DIY was once regarded as nothing more than something to do when the weather was bad.  However, since Covid-19 entered the conversation and restricted our ability to move freely outside our homes, DIY has had an awakening. During March of 2020, Irish DIY stores saw an unprecedented number of customers flocking to the doors in order to buy materials to start revamping their homes.

DIY has also been embraced by the younger segments of the population. Naturally, this is a skill that people have welcomed considering that DIY ability comes in handy and learning how to repair and redecorate can be a great money saving technique.

Recent lockdowns tend to have all of us re-evaluating our homes. The abodes we once used to frequent for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening have now become our offices, our gyms, and our primary place to relax. With a lot of disposable incomes having decreased over the last 6 months it’s understandable that people want to use their own skills to make home improvements.

With all of that being said, we are here to jump on the bandwagon. After working long hours at home throughout the day, it’s important to have a comfortable and engaging space to relax in. Here’s 5 tips to reinvent your bedroom.

1.Consider the curtains

Let’s be honest, curtains are the last thing on your mind when you think about your bedroom. Usually, once they effectively open and close, they’ve served their purpose. However, curtains can change the entire feel of your room. With their aesthetic function aside, they also help to insulate a bedroom and keep it warm and can also help to keep out damp that can cause damage to your walls and floors.

We’re not going to sugar coat the fact that curtains can be expensive, but they are an investment piece. If you shop around however, you’re likely to get a good deal.

If you’re on a tighter budget and you’re ready for a hands-on DIY approach, why not take your old curtains and give them a facelift?

Firstly, you could repaint the rail. If your curtain hangs on a curtain rail that’s looking a bit worse for wear, you could paint it the colour of your choice. If it’s the curtains themselves that are looking grubby why not take them off, wash them and reassess?

Sometimes, curtains get neglected during the spring clean and it makes them look dreary. If they’re still not tickling your fancy after they’re washed and dried, consider dying them. This can be done by firstly re-washing your curtains with a colour remover product and then adding one cup of salt and colour dye into the washing machine when it’s filled.

When your dye is in your washing machine ensure you select hot water for the wash and cold water for the rinse. Once your curtains are suitably dyed, hang your curtains on the line to prevent shrinkage.

When they are fully dried re-hang them in your bedroom and pat yourself on the back.

2.Opt for a fresh coat of paint

You knew it was coming. Naturally, one of the first connotations with DIY is painting. While you might always prefer to leave it to professionals, it really doesn’t have to be that daunting. A new paint job on your bedrooms walls could entirely change the space and in tandem with your reworked curtains, it could make your bedroom feel more lavish than ever.

Whether you’re into more neutral and classical tones or bolder and brighter colours, there’s a wide range of choices available. Once you’ve purchased suitable paint, follow these steps.

Prep

It’s important to prep your walls. Remove dust, dirt, and grease spots with a sponge soaked in water and a little mild detergent. Then wipe walls down with clean water to remove any left-over residue.

Tape it up.

Buy some painters tape and put it to use. Tape all along your skirting boards and along your door frames. Ensure to remove tape immediately after painting  so you don’t peel off any paint with it.

Use primer

Primer is the key to a flawless paint job. It not only helps to maximise the longevity of the paint but it also helps to give the completed coat a more uniformed finish. Buy a good primer and lather it on before you start painting.

Brush where you can’t roll.

While we’d all love to get out the roller and finish the job ASAP, some crevices are just too tight. It’s important to use a brush around the skirting boards and around corners so you get professional finish to your paint job.

Use the W technique.

Start in the corner of the wall and roll on a three by three foot W pattern. Continue in various sections until you’re finished. This will help the efficiency of the job.

3.Update the cushions

Adding cushions to your bed can immediately give the room a more cosy feel. There is also likely to be a fantastic selection of cushions to match every colour scheme at your local DIY or Home Interiors shop. By adding a mix of large and small cushions to your bed, you can create an entirely new aesthetic.

However, if you already have cushions on your bed and you don’t want to purchase additional ones, why not consider just purchasing some new cushion covers or indeed making them yourself?

If you’re getting progressively more bored during this additional lockdown, then maybe there’s no time like the present to learn how to sew? Here’s a great guide on how to make easy cushion covers for your room.

4.Replace your handles

Nothing dates a bedroom like worn or rusty handles on doors or lockers. Even if you’re an extreme DIY novice, replacing old handles with new ones is an easy task. Have a look online for nice options that will bring a luxurious or up-market feel to your bedroom. There’s some great one’s here. Door handles are relatively inexpensive too, so you’ll get bang for your buck in terms of value added.

5.Add some greenery

Plants have a miraculous way of bringing a room to life and luckily you can find both real and fake alternatives in your local DIY shop. If you think your bedroom is looking a bit lifeless why not invest in some cheap colourful flowerpots and place some fake plants in them. This will provide for an exotic feel and will also add a pop of colour.

If you feel like making a real effort, you could buy some seeds and plant some flowers for real. You won’t have instant results, but you’ll have a little project to focus on!

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