10 Mid-price Jobs that Deliver Max Improvement
Sometimes, just a small investment in your home will reap huge benefits. Ditch the DIY and treat your pad to these simple improvements
Jo Simmons
17 September 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
There are lots of home improvement jobs that fall into the mid-price category. From professional furniture cleaning to garden upgrades, these are the tasks that lie beyond most people’s DIY abilities and require the help of a professional, yet don’t cost the same as redecorating or major work.
Paying a service or tradesperson to tackle these jobs is not prohibitively expensive, but the benefits delivered to your home typically far outweigh the cost. So put your toolbox away and pick out the perfect person or company to help with a few small tasks that will bring a very big boost to the look and feel of your place.
Paying a service or tradesperson to tackle these jobs is not prohibitively expensive, but the benefits delivered to your home typically far outweigh the cost. So put your toolbox away and pick out the perfect person or company to help with a few small tasks that will bring a very big boost to the look and feel of your place.
Treat rugs to a deep clean
Sometimes, you don’t realise how dirty a rug is until you get it cleaned. Thanks to their position on the floor, rugs easily pick up dirt, marks and stains.
Most have to be professionally cleaned in situ, due to their pile, size and weight, so restoring one to cleanliness means calling in a carpet-cleaning company. It’s worth it, though: a clean rug feels pleasant underfoot and its colours will shine again.
Sometimes, you don’t realise how dirty a rug is until you get it cleaned. Thanks to their position on the floor, rugs easily pick up dirt, marks and stains.
Most have to be professionally cleaned in situ, due to their pile, size and weight, so restoring one to cleanliness means calling in a carpet-cleaning company. It’s worth it, though: a clean rug feels pleasant underfoot and its colours will shine again.
Tackle hard-to-reach windows
Dirty windows can drag a room down, obscuring the view and dimming light levels. The opposite is also true: clean windows bring sparkle to any space and make a home feel cared for.
High up glazing, such as roof lights, can be hard to access, though, and will need to be cleaned by a professional with the right ladders and extendable brushes. Make the call!
Dirty windows can drag a room down, obscuring the view and dimming light levels. The opposite is also true: clean windows bring sparkle to any space and make a home feel cared for.
High up glazing, such as roof lights, can be hard to access, though, and will need to be cleaned by a professional with the right ladders and extendable brushes. Make the call!
Show your oven some love
Who enjoys cleaning their oven? It’s a strenuous, time-consuming job that many of us shy away from, allowing the burnt-on grease and marks to build up. So face up to the fact that this is very low on your priority list and invest in a one-off professional oven clean instead.
Many companies now offer eco-friendly deep cleans for ovens, grills and extractors, which means the cleaning products employed are safe for use in family homes and won’t damage the environment.
Who enjoys cleaning their oven? It’s a strenuous, time-consuming job that many of us shy away from, allowing the burnt-on grease and marks to build up. So face up to the fact that this is very low on your priority list and invest in a one-off professional oven clean instead.
Many companies now offer eco-friendly deep cleans for ovens, grills and extractors, which means the cleaning products employed are safe for use in family homes and won’t damage the environment.
Launder your bedding
When was the last time you cleaned your duvet? While it’s easy to throw covers and pillowcases in the washing machine, the effort of taking a duvet or pillows to the dry cleaners or launderette sometimes puts us off.
Now’s the time to treat your bedding to a deep clean. Launderettes have machines large enough to take a double duvet, while many dry cleaning firms will offer to collect your items and return them once clean, minimising your effort.
When was the last time you cleaned your duvet? While it’s easy to throw covers and pillowcases in the washing machine, the effort of taking a duvet or pillows to the dry cleaners or launderette sometimes puts us off.
Now’s the time to treat your bedding to a deep clean. Launderettes have machines large enough to take a double duvet, while many dry cleaning firms will offer to collect your items and return them once clean, minimising your effort.
Pay for a prune
With the shorter days of autumn and winter approaching, make sure the maximum amount of natural light reaches into your rooms by getting overhanging branches or bushy plants pruned.
Employing a gardener or tree specialist to cut back high, tricky-to-reach branches that are shading your space will both benefit the plants trying to grow at ground level and allow more light into your home.
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With the shorter days of autumn and winter approaching, make sure the maximum amount of natural light reaches into your rooms by getting overhanging branches or bushy plants pruned.
Employing a gardener or tree specialist to cut back high, tricky-to-reach branches that are shading your space will both benefit the plants trying to grow at ground level and allow more light into your home.
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Paint the front door
You may not have funds to paint your home’s entire exterior, but why not give it a fresh makeover by just painting the front door?
Choose a playful colour and either do it yourself one weekend or ask a decorator to take on the job. If funds allow, new door furniture will also dramatically freshen up the look and create a great first impression as you approach your home.
You may not have funds to paint your home’s entire exterior, but why not give it a fresh makeover by just painting the front door?
Choose a playful colour and either do it yourself one weekend or ask a decorator to take on the job. If funds allow, new door furniture will also dramatically freshen up the look and create a great first impression as you approach your home.
Splash out on new sealant
The sealant used to bridge the gap between a bath, shower tray or basin and the wall is prone to becoming dirty. Often, black mould appears and can be very hard to clean off, even when using specialist products.
Sometimes, the best solution is to have the sealant pulled up and replaced. It’s not a huge job, but best done by a professional to ensure a really good bond and no water leakage. The impact of shiny white sealant, sans mould, is great and will help your bathroom to feel and look really clean.
The sealant used to bridge the gap between a bath, shower tray or basin and the wall is prone to becoming dirty. Often, black mould appears and can be very hard to clean off, even when using specialist products.
Sometimes, the best solution is to have the sealant pulled up and replaced. It’s not a huge job, but best done by a professional to ensure a really good bond and no water leakage. The impact of shiny white sealant, sans mould, is great and will help your bathroom to feel and look really clean.
Maintain your boards
Stripped floorboards that have been simply treated with floor oil will benefit from a new coat every year. The boards will become more scuffed and stained without this regular application.
If you’re time-pressed, it’s worth paying someone to come in and apply another coat. Regular maintenance will restore the wood’s lustre, as well as protecting it.
Stripped floorboards that have been simply treated with floor oil will benefit from a new coat every year. The boards will become more scuffed and stained without this regular application.
If you’re time-pressed, it’s worth paying someone to come in and apply another coat. Regular maintenance will restore the wood’s lustre, as well as protecting it.
Have the chimney swept
If you have a real fire and plan on snuggling up around it as the nights draw in, do the sensible thing and get the chimney swept first. It’s a messy job that should be done by a professional.
An annual clean will not only ensure your chimney is safe to use, but will guarantee a good fire that draws well and doesn’t go out.
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If you have a real fire and plan on snuggling up around it as the nights draw in, do the sensible thing and get the chimney swept first. It’s a messy job that should be done by a professional.
An annual clean will not only ensure your chimney is safe to use, but will guarantee a good fire that draws well and doesn’t go out.
Discover 11 ways your home can help you get over the post-holiday blues
Reupholster a headboard
Upholstered headboards feel comfy and deliver a shot of boutique hotel glam to a bedroom, but they can become marked with use. Consider getting your headboard reupholstered in a funky new fabric or stylish linen to freshen up your bedroom.
Alternatively, invest in an off-the-shelf upholstered headboard to give a simple divan bed a lot more presence.
Which mid-price job would you say delivers maximum benefit? Add your ideas to the Comments below.
Upholstered headboards feel comfy and deliver a shot of boutique hotel glam to a bedroom, but they can become marked with use. Consider getting your headboard reupholstered in a funky new fabric or stylish linen to freshen up your bedroom.
Alternatively, invest in an off-the-shelf upholstered headboard to give a simple divan bed a lot more presence.
Which mid-price job would you say delivers maximum benefit? Add your ideas to the Comments below.
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Chemistrykaren is it a chimney wall? I'm no expert I'm afraid - we spoke to a surveyor from a property preservation firm and that's what he was convinced was the issue in our case but it's more centred around the old fireplace rather than the top of the wall. Haven't had the remedial work done yet so can't say if it will solve it!
elle1774 - yes, it is indeed a chimney wall. Funny - I plan my next move to be calling a property preservation company ... you have somewhat galvanized me in that :).
elle1774: PS: A search turned up this quite thorough explanation (not that you necessarily need it, but I didn't know a few things this chap mentions):
http://www.preservationexpert.co.uk/damp-stains-on-a-chimney-breast-and-adjacent-ceiling-it-may-be-salts/