Last month we gave you our top tips for sprucing up the exterior of your property this spring, but now you’ve made your house sparkle from the outside the inside might be letting it down – don’t worry, though, because this month we’re going to share our top ten interior DIY projects that’ll soon have your house shipshape.
- Make your grout sparkle – Nothing ruins a tiled surface like dirty grout. Use a toothbrush or a steam cleaner with a small attachment to give the grout and tiles in your bathroom a really good clean. If the dirt is stubborn, run a hot shower with the doors and windows closed to soften it up before scraping with a grout rake. Finish the job by going over the grout with a grout pen to make it white and fresh again.
- Revitalise your skirting boards – Over time gloss paint starts to yellow, so consider rubbing down, priming and repainting your skirting boards. You’ll be surprised at the difference this makes!
- Windowsills and wood frames –The same goes for your windowsills and wooden frames: a rub down with sandpaper followed by primer and a lick of gloss or eggshell paint will make them come to life.
- First impressions count! – Giving the kick boards by your front and back door a rub down and coat or two of paint will mean the work you did on your exterior to create a great first impression isn’t wasted.
- Touch up the walls – Give your walls a scan with a critical eye to see if they need a little TLC. You may not want to paint them all, but check for areas of high traffic to see if they need a fresh coat to bring them back up to scratch.
- Decorator’s varnish to the rescue! – Once you’ve painted those high traffic walls, add a coat of matt decorator’s varnish so they’re easy to wipe down – it’ll save you time and money in the long run.
- Decals can make a difference – You might like to change things up a little with your interior design without redecorating completely. Decals can add a little interest and freshen things up quickly and effectively.
- Paint your radiators – Scuffed and scratched radiators can be a bit of an eyesore, so use radiator paint to bring them back to their former glory. You could also consider investing in some radiator covers for a faster alternative solution.
- Patch up peeling wallpaper – Look for edges that have peeled away: if it’s patterned wallpaper use paste to stick them back down; if it’s lining paper you can cut the loose parts out with a sharp blade, mix up some Gyproc Easy-fill and fill in the gaps. This can then be rubbed down and over-painted for a perfect finish.
- Deal with mould! – Use mould cleaner to remove mould patches from walls in the bathroom and repaint the affected area. Use mould-resistant paint if it’s a recurring problem. If your silicone around the bath is black the only real solution is to cut it away and start again. Tape up along the line of the wall and bath to create a smooth line, run the silicone along the gap and smooth down with a wet finger before removing the tape.
Get to grips with some or all of these jobs and your home will look much brighter ready for the summer. Of course if you’d prefer to get some professional help with your interior DIY projects and you live in the Leeds area, we’ll be happy to pop along and provide a free quote!