5 Easy DIY Reno Jobs to Transform Your Home

Many of us are spending more time hibernating at home these days, whether it’s pandemic related or because it’s just so chilly outside.

It’s a great opportunity to get onto a few simple DIY jobs to beautify your home and if you’re thinking of selling, potentially adding value.

Here’s how to make staying at home a whole lot more productive.

5 Cheap and Simple Renovation Ideas You can DIY

Squeeze the toilet cleaner of choice around the bowl, scrub then give the seat a quick spray and wipe during one ad break. I flush the toilet during the next ad break. You’ll be able to get through 2 or 3 toilets in the one ad break, and flush them all in the next break.

Improving the aesthetics and value of your home has never been so simple, thanks to the plethora of how-to information out there, easy-to-use products and mega hardware stores like Bunnings just around the corner for many of us.

A quick pointer before we start. Thanks to many of us minimising our time out and about at the moment, gone are the days of multiple visits to hardware or department stores when you’re doing a DIY job at home.

Do your research and plan for exactly what you need when you visit the store. Better yet, many places now offer click and collect, for a much speedier option. Here are some jobs you can get started on today.

1. Give your walls a fresh dash of paint

Painting is a really simple and affordable way to breathe life into your home, modernise it, or just fix those patchy areas you’ve been meaning to get to.

You’ll need to do bigger areas over a long weekend or when you know you’ll have the time to do any preparation required and have enough time for paint to dry between coats.

Around four litres of paint is enough for a standard 4m x 4m room (two coats), which will cost you between $70 and $100 depending on which brand you choose. Don’t pay any more than $50 for 2 litres of undercoat paint. Remember to pick up paintbrushes and drop sheets.

There are also simple painting jobs you can do that have a huge impact on the look of your home - painting a feature wall, kitchen cabinetry, or even dated or peeling pieces of furniture are fun jobs you can do fairly easily.

A simple job like this shouldn’t cost you any more than $100, including paint costs and accessories. Not sure what colour you want? Pick up sample pots for around $10 each and a cheap mdf or plywood sheet to test out some colours.

Remember, if you are considering selling at some point in the near future, be conservative with your colours. That red feature wall you are crushing on may be polarising to potential buyers, so you’re best to stick to neutral and modern hues.

2. Landscaping and gardens

As simple as it sounds, taking the time to freshen up your garden will make the world of difference. Grab your rake and pruning shears and take care of any out of control plants, hedges and mess lying around the yard.

Next, think about adding a little colour to your yard or outdoor area. Consider the amount of sunlight you get when thinking about your planting area.

Pick flowers that are season appropriate – this article has some great pointers on which flowers are best planted when. At the moment, your best bet is to plant flowers with amazing colours such as daffodils, forget-me-nots and azaleas – they’ll bloom in spring and look phenomenal.

You could also look into annual flowers which will bloom at any time of the year. They’ll generally only last a season, though. Here is where you can start.

Some other ideas for optimising your outdoors include buying new or painting old plant pots, creating a vegetable garden or doing small jobs to beautify your space.

I was inspired by this article earlier this year - the jobs I completed were surprisingly easy for someone whose thumbs are in no way green.

3. Aesthetic touches

Every little bit counts and a pop of colour or furnishing touch can really liven up a space. Many department stores like Kmart, Big W and Target stock on-trend and affordable pieces like cushions, rugs, wall art and lamps.

Instead of buying new, you can repurpose items you already have at home. Repaint old furniture like bookcases, coffee tables or side tables, reupholster dated dining chairs or convert old jars and containers into candle holders or planters.

This Good Housekeeping site has great upcycling ideas.

4. Improve your curb appeal

Whether you want to attract potential buyers for an upcoming sale or just want a rush of pride every time you pull into your driveway, improving your home’s street appeal is one of the most satisfying DIY jobs to do.

Update your letterbox (from just $15 to a few hundred dollars for something more upscale), replace the front door or give it a makeover with a fresh lick of paint, buy a beautiful pot and plant for the entrance to your home or look at investing in garden lights. We recently purchased six solar lights for just $8 each to line either our driveway and they look fantastic at night-time.

5. Finally, tackle those odd jobs

Everybody has those odd jobs around the home that they haven’t had the time to finish. You know the ones – that leaking tap, paint touch up job, stubborn sliding door.

Well, now is the time.

Do your research and ask friends and family if they’ve ever had to fix whatever your odd job is. You may be pleasantly surprised by how easy the job is once you get started.

Set yourself a goal to get through one of these tasks just once a week to make the job a little less daunting.

Hopefully, some of these jobs will give you a little satisfaction and are a useful way to spend your free time. Better yet, it could add value to your home, which is always a win.