As any decorator will tell you to keep your paintbrushes in
the best possible condition and keep them performing at their best they need to
be properly cleaned after every job. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the
best ways to clean your brushes and also give you some tips on how to make your
brushes easier to clean.

Have the right solutions to hand

While most paintbrush cleaning is carried out in a similar
way, different paints require slightly different chemicals and solutions to
remove them from the brush. As a rough guide here are the best solutions to use
with each type of paint, but always check the cleaning advice on the paint
label as well.

Cellulose – Amyl
acetate from the

With the long days and warm temperatures, the summer months
are the perfect time to tackle a wide variety of home renovation projects and
give your home the love and attention it needs. Some of these projects can be
tackled by any competent DIYer while other projects are best left to the
professionals who will be able to ensure that the job is completed safely and
to a high standard.

Give your kitchen
cabinets a makeover

With the kitchen being at the heart of the home it’s one of
the most important rooms in your house. And, while a brand new kitchen will set
you back thousands of pounds, there are a couple of simple and cheap ways that
you can spruce up your kitchen for a fraction of the price of buying new units.
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a great way to breath fresh

Do you find yourself browsing sites like Pinterest and Houzz
wishing your home matched the pretty pictures? Perhaps, you’ve visited a friend
and been inspired by their beautiful open plan living area or maybe you’ve seen
something on TV that has made you think of decorating your own house. Whatever
the inspiration in this blog we’ll take a look at how to plan your next big
decorating project to ensure it is successful.

Set a budget

When planning any renovation work for your house it is
important to set yourself a realistic and affordable budget. You may have grand
plans but if you don’t have the budget to match then you’ll quickly become
frustrated and lose motivation. With a realistic budget in place, you can
choose items based on price and ensure you don’t

Whether you’re a trade professional or simply a keen DIY enthusiast, there are some tools that will prove invaluable and ae well worth investment. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the best DIY tools that will help you save time and energy and make your life easier.

Laser level

For anyone that regularly works on their own, a laser level is an invaluable tool for all types of jobs from painting and decorating to common DIY tasks. Hanging wallpaper straight is a breeze with the help of a laser level which allows you to spend more time doing the job and less time measuring and setting out.

Laser levels can be used for measuring up and setting out
everything from tiles and kitchens to curtains and mirrors. From a simple spot
laser to a

We all know that one of the secrets to getting a perfect
finish when decorating is surface preparation but what can you do if your walls
have a damp problem, are rough or have a lot of surface cracks. In an ideal
world you would refinish the wall prior to decoration but sometimes this is
just not practical. As well as helping to improve the surface specialist wall
coverings can also help make your rooms warmer and help dampen sounds. In this
blog, we’ll take a look at some of these specialist wall coverings and their
applications.

Sound insulation
paper

For anyone looking to add some basic soundproofing to their rooms the

With spring finally on the way now is the time to start
planning out your list of DIY and decorating jobs to get your house ready for
the year ahead. Spring is the perfect time to give your home such much needed
TLC and make a start on all those projects you’ve been putting off over the
cold winter months. In this blog, we’ll look at which jobs you should be
prioritising now the nights are getting longer.

Paint your front door

Give your home added curb appeal by updating your front door
with a fresh lick of paint. Whether you stick with the current colour or choose
to change it is up to you but whatever you choose a fresh lick of paint will go
a long way to creating the right first impression. Maximise the impact of your
transformation by adding a new house number to your door

Looking for some inspiration for your home decorating
projects for the year ahead? In this blog, we’ll take a look at some stunning
colour options and trends for the year ahead. From bright vibrant colours to
subtle tones, these colour palettes will help you transform your home and give
your home décor a new lease of life.

Warm grey tones

Grey is often associated with being a cool colour but with
the addition of a pink or lilac tint it can really warm up the colour and help
create a lovely cosy feeling in your rooms. Any professional painter or
decorator will be able to help you choose a suitable base colour and mix the
paint to bring added warmth.

Popular purple

With spring on the way now is the perfect time to refresh your home décor and give your walls a nice new lick of paint. Not only is this an affordable way to update the style of your home but for anyone looking to sell their property this simple refresh could help you get more for your house. Use the checklist below to make sure you have the right tools for the job before getting started.

Decorating checklist:

• A tin of paint in your chosen colour
• Paint roller and tray
• One medium and one small paint brush
• Masking tape
• Drop cloths and plastic sheeting
• Absorbent cloths
• A step ladder
• White spirit and painting rag

Pick your paint

One of the hardest jobs is actually choosing the paint that you want for your new look. For those struggling to choose some paint, the Dulux Visualizer app can help give you an instant view of how your walls could look. It is always worth

Top tips for removing Artex and other textured coatings

From woodchip wallpaper to Artex, textured coatings were a big trend in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. Depending on the type of coating there are a number of options for removing or covering over the textured coating. In this article, we’ll look at some of the different options, techniques and tools that you’ll need to tackle the job.

Identify the coating

The first step to take is to identify the type of textured coating that has been used. Some cases will be obvious where woodchip wallpaper has been used while others may prove harder to identify. If you are not sure the best thing to do is use a DIY asbestos sample kit, this will tell you whether there is asbestos present. If the textured coating does not contain asbestos then it is completely safe to remove this yourself. There are a couple of ways that this can be done and these are:

Wallpaper steamer

For both woodchip wallpaper

If you’re looking to keep your home toasty and warm this winter without turning up the thermostat then these tips are for you. From a simple splash of colour to brighten up your rooms to the addition of rugs and curtains, in this blog we’ll look at some of the best ways to keep your home warm this winter without spending a fortune.

Add some rugs

There’s no doubt that hardwood, laminate and tile floors look amazing, but in the winter months, they can leave your home feeling cold. One of the easiest ways to warm up hard floors is to put down a rug, especially one which is thick and luxurious. Rugs are available in a huge amount of styles and patterns and can fit in with any home décor scheme.

Replace blinds with curtains

Blinds may look clean and modern but they are not as effective as curtains as keeping the warmth in your home. Curtains can work in addition to blinds and help insulate your home against draughty windows.