First impressions count when selling your home. From your front door to the garden, there are lots of ways you can speed up the sale and make your home that little bit more presentable to prospective buyers.
Sometimes it is difficult to attract attention to your house, but Elaine Penhaul, interiors expert and owner of home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors, has revealed the top DIY tips to help you increase the saleability of your property this year.
1. Transform your front door
Want to up your kerb appeal? Revamp your front door, it can make a big impact. According to previous research, painting your front door bright blue could boost your house value by a whopping £4,000. Whilst it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're trying to sell, a touch of paint will make your home stand out and look presentable on the street.
'Spruce up your front door with a lick of on-trend paint and a hand-crafted house name or number, showing to buyers from the outset that efforts have been made to create attention to detail,' Elaine tells House Beautiful UK. 'Show a glimpse of what's to come once people step inside with warm lighting seeping through the window frosting.'
2. Paint window frames
Improving your home for a move? Repainting your tired-looking window frames will also smarten up the exterior of your home, with the experts predicting it can boost your house value by £10,000. If you're not sure what colour to choose, previous research found that grey is the best hue for attracting buyers.
'Rather than spending a fortune on refitting new frames, spray your existing windows with a lick of paint to give them a new lease of life — which could possibly add up to £10,000 to your house value. Painting the exterior frames can tie in the interior colour scheme into the exterior and transform your house's kerb appeal,' Elaine adds.
3. Replace fixtures
Before you start thinking about putting your house on the market, consider replacing old kitchen taps and doorknobs. A fairly quick household task that can help to make a positive impact on prospective buyers, Elaine says it will help buyers to 'better imagine how they can use their space rather than focussing on what needs replacing'. Hardware stores, such as B&Q and Wickes, are great places to find affordable fixtures.
4. Wall panelling
Wall panelling — something you've likely scrolled past on Instagram — is a wonderful way to add character to an empty space. Whether you choose tongue and groove designs, traditional shaker-style, Jacobean-style grid, or dado style, it's a simple DIY project that can easily be done on a weekend.
Panelling a wall using MDF wood usually costs less than £100 in total, meaning it's a brilliant way to add interest without breaking the bank. Simply paint with your desired colour and it will immediately enhance your space.
5. Garden rooms
A garden room will allow you to expand the your space without complicated extensions, but did you know it can also help boost your property's value? Whether it's for an office or home gym, many buyers are now looking for additional space they can use for both work and play. If you aren't able to build one, Elaine recommends transforming your conservatory into a garden room.
'Revamped garden rooms may increase your property's value by anywhere between £5,000-£12,000 if we go off conservatory prices alone,' Elaine reveals.
6. Macramé details
Macramé — textile produced using clever knotting techniques — is another DIY trend that could help attract buyers. While the craft can be traced back to the 13th century, it has surged in popularity in recent years, especially when it comes to making hanging plant pot holders.
'With endless opportunities for experimentation and creating your unique style, it is a joyful creative hobby to learn,' says Elaine. 'Using macramé to hang plants and suspend mirrors can raise the sense of vertical space in a room and in turn demonstrate to buyers how to decorate space more efficiently.'
7. Style with ceramics
With more homeowners experimenting with pottery due to the success of Channel 4's The Great Pottery Throw Down, ceramic accessories are a great way to make your house aesthetically pleasing to prospective buyers. Embrace earthy tones, organic shapes and raw textures to highlight focal points in the home, like the fireplace, display cabinet, or open shelving.
8. Consider natural and sustainable materials
It's vitally important for your home to be clean, warm and welcoming. You can turn your home into a calming retreat by tapping into Japandi design. Utilising light wood, crisp neutrals and simple layouts, it's a timeless look that encompasses a neutral palette with natural materials.
Elaine adds: 'Reclaimed wood such as pallets can be used in a multitude of ways to decorate the home in the Japandi way, including arranging it vertically to divide up open-plan space. This can create unique nook spaces that may increase property value as the buyers envisage the potential behind these uniquely-shaped spaces.'
9. Decorate carefully
From streaks to sloppy edges, a messy paint job can be nauseating to look at. Bad painting can be a big turn off to potential buyers, so make sure you touch up anything that could be noticeable to house viewers. And remember, if a touch up is needed, neutral hues (white, beige and grey) are your safest bet.
'When it comes to painting, there are lots of things that can go wrong,' adds Elaine. 'When painting over a few days, prevent paint rollers drying out by wrapping them in an old damp towel and plastic bag so you can continue painting with ease the next day. You can also keep extra jam jars and mason jars to store any leftover paint that can later be re-used for smaller jobs and any touch-ups.'
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New home gifts: 20 really good housewarming gift ideas
This is a bestseller for a reason. This lovely gift set from The White Company includes the Seychelles signature candle, room spray and diffuser for a home that will smell truly delightful. This scent combines notes of evocative bergamot, bright orange and fresh coconut, with a hint of green jasmine, warming amber and buttery vanilla. Divine!
If you're looking for a practical housewarming gift, you can't go wrong with Smeg. If your recipient has a penchant for sky blue shades (and getting hands-on in the kitchen), then snap up this fabulous blender set for endless uses.
This antique-style candle holder is a brilliant gift for the person who appreciates a good tablescape. They can use it to dress their dinner table or simply style on a sideboard. It's handmade and crafted from high quality chromed steel with a brass finish, which gives it that antique look. Don't forget to buy some taper candles so they can set the scene right away!
This stainless steel map location key holder displays the location of a new home, the address and chosen names. It's a great idea that not only pays homage to a new neighbourhood, but keeps keys safe and in one place!
Is it a vase? Is it a book? This rather beautiful ceramic vase, shaped like a hardback book, is perfect for displaying dried flowers. Decorated like a classic novel with pretty floral details, this would ideally look at home on a bookshelf or mantel.
Championing consciously designed interiors, Nkuku is one of our favourites for quality, crafted pieces that will stand the test of time. A perfect new home gift, this decanter made from recycled glass has a lovely etched detailing on the base. If you've got a generous budget, buy the set of four tumblers to match.
Peonies are fleeting beauties and this lovely coffee table book captures this beloved flower in abundance. Not just for show, inside you'll find photos of blooming peonies alongside fascinating botanical knowledge and an overview of the plant's cultural history by author Anja Klaffenbach. The book series includes succulents, roses, orchids and lilies, so the whole (rather colourful) set would make a lovely housewarming gift for green-fingered types.
This one's a kitchen must-have. Other than chopping up vegetables for dinner, this round acacia wood board is a rustic way to serve up canapés and other tasty treats. Carved by hand in India, it's shaped and chiselled using traditional woodworking techniques.
Buying a housewarming gift for a new plant parent? You can't go wrong with an unkillable bundle. The set includes the cast iron plant, robusta rubber plant and the snake plant.
Make every coffee break a bright one with this cup and saucer set, just like those used across all the Grind cafés. We love the rich red glossy glaze and contrasting white trim on the plate and inner cup. You can choose from espresso (80ml), flat white (180ml) and cappuccino (200ml).
Organisation is key when creating a streamlined home, so we think this Kate Spade letter tray would make the perfect gift. It can be positioned on a console table or desk to collate letters and ensure everything remains in one place.
Even for those who prefer a neutral, pared-back home, the kitchen is an ideal space to introduce colour. We love these vibrant salt and pepper grinders by Alessi (sold separately) that will perfectly transition from a kitchen worktop to a dining table.
Another kitchen essential, budding or keen cooks will no doubt appreciate the viral Always Pan. No meal is off-limits with this colourful duo.
A kitchen staple, you can never have too many tea towels in our opinion. We've added these to the list because any style-conscious lover will appreciate the beauty of William Morris prints!
These glazed pastel stacking heart bowls are simply beautiful. Painted with reactive glazes, each has a distinctive finish which makes it all the more unique.
For the person who loves a scented home, choose from three scents: Black Pomegranate (black), Sea Grass (navy) and Nag Champa (mustard yellow). The set includes a gold foiled presentation box with 15 handcrafted incense sticks.
Give the gift of a lovely new photo frame, perfect for a sideboard or home office. This one's finished with an on-trend scalloped-edge in a glossy mid-blue hue.
Practical gifts will always be appreciated. The perfect home greeting, this rectangular coconut fibre doormat emblazoned with the word 'welcome' is a must-have for a new abode.
This is a brilliant personalised new home gift for cheese lovers. Sure to take pride of place in the kitchen, it can be personalised with a name of your choosing. It's cleverly designed too, with a hidden compartment containing a set of cheese knives.
There are some items that will always have a place in the home, and a versatile bowl is one of them. This one is made from intricately woven black seagrass and finished with a criss cross decorative pattern.
