Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

New Year's Resolutions For Your Home

3rd January 2020

As the tree comes down and the sparkle of Christmas begins to fade, don’t despair! You can use the dismantling of Christmas decorations as an opportunity to revamp your living space as you go. Here are some quick and easy ways that you can maintain your home on a budget, helping you to feel fresh and bright as you enter 2020.

Paint The Patches

If your Christmas decorations have left behind flaking paint, the odd drawing pin hole or blue tac stains, don’t panic! Before the usual pictures replace your festive decorations, give your walls a once-over to brighten things up a little. It is amazing the difference a good lick of paint can have, but be warned: once you start painting, everything else is likely to start looking a bit dingy, too. If you can’t face doing it by yourself, get a painter and decorator to do the job for you; they are likely to do a better job in half the time, leaving you to sit back and enjoy it!

Curtains Up

If you are tired of the same old curtains but don’t have the wallet or inspiration to get new ones, take advantage of the post-Christmas sales to snap up a bargain. If you opt for neutral colours on the walls, a splash of colour or vibrant pattern in your curtains, cushions and throws can really lift the décor, making it feel like a brand new room, without you having to spend a lot of money on new furniture.

Have A Detox

If more is, well, more, when it comes to Christmas decorations, the chances are that you had to get rid of some ornaments to make space for your more festive collection. If this is the case, a Christmas décor detox could be just the thing to help your home feel less cluttered and more relaxing. Try to resist the urge to replace your Christmas decorations with less festive clutter and enjoy the feeling of space that you get once your decorations have come down.

Finish The Job

Most homeowners have a giant list of jobs that are on their list to start or, at the very least, to finish. It is surprisingly easy to leave your DIY half done; after all, you’ve almost done it, so there’s no need to hire a professional. If you have one New Year’s Resolution, make it to write your home to-do list – and stick to it. The best way to ensure that this happens is to get a quote, employ a handyman, and get the list done in one go. Simple. No stress, no half jobs, just a clean slate for the New Year.

If your list of DIY jobs seems never ending, trust us to help you find the right person for the job. For more seasonal tips, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter.

Related tags

Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.
Should I renovate my home or move house?

There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

Have a question about TrustATrader?

If you have a question in relation to TrustATrader specifically, please check out the TrustATrader FAQs, with separate lists tailored to consumers and tradespeople. Alternatively, get in touch with our team. We're happy to help!

Read FAQs Contact TrustATrader