If you are renovating your home and you are keen to get the job done as cheaply as possible, you will more than likely be planning to engage in a significant amount of DIY.

The truth about home refurbishments is simply that, whether you do them yourself or not, they are always expensive. Employing a decorator, designers and professional craftspeople only accounts for some of the costs; the rest of your budget will be directed at securing materials, tools and, priciest of all, new furnishings.

To start with, you will want to find yourself a good Sussex indoor DIY supplier. The retailer you choose should be close your home – you can expect to be making many regular trips – and should also sell materials at a manageable price. (more...)

While a full-scale home renovation is bound to cost a lot of money, a basic 'face lift' can be done for a relatively small amount. This kind of approach to home decoration is cheaper and faster, although not as extensive as a total refurbishment.

To begin with, it is always a good idea to paint the interior of a scruffy looking home. A new coat in a cleverly chosen scheme can remedy a whole range of flaws. Instead of using just one colour alone, select a palette and deploy this throughout your house.

Instead of buying new furniture, simply consider the upholstery of your soft furnishings. Might a change of colour and pattern contribute to nicer interior indoor coverings for your windows, as they may also require attention; choose a colour scheme that matches the paint palette you plan to use. (more...)

While in the past, buying UK interior window shutters was a lengthy and complex business, today it is possible to complete the whole process online.

Because blinds and shutters need perfectly to fit the windows over which they will be hung, they need to be custom built. This used to mean that you needed to hire a crafts person, who would come to your home and take measurements.

You would then be required to visit the workshop to choose wood and discuss prices. The blinds or shutters would then be built over a period of a couple of weeks after which the craftspeople would return to your home to hang them. (more...)

Refurbishing a home is a costly and often difficult process, and one which can be made more expensive and difficult by hiring a designer or decorator with whom you do not see eye to eye.

If you have decided to shell out the money for a professional interiors expert, it's important that you employ the right person for the job. This means finding someone who understands your personal style, who will respect your budget and with whom you get along reasonably well.

To begin your search for a suitable designer, ask around specialist stores and boutiques. The next time you're shopping for interior products from B and Q inquire with the store manager about professionals he or she may be able to recommend. (more...)

While refurbishing your home is a very costly project, a superficial update can be both cheap and effective. If you're working on a very tight budget, you might want to reconsider that extensive renovation in favour of something a little less extreme.

A home 'face lift' should always start with paint work. A new coat in a fresh, exciting palette can dramatically improve an interior that's looking a little the worse for wear. Choose your colour scheme carefully; it should be echoed throughout your home.

Instead of buying new furniture at great expense, salvage the solid pieces that you already own and recover these in a fabric that works well with your new paint job. Evaluate your curtains as well; do they need replacement? On the subject of casements, smart shutters or Designer interior window louvers can really breathe new life into yours and, what's more, can be sourced for a relatively low price. (more...)