Want to try your hand at some home improvements? Here are some top tips from a DIY expert

If you’re looking for some DIY inspiration, you’ve come to the right place…

With Christmas festivities right around the corner, many of us are turning to DIY to make sure our homes provide the picture perfect setting for evenings of celebrations. Since we could all do with a helping hand, we’ve teamed up with B&Q and DIY expert Shauna O’Connor to answer all your questions on getting your home spruced up in time for Christmas. A finalist on RTÉ’s Big DIY Challenge, Shauna is sharing her insider knowledge with us on everything from optimising your box room to managing Christmas trees with little ones running around. Here’s some advice from a DIY expert…

 

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What’s the best way to preserve natural tree decorations? If you’re looking to preserve something like a live garland or a live wreath, make sure you soak it before you hang it and then every 2-3 days come back and spritz it with water. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat where possible! What’s the most efficient tool to have around the house to cover most DIY needs? According to Shauna, a great tool to have is a multi tool, because it comes with lots of different attachments. It has a sanding attachment, a scraper, a blade - something for everything! But for home maintenance, you really can’t go far wrong with a basic tool kit with a hammer, a measuring tape, some screwdrivers and so on. Every house should have a tool kit! Is there a simple fix to remove damp from a wardrobe, apart from dry-lining the exterior wall? Shauna’s letting us in on some insider knowledge here: mix equal parts water and vinegar, clean the area and then leave the wardrobe doors open to let the air circulate and have it all dry out. A handy tip is to leave a container of bicarbonate of soda in the wardrobe to help absorb any excess moisture and prevent the problem from recurring.

 

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What’s the best room in the house to put a second tree? Shauna’s got two Christmas trees this year and she carefully positioned them in the sitting room and the dining room. The reason she chose those two rooms is because they’re both communal areas where the family gathers and it feels really festive. Think about where you and your loved ones spend the most time together or where you’ll be entertaining this Christmas, and add some festive flair to the area. What are the best Instagram and Pinterest accounts to follow to get easy DIY ideas for your home? Shauna shares lots of tips on her Instagram account @home.diy.diary and she loves to follow Joanne Condon, who’s great at upcycling and has lots of other DIY tips. Another mom on a mission would be Suzanne from This, That & DIY - all on Instagram and then on Pinterest, Shauna can’t get enough of Dainty Dress Diaries. If you’re feeling inspired and want to get started on a DIY project of your own, B&Q have everything you need to create the living space you’ve always dreamed of. Visit in store or shop online today.