Making a doorway in an existing wall may be necessary if you’re changing the use of the room or improving its layout: this is typical when converting a kitchen, where fitted units dictate the positions of access and exit doors. As with fitting a hatchway, it’s necessary to install a lintel to ensure the stability [...]

Whether you like putting things away or not – and who does? – it is impossible to tidy up if there is nowhere to put anything. Some people, even when they have plenty of cupboards, never manage to keep their home tidy. They find it easy to take a book off the shelves and impossible [...]

If you keep bulbs and shades clean you will have a lighter home for less money. Shades need to be dusted regularly and cleaned according to their surface. Keep a large supply of all the bulbs you need and a list of what they all are for when you need to replace them.
Once a month, [...]

We spend one-third of our lives in our bedroom, even though most of that time we are asleep. A calm, tidy bedroom is conducive to a good night’s sleep, so keep it simple and uncluttered.
Find some attractive bowls to put your jewellery in when you remove it at night or it can get left on [...]

If your room seems harsh and unwel­coming, it could simply mean that you need to rethink your lighting arrange­ments. Lighting a room successfully is possibly one of the most difficult things to do because every lamp, every lamp­shade and every light bulb can create a different effect and a different mood -and even moving them [...]

Every home should contain at least the basis of a workshop and the necessary tools to handle simple household re­pairs. Time and worry, as well as ex­pense, will be saved if the right tools are at hand to deal with emergencies.
It may be enough for you to keep a drawer full of tools, or fill [...]

If your chairs and sofas are beginning to look their age, or you are getting bored with the fabrics, it is probably time for some new covers. This can be expens­ive, so use your imagination before you start looking for new fabrics for either loose or fitted covers.
One way of either hiding stains or distracting [...]