Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Blinds are available in a huge range of styles, fabrics and colours. Whatever the style of your room, you are sure to be able to find a blind style that will suit it, from Roman to Venetian to roller blinds and even black-out.

Most blinds are operated with a chord, chain or spring-mechanism. However, it is also possible to motorise nearly all types of blinds, meaning that they can be operated simply with the push of a button. A reason that many people prefer to motorise their blinds is that it is more practical with larger blinds, and those that are opened and closed on a regular basis. Motorised blinds are undoubtedly more convenient to use. Additionally, the risk of accidently breaking them is reduced because there are no cords or chains to pull.

Usually a 24V DC motor will be used in motorised blinds. However, if the blind is significantly larger and heavier, then a more powerful motor may need to be used. The motor can either be plugged into the mains or powered by a long-life battery. What is more, if there a number of blinds in one room, it is possible to operate them all from the same control point.

Blinds that are fitted to a motor are usually operated using a handset, where the user simply pushes a button to open, close and adjust the blinds. Blinds can also be put on a timer, and linked to lights and security and other home automation systems.

Concrete is used in so many DIY situations that any serious home improvement enthusiast must get to grips with the chemistry and structure of this amazing product.

Concrete has been part of construction since the Romans first used the lime-based conglomeration of sand and stone with water over 2000 years ago. In DIY terms, it is used to lay a firm sub-floor for paving, or a base for a shed, or steps, to name but a few.

Concrete, like mortar, is made from a mixture of cement and sand, but unlike mortar has an additional load of stone or coarse aggregate for extra strength. The cement portion is the glue that holds the other ingredients together. Cement is a lime-based alkaline that is exothermic with water. Thus wet cement burns skin and eyes. Use goggles and gloves when handling cement.

The proportions of the three key ingredients and the size of stone can vary according to purpose, but the main issue is when mixing the dry and wet together safely and in sufficient quantity. Hand mixing a total of about ¼m³ is hard work for a reasonably fit person. For the smaller job this is sufficient, although be aware that the mix will start going off, or setting, soon after mixing, so it is best to mix only what can be used straight away.

It follows that a bigger job, needing ¼m³-2m³, like laying the base of a shed, will require both a concrete mixer and a second person to mix while the other concrete is laid down. When mixing concrete, add the water in small amounts until a good consistency is reached.

If the target is a driveway or the base of an extension, using more concrete, it may be worth considering the services of a ready-mix delivery.

With minimal Do It Yourself (DIY) skills even the most impractical of people can enhance their bathroom.  In previous decades the bathroom was seen as the one room in the house where least time was spent.  A quick investigation of online bathroom and DIY sites reveals that the bathroom is now considered to be a place of glamour and sophistication, or even a room where one can unwind.

Upgrading bathroom accessories and bathroom furniture can provide a family with a totally new room.  The basic structure of the room can remain the same but, with a little bit of planning and cost awareness, any room that is starting to look shabby can soon be revitalised.  New mirrors, tiling and even towel hooks can totally change the look and feel of a room, and the DIY novice can install all of these.  Updating a shower curtain and re-painting the bathroom walls to create a fresh colour scheme can create a novel environment where it is fun to go and bathe.

The growth of the internet and the UK economic downturn means that many more people are working from home rather than commuting to a company or corporate office.  Most recent figures suggest that over 30% of the UK’s adult population work from a home office.

Garden office buildings provide an ideal solution for anyone wishing to take this step.  The working conditions are more congenial, parents with young children can spend more time with their family and also many find that a home office means that they can design their working pattern to suit themselves.

The 2008 change in UK planning regulations means that those intending to transform their working lives can construct a garden office without having to go through the laborious and expensive process of applying for planning permission.  Certain planning conditions have to be met but the companies that sell garden buildings will be able to guide the customer through this process.

The array of buildings on offer is vast.  Many of these garden offices are timber built on a concrete base.  Most of them offer excellent natural lighting and are fully wired for electricity.  The buildings are insulated and are ideal for both summer and winter use.  These garden offices range from the purely functional to a more upmarket and highly tailored construction.  Some of them can be designed to include an outside decking perimeter, which is useful for all those coffee breaks in between work.

It is the subtle finishing touches in a room, such as coving, which make all the difference. If your rooms would benefit from having coving installed, it is a job you can easily do yourself. Many different styles of coving are sold, in different widths and patterns, so you can choose the right one to suit your home. Traditional coving is made from plaster, but you can also buy polyurethane versions.

To put up coving, you will need a tape measure and pencil, a stepladder, coving adhesive, a coving mitre block and a fine tooth saw. You will also need a friend to help, as this is a two-person job. When you buy the coving, you should get an extra length on which to practise cutting the corner angles. If your room has any curved walls, there are flexible polyurethane covings available.

Take your time to put up the coving and make sure you measure all lengths and angles accurately. You cannot assume that every corner is a right angle. Do not rush it and you will end up with a beautifully finished room.

Replacing a pane of glass in a window is a relatively easy job.  You may, however, need help if the pane is too large to handle by yourself, or at a height you cannot comfortably reach without ladders.  Firstly, measure the space and get a local glass supplier to cut a pane to fit.

Before the pane can be fitted, the broken glass needs to be safely removed from the edges of the window.  Use thick gloves and protective eyewear and cover the area in a dustsheet to catch the glass.  Using a glass cutter, score the edge of the window, and then tap gently with a hammer to remove the last pieces of glass.  Finish by chiselling out the old putty and you are ready to install the new pane.

Depending on the frame, use linseed or acrylic putty for wooden window frames, and universal putty for metal frames.  Run a thin line of putty around the window, and then press the edges of the glass pane into the putty.  Gently hammer the tacks into place and finish with a second run of putty on the outside.

The major advantage of blackout blinds is that they prevent almost all light from entering a room. This is particularly useful for bedroom windows. Babies and children can benefit from having blackout blinds installed in their rooms as blocking out light allows them to take daytime naps more easily and can prevent them from waking too early in the summer. Blackout blinds can also help adults who have difficulty sleeping, especially those who work night shifts and have trouble sleeping during the daylight hours. The material used to make blackout blinds also prevents the light inside a house from being seen from outside, providing an additional level of privacy in rooms such as bathrooms.

Most blackout blinds have a coating on their reverse that not only blocks out light but can also reduce the amount of noise that travels through a window. This can be very useful for people who live by busy roads. A further advantage of the blackout blind is that they can help to reduce energy bills by preventing heat from being lost in the winter. In addition, blackout blinds can also help those who need to sleep in the day during the summer months as they can prevent the sun from making a room too hot.

Blackout blinds can be practical and stylish as they are available in a range of styles, colours and patterns to suit any room. The most common and effective types of blackout blinds are Roman blinds and roller blinds. Roman blinds can look very stylish and luxurious in their own right. Blackout roller blinds take up very little room and are hidden from view when rolled away, meaning that they can also be combined with other blinds or curtains in rooms such as the bedroom or the living room.

Blinds are incredibly versatile and also help to provide an attractive window furnishing which can really add to any room in the house.  They are most popular in practical rooms of the house, such as in the kitchen, home office or bathroom, but are becoming more and more popular in living rooms and bedrooms as well as they can add sophistication and style to any room.

It is worth taking your time to consider the different types of blind available when deciding which one might be right for you.

•    Roller blinds are compact and practical as well as being durable and offering great value for money.  They are usually made of long-lasting material which has been specially treated to ensure that they are easy to keep clean with the minimum of fuss.  Roller blinds are ideal for bathrooms and kitchens and their simple operating mechanism makes them easy for the entire family to use.

•    Blackout roller blinds are made from a thicker fabric which stops any light getting through and are ideal for those who are light sleepers or who need to sleep during the day such as shift workers or young children.

•    Venetian blinds offer a unique look which consists of vertical blinds which can be lowered or raised depending on the amount of light you wish to allow into the room.

•    Roman blinds are made from soft folds when they are raised and are operated by a cord which is attached to dowel rods or slats.  They are great for those looking to create a contemporary look in their room.

•    Vertical blinds consist of vertical slats which can be opened or twisted to adjust light levels in a room and are available in a wide range of materials and colours.

Every home should have a basic toolkit, because in cases of emergency and run of the mill quick DIY fixes it is worth its weight in gold. To begin, the actual toolbox needs to be of a sturdy and strong plastic type; metal toolboxes tend to rust over time.

Some of the essential tools you need to have in your toolbox are pincers, pliers, a hacksaw, a hammer, an electric drill, a set of screwdrivers and a trimming knife.

In actual fact, three sets of screwdrivers are ideal. The flat blade and the ‘Phillips’ are essential, along with a set of small electrician’s screwdrivers, which are handy for those fiddly little jobs.

The best hammer to have on hand would be a claw hammer. While it can effectively drive in nails it can also extract old, rusty nails. A selection of extra blades for cutting different materials should also be purchased.

A filling knife is a handy addition to your toolbox. They are used for applying filler into holes and onto defects in wood or plaster.

One of the easiest ways to increase the value of your property is to carry out a face-lift to the heart of the home, the kitchen and a DIY upgrade does not have to be expensive. When planning the project, take into account that the current trend is to have a more open plan living area, which is more welcoming and friendly. 

The centre of any home is the kitchen and having it in a room, separate from the rest of the house, is closing off what should be a warm and friendly space. Should you wish to create the open plan look and feel, you may have to knock down a wall or two. If that is the case, you should consult a structural engineer before begin demolishing walls. After all, you do not want to compromise the structural integrity of your home.

There are many elements to be incorporated into a kitchen; you need space for a cooker, fridge, counter space, cupboards and much more. Plan your kitchen on graph paper first, ensuring that you leave sufficient room for appliances with doors that open and close without blocking other pieces of equipment. 

Remember that the style you choose should make you feel happy in your kitchen.  As much as it needs to be what you want, remember that your kitchen upgrade needs to be practical. It would not be a good idea, for example, to put an island counter in a kitchen that is small, because it will take up too much space.