrician for this). Check out some budget kitchen makeovers here.
AFTER: This kitchen makeover cost just over $2,000 for new splashback tiles, cupboard and benchtop paint, blinds, oven and lights.
BEFORE
Personally, I recently changed all the old nanna light fittings (think a mix of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s glass pendants!) in our home for around the $3,000 mark including an electrician. I went for high impact chandeliers in the living room and more simple, rattan drum shades in the bedrooms. This instantly modernised our home. I couldn’t believe the difference.
This is something I plan to do in our home soon: replace all the internal doors. Dated doors with dated hardware really let your home down. We painted our horrible brown ones white and they’re still pretty meh. Internal doors can cost from as little as $28! Did you know that? And for a bit more, there are some really gorgeous, designer-look feature doors available. Many of these are pre-hung so with a bit of effort and patience, you can install them yourself.
Don’t forget to add some money to the budget for paint and handles (which can cost more than the doors). But depending on your taste and budget, you can replace all the internal doors and handles in a 4-bedroom home for between $1000 and $3,000 and you’re likely to have some spare change. External doors cost more (expect between about $200 and $500).
Even in a bathroom, you can achieve a fresh new look for around the $3,000 mark. While it won’t be anywhere near as slick as a full bathroom reno, which is likely to cost at least $25,000, it might last you until you can save up! And it will save you looking at awful dated tiles and fixtures every day, which we all know is bad for our mental health! We plan on doing this sort of thing with our en suite and spending the big money on our family bathroom later this year. The en suite can get a proper reno in a few years’ time (hopefully!). For around $3000 you could replace your shower screen with frameless glass, get a new budget vanity and taps, paint or tile over your existing tiles and get a new blind.
AFTER: This bathroom was spruced up for under $3000 by Cherie Barber
Now for the big bucks! While it isn’t enough for a full bathroom or kitchen rip out and re-do, there is so much you could do with $10,000 to make a difference in your home. This is when we can often start talking about whole homes rather than just rooms. Depending on the size of your home, it is quite possible to be able to install hard flooring throughout or have your whole interior professionally painted. These are the two things we did before moving into our previous apartment and oh my goodness, that was money well spent and transformed the place, which was previously carpeted and painted a nice warm white (I have an aversion to warm neutrals!).
Something people often don’t prioritise but can make so much difference to how you live, the look and indeed tidiness of your home, is storage! Custom, built-in storage is a real luxury. I recently had a huge floating bookcase installed and it really made the living room. A carpenter could also create you something amazing to house your TV and all your books and trinkets, for less than $10,000. The permanence of built-in or wall-hung furniture will really add to your home.
While it won’t improve the look of your home per se, air conditioning could really improve your comfort and your power bill! You could get a ducted system installed in your average home for less than $10,000.
It may be that your home’s floorplan isn’t working for you. Maybe you want to create a more open plan home. $10,000 could enable you to do this with professional help, as well as any painting or flooring that doing this work will probably necessitate replacing.
One of the biggest changes we have made in our home so far has been installing plantation shutters throughout. They give a really modern, light, luxurious look. For $10,000 you’d probably struggle to get a whole house done but you could make a big difference by doing key rooms and perhaps giving the bedrooms a miss.
If these ideas have inspired you, make sure you enter our biggest competition EVER to win $10,000 towards your reno with Latitude Financial Services by 30 July 2017. All we need is a photo of the space that needs a makeover and for you to tell us how you’d spend the money and why you deserve to win. All the details and entry form here.
that once needed instant concrete, like putting in a new washing line, mailbox or fence, can now be done much quicker and easier thanks to Sika’s new Post Fix.
Suitable for wood, PVC, metal or concrete posts, Sika Post Fix turns big projects into easy DIY jobs. So rather than using 60 kilograms of instant concrete to fix one average sized post into the ground, you can do so with just one 1.1 kilogram bag of Sika Post Fix.
The easy-to-mix solution requires no special tools and does not use water. Simply pre-mix in the bag before opening, pour and watch it expand rapidly to fill the hole and fix the post in place. Setting in just three minutes, it hardens completely in two hours, so you can get on with finishing the job. Any excess material cured above the surface of the ground can be cut away with a sharp knife before covering with top soil.
Sika Post Fix has a unique chemical formulation that does not harm the soil or surrounding environment. Once mixed and in foam state, Sika Post Fix is inert and will not leach into the soil.
Available from Hardware & General, Mitre 10, Bunnings and other hardware stores, visit Sika Australia for more information.
Enthusiasm for your DIY projects and renovations is the best attitude to have before beginning any task, but this shouldn’t be at the cost of having a level head. Taking on a project too hastily can often result in costly mistakes. On Selling Houses Australia, I’ve seen the same error made time and time again so I’ve put together my top tips on how to avoid these throughout your next renovation.
Leave the specialist jobs to the pros
Taking on skills you aren’t trained for is not only risky but also dangerous. Jobs such as plumbing, electrics and construction should never be attempted by anyone other than a qualified professional. If you’re looking to do things like open up a room by knocking down a wall, it’s always important to consult a builder first. A builder will be able to identify if a wall is load-bearing or structural, i.e whether or not it can be knocked down. Not consulting a professional for these major jobs is a mistake many DIYers make, which can result in major damage to your home, turning what would have initially seemed like an easy way to cut costs into unplanned repairs.
Do your research
Google and YouTube have revolutionised the DIY world by showing us what we can achieve ourselves within our homes. It’s important to remember that you won’t always find the right answer from one Google search or by watching a YouTube tutorial. Before starting a task, make sure you research thoroughly and understand what it takes to achieve the best result.
Plan and budget your project
Before you begin any renovation, it’s important to plan out the project and break it up into stages. This will ensure that the project is completed both on time and on budget. Most people have champagne tastes and beer budgets so make sure you do your maths for the entire project and not just the cost per room. Too often I’ve seen walls with no plaster or missing flooring due to a lack of planning that results in DIYers running out of time and/or money to complete the job.
Tackle the project room-by-room
Once you’ve got a plan and budget in place, it’s best to tackle your project room-by-room or stage-by-stage. This will break the job up into easy-to-manage tasks and won’t seem like such a daunting challenge. Also, keep in mind that having a clear design plan to begin with will ensure there is cohesion in the final look, otherwise you could end up with a disjointed disaster.
Preparation is key before painting
Paint can be used to hide a multitude of sins but it can’t hide everything — including cracks and holes. Before you begin any paint job, it’s important to get the preparation right to ensure you get the best result. Filling in holes and sandpapering might seem tedious but if you get it right the first time, you’ll avoid touch-up jobs in the future.
Be budget conscious without going cheap
There is a big misconception that ‘going cheap’ is the only way to be budget conscious. While you’ll always have a budget in mind, which you need to stick to, there are ways of saving money on a project without going for the cheapest of everything. This usually results in using lesser quality products, which need to be replaced or repaired more often, which ends up being a higher cost than if you’d chosen a quality product to begin with.
Create a colourful finish
Once renovations are complete, it’s always nice to polish it off with a healthy dose of colour. Clinical, boring and no personality is certainly not a brief I’ve ever been given by a client and definitely aren’t moods I’d encourage. Before you pick up a brush, it’s important to take your time to choose a paint colour that will complete your look and make you happy with the result. Start off by seeking inspiration for the colour palette you want to create and select tones that will evoke the right mood for you and give your project a great finishing touch – no matter what the room.
– Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.
