Tips from Homes Under the Hammer’s Martin Roberts

As we all adapt to life indoors, many of us are turning our attention to all those home DIY projects that we’ve been putting off for months.

Current guidance from the government says that you should not travel to buy DIY products if they’re not essential, but there are some companies offering delivery to your door or you may have materials left over from previous projects.

So Rightmove spoke to Homes Under the Hammer host and property expert Martin Roberts for his tips on how you could repurpose rooms without any professional help.

Martin, who has hosted the BBC’s Home’s Under the Hammer since it began in 2003, answered some of the most common questions we’ve had from Rightmove users.

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From ideas on how to freshen up different spaces to activities that the whole family can enjoy, find out what snippets of advice could benefit your home.

What can I do that my kids can get involved with?

One very simple enhancement you can make to a room is with paint. It’s just something to make you smile. Be adventurous, be bold and have fun with it. It’s a project that the whole family could join in with.

One idea to consider is letting the children paint a rainbow wall if they’re old enough and if you have some paint suitable for kids to use. I realise not everyone will be happy to let their kids loose on a wall, but you may have a room that you’re planning to redecorate afterwards that you could let them use for now. Allowing the kids to splatter paint on the walls, I promise you they’ll have a great time and you can even teach them some life skills along the way.

If you’re having a go yourself, make the space you are in as pleasant as possible. Most people have spare brushes and pots around the house and paint lasts a while. Even if it’s manky on top, take the top layer off and underneath it should be fine.

Refresh a room, lighten it up and lift the space. Don’t worry if someone else might not like it, I just think we have to create spaces that will help us get through this right now.

Painting a room also forces you to declutter as you have to clear a room before you can start slapping it on the walls. You need to put old ornaments and mementos away, take art off the walls and just generally have a good tidy up before you put the dust sheets down. Then, once you’re finished decorating, be selective about what soft furnishing you really need back in the room.  

How do I make a room feel bigger?

Use light colours and mirrors, because they double the size of a room. White ceilings also add a sense of space, too. Also, ask yourself if you really need a door in the room. They can take up a lot of space, so open the room up a bit and see if it works. You can always put it back.

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How can I freshen up my home?

Start thinking about the feng shui of your property and how different rooms make you feel. Play around with furniture. If you have a spare room, why not fill it with duvets and cushions and create somewhere where you can relax and read a book or meditate. Create a space that’s your own little world.

These only need to be temporary measures. The market is just taking a bit of a breather and it will be interesting to see what happens when it bounces back, but in the meantime, enjoy what you’ve got and focus on improvements that you can make in the here and now.

For more of Martin’s tips, visit his dedicated YouTube channel.