Next time you buy someone a gift, why not kill two birds with one stone by buying your loved ones a gift they will enjoy that can also be used to improve your home’s appearance?

Those who enjoy DIY will appreciate DIY gifts because their present will last longer than their birthday, anniversary or Christmas Day and will give them something to look forward to. There are so many DIY projects that can be done around your home, from the big to the small, and they all help in the maintenance and appearance of your home. These projects can also be very simple with all the DIY kits available today, but there is no lack of more complicated DIY projects for those looking for a challenge! This wide choice and range of DIY projects make DIY gifts suitable for people of all ages.

DIY gifts to decorate the house

The arty, crafty and creative may love getting a DIY gift to decorate their home. Here are a few ideas of what to buy for a DIY gift:

Some pretty material that can be used to make curtains in various rooms around the house, as well as all the necessary instructions and tools that are needed to make them. Choosing this kind of gift can be tricky, so you might want to find out exactly what kind of tastes the gift receiver has and maybe even drop some hints to find out what they would like to see in their home.

Paint, paint brushes and all the other necessary equipment for the gift receiver to give their home a fresh, new coat of paint wherever it is needed. Again, try to find out what colours, patterns etc. they like.

Seeds or colourful pot plants for house plants. Even better, buy plain pot plants that can be decorated and throw in some paint and other decorative items.

Equipment to make hanging accessories for the kitchen, bathroom or elsewhere in the home. For example, bathroom racks for toothbrushes and toothpaste or kitchen racks for spices or utensils.

Plain boxes that can be decoupaged or painted and used for items around the home, e.g. coffee and tea containers.

Something for the kids – plain curtain material or tiles around the house that can be painted on. This way, your kids can feel proud to be a part of your home’s interior decorating and your memories of them will be a part of the home for a long time.

If you’re a bit nervous to leave your decorating scheme in the hands of your children, you could give them something a little smaller to work on, such as plain fridge magnets.

DIY gifts to fix up and improve the home

If you know someone who loves getting their hands dirty around the house and is constantly finding something that they think needs fixing, then help them to cheerfully improve and fix up their home with a DIY gift, such as:

New taps that can be installed in the kitchen or bathroom, such as a pull out kitchen tap, a kitchen mixer tap or a bathroom basin mixer tap. Other options include shower heads and bath taps.

Supply them with all the necessary instructions and equipment to make built-in cupboards. You can even do the measurements yourself and get the right sizes yourself.

Use those colourful tiles your kids proudly made and lay them down yourself on your kitchen floor, shower floor or elsewhere around your home.

Equipment to sand down and shine wooden surface of chairs and tables and perhaps paint for a fresh, new look.

Give them whatever they need to make their very own kitchen island and even provide them with various add-ons to improve the beauty and functionality of the island.

Equipment to make a cabinet for their television or stereo, or shelves for a CD and DVD rack or wine bottle rack (and throw in a bottle of wine to get them started!)

DIY gifts for the chefs of the house

If your loved one enjoys spending time in the kitchen, then give them something that will help make their cooking and baking experiences more enjoyable.

For example, a splashback they can install, a rack that can be hung up and used to hold their recipe book open or cutlery and crockery that they can decorate themselves with beads or paint etc.

DIY gifts are useful for a number of reasons – they last longer than a birthday or Christmas Day, they occupy a person’s time for longer, they can have sentimental value and they maintain and improve homes. Finally, they are suitable for anyone of any age who enjoys a bit of DIY, so if you’re struggling to think of the perfect gift for your mother, wife, sister, father, husband or brother, a DIY gift could be your answer.

Why do you do it yourself when you can get someone else to do it for you?

The way I see it DIY only allows you to be independent of expensive tradesmen. Sure some bigger jobs might be beyond DIY but most smaller projects in and around the home can prove rewarding if you DIY. Like fixing a leaky tap, unblocking a drain or fixing a flickering light.

Small jobs are also very expensive if you call out a proffessional as there is the same call out/travel expense as in a large job.

It is also handy to have good experience in a variety of DIY fields because the proffessionals are not always available to come to your rescue.

Its simply matter of empowering yourself with the skills and feeling good about it. The internet is a great place to get ‘how to do it’ info…. Have fun

Painting your house by yourself can save lots of money. It may take time but if you do it properly you will be pleased with the results.
Here are some pointers

• Always wear the appropriate protective clothing as well as eye and mouth/nose protection.
• Make sure the surfaces are clean and dry. Wash the walls with diluted sugar soap.
• f there are still stains on the walls or ceiling, apply a sealer paint to ensure they will not discolour the new layers of paint.
• Fill all cracks with filler.
• Scrape off all loose pieces of wallpaper or peeling paint.
• Remove all light fittings.
• Move all movable furniture out of the room and cover the fixtures.
• Do not start painting in natural light and finish in artificial light. You may end up covering the same area twice.
• Once you started painting, complete ceilings or individual walls in one session. If you don’t, a dried paint line will be visible.
• While painting, try to close as many windows as possible to avoid the paint from drying too fast. Once you’re done, open all the windows to enable the paint to dry as fast as possible.
• Painting skirting can be a messy and time consuming job. Here are a few pointers to make that job a little easier.
• Put a piece or hardboard on the floor to avoid smudges there. Slide it with you as you progress.
• Take a 50mm piece of card and tuck it down between the wall and the skirting to avoid smudges on the wall.
• Painting does not have to be a daunting  expensive job. Ask the sales person at the DIY shop which undercoats and paints you need.
• Apply them correctly and you will have a beautifully painted house that will stay that way for years.

Happy DIYing