Painted radiator

1 Before you begin, repair any damaged areas on the stairs, spindles, newel posts and handrail using wood filler, and replace any badly damaged boards where necessary. Sand away old paint or varnish,

Make your own homeware and trinkets (no kiln required!) with these lovely projects from ceramicist Lolita Olympia

NO-NONSENSE SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY HASSLES

Shopping list ● 3x fretwork panels ● tape measure ● 2x 2.4m(L) x 68mm(W) x 21mm(D) smooth planed pine stripwood battens ● pencil ● jigsaw ● sandpaper ● combi drill ● screws ● multi-surface spray paint

There are plenty of projects that can be done to keep your home looking fresh. The key is to work out which tasks you are capable of as a DIYer, and which require specific skills and safety measures.

Tech solutions and real world tips