Getting the keys to your first home is one of the most exciting things that will happen in your adult life. Being able to own a home and make it your own is something many people will dream about for years, and it’s getting harder and harder in today’s economic climate.
Having your own home is very freeing, and gives you plenty of opportunities to decorate and put your stamp on your space. But you could soon come back down to earth with a bang when you realise just how expensive everything is!
Going down the DIY route can be a simple and affordable way to help you get your home exactly as you want it, but you need to be prepared for what’s to come. Take a look at some handy tips for going down the DIY route in your first home below.
GET A PLAN TOGETHER- WORK OUT WHAT YOU CAN & CANT DO YOURSELF
When you move into your home, you might have some grand ambitions of completely doing your home yourself. Unfortunately, this isn’t always going to be possible. Some jobs will require a skilled professional to pull off, especially any complicated electrical or plumbing work. It’s worth drawing up a list of the different things you’d like to do in your home and start working out which ones you can tackle yourself, and which ones you’ll need to bring in some professional help for.
PUT TOGETHER AN ESSENTIAL TOOLKIT
If you haven’t done much DIY before, you’re probably clueless as to the different types of tools and equipment you need to be able to do a good job. Your essential toolbox list will include items such as screwdrivers, a drill, wrenches, hammers and more, so it’s worth getting everything you need now to cover any jobs you’ll want to do in the future. Tools don’t have to be expensive, especially if you’re learning how to use them, but taking good care of them will help them last longer.
PAINT IT YOURSELF TO SAVE THE CASH
Painting is one of the easiest things you can do to transform your home and put your personal stamp on it. But it can soon become costly if you decide to go down the professional route. You can easily paint your home yourself, and there are very little costs involved once you’ve bought the paint you need. That’s what I did when I moved in with the help of a few friends.
It’s worth looking at online tutorials and guides to painting that can make it easy for you to learn what to do and carry out a professional-quality job. If you’re going to be painting feature walls, etc., make sure you master your edging to help you pull off the best job.
LEARN TO UPCYCLE ONLINE
The internet is a great place to get ideas for your home. Whether you’re into IKEA hacks or you want to build your own furniture, there are all kinds of things you can learn to do online. If you want to breathe new life into some older furniture, make sure you check out Annie Sloan chalk paint – it’s ideal for breathing new life into some worn or older pieces. Upcycling can be a fun hobby for you in your new home, and could help you bring some of your most fabulous ideas to life.
Think you’re up to the challenge of doing it yourself? Always be safe and plan things properly to help you achieve the best results for your home.
Yaaaayyyy you’re in congratulations. Decorating can be quite fun and mean you can tailor the decor to your own taste. Enjoy Laura 🙂
When we get our house we’re planning on doing a lot of things ourselves. But that’s because Luke’s an electrician and very handy with other things. Thankfully this should cut down a lot of the labour costs we’d have otherwise x
My boyfriend has just bought his first house and is proper stressing about the amount of work that needs to be done. These are some great tips – planning is definitely essential!
I think it is important to do a little DIY in your first home. It gives you an idea on the work involved as well as your own skill levels
I can’t wait to get my own home and DIY it all up! There’s something so satisfying about doing it yourself and knowing that you really have made a stamp on your house.
I loved doing DIY in my first home, now many homes later outside of painting I tend to leave it to the professionals lol
I still remember the excitment of getting the keys to our first house and then learning how to do all the DIY tasks we needed to, it was such fun and really bonding for my then-boyfriend and I. Mich x
Oh how exciting! I am about to revamp my living room and I am spending far too much time daydreaming on the internet! So many amazing ideas!