‘Don’t need’: Home reno jobs you should be doing yourself

A new purpose-built form of housing has been touted as a game-changer in regards to helping solve Australia’s accommodation crisis.

Want to spruce up your home? You don’t always need to fork out thousands of dollars. In fact, there are plenty of home improvement hacks you can do to give your property that little bit of extra for $500 or less.

ADD A SPLASH OF COLOUR

Renovation Queen Cherie Barber says paint is a simple way to transform a space – and it’s something you can do yourself. Depending on how much you need, the starting cost could be as little as $40 per can.

“Painting your ceilings, painting your walls, all your doors and trims – just freshening those up can really make a huge difference to your home,” she says.

Alternatively, you could consider repainting laminate cabinetry and the splashback tiles in your kitchen. Just make sure you get the correct paint for both types of surfaces and follow the instructions carefully.

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Painting tiles can be a cost-effective way to change the look of a room. Picture: iStock

“You can literally transform your kitchen for a couple of hundred dollars,” she says.

On the subject of paint, you can also transform pieces of furniture in a similar way, says Justine Wilson of Vault Interiors.

“Bunnings has spray paint for a couple of dollars,” she says.

“You might paint a coffee table, you might spray paint the surrounds of a mirror, you might spray paint your lamp bases.”

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She suggests looking at YouTube tutorials for ideas and best practice when it comes to technique and which surfaces you can spray.

She recently painted her coffee table matte gold to better suit the style of her home.

Home stylist Justine Wilson transformed her coffee table by painting it gold. Picture: Justine Wilson

She also revamped her kitchen floor with stick on tiles. Picture: Justine Wilson

PEEL AND STICK

Another thing Wilson did was apply “peel and stick” black and white checkerboard tiles to the old 70s vinyl floor of her rental, after gaining landlord approval.

“I think they were about $80 for a pack of 100. I laid them down all over the kitchen and now it looks really cute and charming,” she says. “They are easy to mop and pet friendly.”

You can also get peel and stick wall paper which is removable if need be. This is an easy way of adding interest to a room, she says.

Wall panels are another way to add charm inside your home, says Barber.

“We’ve got lots of different wall panelling options these days,” she says. “You can create lots of beautiful feature walls.”

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Consider new tapware for the bathroom.

BATHROOM BLING

Glenn Davidson from Iconic Renovations & co says you could make your bathroom pop by replacing all the tapware, towel racks and toilet roll holders for less than $500.

Barber says you could also try stick-on tiles in the bathroom rather than ripping out old ones (just not in the shower).

OUTSIDE JOBS

Davidson says some cost-effective outdoor jobs include re-oiling a deck or putting in a firepit.

Barber says high pressure water cleaning and garden maintenance can be done relatively cheaply. Other things you can do outside include installing a new letter box, updating your street numbers or repainting your front door.

Renovation queen Cherie Barber.

Designer Justine Wilson.

MONEY SAVING HACKS

Try these cost-effective strategies suggested by our experts to make your home shine without breaking the bank.

1. Focus your attention – use paint, wallpaper or panelling to create feature walls as points of interest in key rooms

2. Change cabinet handles – replace door knobs and handles with nice, new ones that stand out and make a statement

3. Repaint cabinetry and tiles – don’t rip out your kitchen and bathroom if they are still functioning well, consider repainting them instead

Installing a firepit and tidying the garden is another cost-effective option.

4. Upgrade lighting – well thought out lighting can really transform a space. Just remember to factor in the cost of an electrician

5. Swap furnishings – change window coverings, cushions, bedspreads and throws as the seasons shift. Think light and airy, aqua and teal for summer

6. Upcycle furniture – transform old coffee tables, cabinets or lamp stands using paint and your creativity (plus a little help from YouTube)

7. Shop around – buy when items are on special and shop competitively

8. Improve your garden – a nice garden really frames a property. Weeding, pruning and mowing always helps but you could also consider adding stepping stones, new plants and other features

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