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Home Inspiration Tips and Advice

17 affordable DIY home improvement ideas to try

Breathe new life into your home with these budget-friendly ideas.
Photography: Alana Landsberry Styling: Lucy Gough

It’s almost inevitable. One day, you walk into your home to find your space isn’t as inspiring or exciting as it once was. It happens! Maybe it’s that feature wall you no longer love or the simple fact you haven’t given your space a deep clean in a while. But fear not; there’s no need to jump to costly conclusions, i.e. renovation plans.

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If you have some free time up your sleeve, consider taking matters into your own hands with budget-friendly DIY home improvements. Whether it’s outdoor maintenance, spring cleaning or home decorating, there is always something that can be done around the house. Better still, once it’s finished you will feel proud as punch and be able to look over your handiwork with a sense of achievement.

From weekend paint jobs to organisation inspiration, here are 17 simple DIY home improvement ideas guaranteed to refresh your home without breaking the bank.

17 simple DIY home improvement ideas


Photography: Alice Veysey

Paint your front door a statement colour

Painting your front door is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY home improvement tasks to give your home exterior a fresh look. You can experiment with bright colours or muted pastels, depending on how bold you want to go.

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Update the front garden

Create a home that turns heads by transforming your front garden to boost your home’s curb appeal. The porch of this Victorian villa has been refreshed with statement potted fan-aloe; a fast-growing, drought-resistant plant that adds a striking pop of greenery. Plant climbing plants along your home’s fence line to provide a leafy privacy screen; another great way to transform your front garden into a lush haven.

Create a productive home office

If you work from home and currently use the dining table as your desk, consider carving out a space to create the ultimate home office. Whether you have a dedicated room for a home office or just enough space for a study nook, elevating your WFH set-up with a quality timber desk, comfortable chair and cute lamp is sure to improve your productivity.

Get your pantry in order

Cooking can be a relaxing, fulfilling activity, but if you feel more anxious than inspired in the kitchen, the reason could be lurking behind your pantry doors. Reacquaint yourself with the spices and staples you already own by cleaning out your pantry and putting everything in its place. Storing all your dried goods in glass containers, like in this pantry, is a great way to not just make your cupboards look good, but also to avoid wastage, since you’re more likely to use and restock ingredients when you can clearly see them.

Rid your bathroom of mould naturally

Is mould making your fairly new bathroom look worse for wear? Mix up an all-natural mould-busting solution using white vinegar. If that doesn’t improve things, consider re-grouting your bathroom.

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Give your home a deep clean

There’s nothing like lighting a candle and sitting on the couch after giving your home a deep and thorough clean – we’re talking dusting, vacuuming, mopping, windows, the works! To make a deep clean less daunting, you can tackle the mess with our room-by-room cleaning checklist.

Photography: Alana Landsberry Styling: Lucy Gough

Refresh your home with a fresh coat of paint

An easy home improvement task that makes your home feel brand-new is a fresh coat of paint. Try a bold colour – pink interiors have become very popular, even being called the new ‘neutral’.

Photography: Florence Charvin

Make your home smell amazing

To see your home in a new light, sometimes all you need to do is set the mood. Fragrance is a powerful thing and can make you feel energised, relaxed or inspired. There are so many ways to make your home smell amazing, from DIY room sprays to oil diffusers and aromatic candles (we love Glasshouse Fragrances‘ long-lasting scents).

Clean those spots you’ve been overlooking

Breezed through our home cleaning checklist already? Delve into the dark places you’ve been forgetting to clean, like the oven, the washing machine, the dishwasher and the grout between the bathroom tiles.

Once everything inside is spick and span, turn your gaze to the great outdoors. Is it time to clean your wheelie bin? Does the barbecue need a scrub?

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Organise your wardrobe

We’re all reaching for more relaxed clothing these days, but maybe your wardrobe hasn’t quite got the memo. Organise your wardrobe by putting your most-worn clothing within easy reach and neatly storing away the rest.

Treat yourself to new bedsheets

You don’t need power tools to update the look and feel of your bedroom. Investing in a quality set of bed sheets is one of the easiest ways to create a space that truly feels like a sanctuary. And don’t stop at sheets – a new pillow or mattress could make you feel brand-new too!

Writer Pandora Sykes is not afraid to play with colours in her home.

Hang some artwork

Adding artwork to an otherwise blank wall is a sure-fire way of elevating and adding instant personality to a space. All you need to do is find a piece of art that resonates with you and, importantly, fits your designated area (there’s nothing worse than a too-small painting on a giant wall). And you don’t have to be restricted by traditional artworks. Try hanging your favourite plates so your home truly represents your personality.

Organise the shed

Without proper storage, garages and sheds can quickly become dumping grounds for Christmas decorations, kids’ toys and the rest. That’s why getting everything tidy and organised with simple storage solutions like shelving, hooks and pegboards can do wonders for the functionality of your shed. No more digging through empty boxes for that screwdriver set or tripping over old sports equipment.

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Modern kitchen and dining area with teal cabinets, wood accents, and a light-filled space with abstract wall art.
This Wellington villa opted for a vibrant green kitchen.

Paint your kitchen cabinets

Painting your kitchen cabinets a fun new colour may just be the next best thing to a full kitchen reno. Providing instant visual appeal, a new kitchen cabinet colour can drastically change the look and feel of your space. All you need is a weekend, some patience and some paint to get this one done (okay, maybe a few extra tools, but you get the gist!).

Rachel Clare grows vegetables, herbs and as many flowers as she can fit in her raised garden beds.

Start a veggie patch

Great for the little ones and foodies alike, veggie gardens are a rewarding DIY project the whole family can benefit from – provided you keep the vegies alive, of course. If soil conditions at your place are less than ideal, opt for raised garden beds that will thrive almost anywhere.

This colourful outdoor space reflects the bold design choices inside.

Create an outdoor entertaining zone

If you have an underutilised alfresco space or neglected balcony space, a budget-friendly revamp using potted plants, solar-powered lights or even just a tablecloth can make all the difference. If you want to take things one step further, consider adding a pizza oven or a space-saving Weber Q to take family get-togethers and summer soirees to a whole new level.

Outdoor fire pit with white wooden chairs and stools on pebbled ground, surrounded by greenery and a wooden fence.
A local landscape design company assisted in the design of this space.

Build or buy a firepit

There’s nothing better than gathering around a fire pit in the heart of winter. If you have a backyard or courtyard, building your own firepit (or buying one) will add a brand-new outdoor space for friends and family to enjoy.

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