Five Mini Renovation Projects you can do in a Weekend
With Summer just around the corner comes longer days and good weather. It also provides a great opportunity to get started on some projects around your home. It’s easy to underestimate how long it will take to finish a project or you make the mistake of starting too many at once, leaving your house looking more like a construction site. However, not every DIY task needs to be a lengthy process. In fact, there are plenty of projects you can take on that will only require a free weekend and some DIY willpower. Here are five of our favourite high impact projects you can start - and finish - over a weekend.
Front Door Makeover
Giving your front door a fresh new look is a simple DIY project and instantly gives you extra curb appeal. Front doors look great when they stand out and make it clear to visitors where to go - so this makeover is a great chance to bring in some bold colour. You will only need 500ml of paint to complete, so it won’t hurt the budget either.
Prepare the door for painting by sanding the whole surface and filling any holes or gaps. Depending on the condition of your current paint job, you may need to an undercoat. If the weather is warm, you can get 2-3 coats done in a day. Tape your door handle and any surfaces you don’t want to paint, as well as having a drop cloth under the door. This is a great time to check your hardware is working correctly or replace it if it is needed, and that seals are tight and no draughts come through the door. To take it one step further, you could look at adding a keyless deadbolt or a video doorbell for extra security, they are well worth the investment in our book!
Wallpaper a feature wall
We are big fans of using wallpaper as a feature wall. It instantly transforms the look of a room, giving it depth, colour, pattern and texture. Wallpapering seems like a lost art which is such a shame, because the range and quality of wallpaper available is impressive. From stunning murals, delicate patterns and bold prints - the options are endless and can create dramatic impact to a room. And unlike paint, it is not a messy project. This DIY task needs time, patience and planning - if you have those, you can wallpaper.
Start by moving your furniture off the wall you are wallpapering and laying a drop sheet. First you need to paint the wall with a pigmented sealer. Apply size to the wall you want to wallpaper, allowing 24 hours to fully cure. Use a plumb-line (like to pink string in the image below) for the first roll, to make sure the wallpaper is hung perfectly straight. From there apply one drop at a time, and if there is a pattern, take your time to make sure they line up. Use a metal ruler and a sharp knife to cut along the trims to finish the look. If you have a light switch or powerpoint to wallpaper around, simple remove the fixture from wall, cut a cross in the wallpaper and pull the fixture through. Once the wallpaper is dry you have fix it back onto the wall.
Give your outdoors some attention
With better weather on the way it’s a great time to get your exterior all tidied and ready to make the most of it over the Summer. Spend a day getting your outdoors looking tidy by creating a list of everything you want to get done and work through them.
Trim your hedges, trees and plants that are overgrown or need pruning. Look out for in particular plants which are near or over your house, fences, overhead cables, or over where cars are parked. Trim back vegetation which is growing up against your house or baseboards to allow air and light to get to these places to keep your house dry. Deal with weeds and overgrown edges. Give your house exterior and roof a clean to remove dirt and grime buildup, and any moss that might have started growing. If there are areas needing some new planting, add in some colour with flowers or create some privacy by planting a hedge screen.
Build a window seat or bench
It seems everyone loves the idea of a window seat in their home and it is no wonder - it's easy to picture yourself relaxing, sipping a cup of tea in the morning sun. If you have a space that you think would be perfect for a window seat or some form of built in seating, why not give it a go? In fact, it might end up cheaper than buying a piece of furniture to fit that space. Built in furniture provides a completely different feel to a room, giving you the benefit of extra seating that is integrated into the room.
Building a seat will involve some basic carpentry to frame, line and finish a suitable base, followed with some basic sewing skills to create a squab to sit on top. We purchased single foam mattresses, cut them down to size and then wrapped with our selected material. While you’re at it, your seating can easily double as great storage - simply add access panels in the top or build your squab into the lid of your seat that can be lifted off. As you are planning, consider the height you want your seat and don’t forget to make suitable allowances for the depth of the squab. Don’t be shy on the width of the seat and thickness of your squab - you want to be comfortable!
Makeover your fireplace
If you have an existing fireplace in your home, you may find it doesn’t suit the rest of your interior or it is tired and outdated (like we have had in 6 of the 10 houses we have renovated so far). Replacing your fireplace is a costly process, but you can give your fireplace a new look in a weekend without spending much money at all.
When it comes to the fireplace itself, you will need to use a high heat spray to re-colour it - you can purchase these from any hardware store for around $25 a can. Make sure you cover the walls and floors surrounding the area before you spray. When it comes to giving your surround a makeover, there are plenty of options. A fast and affordable option is to paint it black to match your fireplace, and using the correct primer you can paint tiles, concrete, stone, plaster, bricks or wood. You may want to remove the surround and give it a new feature like tiles, stone, plaster or build a new mantle - there is plenty of inspiration and instructions online you can check out. To see more of our fireplace makeovers, see our Pinterest board.
So if you have a project you would love to complete within a weekend, it is all about making a plan of attack. Have a clear idea of what you want to do and how that can be achieved in your house. Measure of the area you will renovate, draw plans and decide what products and colour you want to add. To feel confident to do the project yourself, research the DIY skills you will need and the tools required for the task. Before you start, make sure you have all the materials you need, keeping in mind that not every product may be available straight away (like wallpaper which normally has to be ordered). And while you may want to complete the project as soon as possible - don’t rush as you want to make sure you do each task well. Renovating is a process, and step by step, task by task, project by project - you can transform your home.
This blog was sponsored by Kiwibank. Whether you're taking your first step or next step on your property journey, Kiwibank's home loan experts are available to help you through the process.
Their Mobile Mortgage Managers can come to your choice of location and their Banking Consultants are available at your local Kiwibank branch. Call 0800 000 654 or visit kiwibank.co.nz/homeloan for more information.
