Would you love to give your home some TLC, but the thought of tackling DIY and decorating fills you with dread? You’re certainly not alone! But the good news is, with a few simple home improvement hacks, even a total beginner can easily create a space to be proud of.
Whether it’s finally painting those tired walls, refreshing fixtures and fittings or simply organising your clutter, here are our top five home improvement hacks for beginners along with top tips from our DIY expert, Jonty, to give you a boost of DIY confidence and get you raring to go!
1. A Fresh Lick of Paint
A new coat of paint can completely transform a tired-looking room, and it’s surprisingly simple once you know how. Preparation is key – use sugar soap to remove grime, dirt, and grease from your walls. Fill any cracks and holes properly and sand down until your surfaces feel smooth and ready to paint.
For freshly plastered walls, we recommend applying a mist coat first (that's half paint, half water), which seals the surface and ensures your next coats stick well. Always tackle walls first, then finish with woodwork and gloss paint for the perfect professional look. Use a small, angled brush for ‘cutting in’ around corners, sockets, and skirting – this makes a world of difference.
If you’d love hands-on tuition and experience on our practice walls before letting loose on your own, our one-day beginners decorating course might be just the ticket.
2. Update Old Fixtures
Sometimes, small changes make the biggest difference. Swapping out dated cabinet handles and knobs, updating light fittings, or installing stylish new curtains can quickly refresh a room without breaking the bank. With just a screwdriver and a little patience, you can totally revitalise your kitchen or bathroom in an afternoon.
Make sure to measure carefully between screw holes if changing handles and drill pilot holes if needed, and you’ll be done before the kettle’s boiled. If that sounds a bit tricky right now, our Beginners DIY Day course is designed to give you all the skills you need to confidently tackle these tasks and more.
3. Declutter and Organise
“A place for everything, and everything in its place,” as my Nan always used to say! If you dream of having an organised, clutter-free home, clever DIY storage solutions could be exactly what you need. Hanging shelves, building under-stairs cupboards or repurposing existing furniture will maximise your space and give everything a proper home.
Creating bespoke storage doesn’t need to be as daunting as it might sound, especially once you’ve had some hands-on practice. Our ‘How to Build Virtually Anything’ DIY course will help build your confidence so you’ll soon be tackling projects around your home like a pro.
4. Snag Your Space
If you’re irritated by loose hinges, wobbly chairs or creaky door handles around the house, a quick fix with your electric drill or screwdriver can instantly smarten up your home. Tightening screws and hinges takes minutes but makes a huge difference to how well cared-for your home feels.
Make sure you have a range of drill bits and screwdriver heads handy to match any fixing you might encounter. If you find the DIY aisle a bit daunting, don't worry – our one-day DIY course covers everything you ever needed to know about fixings and fasteners (without the overwhelm!).
5. Add Your Personality
Do you have lovely photos and artwork hidden away in drawers or gathering dust? It’s time to finally get them up on your walls! A gallery of favourite photos or some stylish new shelves is a brilliant way to showcase your personality and create a space that truly feels like home.
For this task, you’ll need an electric drill, a spirit level, some sturdy brackets, and the correct wall fixings. Use wall plugs and screws for masonry walls (brick or concrete) to ensure a firm grip, or specialist plasterboard fixings like hollow wall anchors for plasterboard walls to safely handle the weight of your frames or shelves. If that sounds confusing, learn everything you ever wanted to know about fixings on our one-day DIY workshop!
Ready to Get Started with DIY?
We truly believe anyone can learn to tackle DIY tasks around the house with confidence and success. Our friendly and relaxed one-day DIY courses at Ash & Co Workshops are designed specifically for beginners who want to learn practical home improvement skills, guided step-by-step by our experienced instructor, Jonty.
Whether you’re brand new to DIY or simply need a confidence boost to tackle home improvement jobs yourself, our small-group workshops provide a relaxed environment where you can ask questions, get hands-on practice and leave with skills you’ll use forever.
If you’re keen to master your DIY and decorating skills, check out our course dates today. We can’t wait to help you transform your home!
