Watching miraculous TV style makeovers and seeing the experts work their magic can make transforming your home seem like a walk in the park says Suzanna Bain.

However, every DIYer knows that the true reality of painting, stripping, drilling, and hammering is very much different to the glossy results TV shows usually present.

And with a bank holiday looming, homeowners are turning their attention to tackling those itty-bitty jobs they have probably been meaning to do for ages.

But fear not, because no-nonsense Scottish design duo Colin and Justin, of Channel 5’s How Not To Decorate, are on hand to offer some expert advice that could really come in handy.

KITCHENS
Make sure you have ample workspace for all that food preparation you do, and do your best to keep surfaces clean and clutter free.

Butchers’ block trolleys are a great way of extending your work zone, and Ikea and Argos have some very affordable options.

BATHROOMS
Any colour goes in the bathroom – so long as it’s white. Don’t make a faux pas by going for anything else, no matter how tempting that avocado suite in the sale is. You’ll only regret it, and with DIY multiples such as Wickes selling them from around £200 complete, there really is no excuse.

Carpets in the bathroom are a real no no, so opt instead for water repellent flooring such as ceramic tiles.

They are, of course, hardwearing, easy to clean and totally waterproof. They are also really easy to work with – provided you plan the job properly and use the proper tools.

It’s vital you spend some time preparing the walls before you begin. They must be sound and dry, so slice away and replace any crumbling and flaky plaster.

If the walls are a mass of lumps and bumps, cover them with sheets of plywood or chipboard, and tile onto these or repair/replaster.

Coat each sheet with PVA adhesive to protect it against damp.

If the walls are already tiled, don’t assume that these will have to be taken off – provided they are attached solidly, you can leave them where they are and fix the new ones over the top.

If you do this, clean the old tiles thoroughly first, and plan your work so that the joins between the new tiles don’t coincide with the old. If old tiles are loose or damaged and need to be removed, chip them off with a club hammer and a bolster chisel. But remember to wear safety goggles in order to protect your eyes.

TILING
1. To begin screw a wooden batten to the wall approximately one tile width above the skirting board. Use a spirit level. When drilling or hammering nails into walls be careful of, and make sure you check for, hidden electrical wires or cables.


2. Spread tile adhesive over one square metre of wall. A notched spreader will create ridges in the adhesive that will help the tiles to stick.


3. Following the guides made on the wall, bed the first tiles into the adhesive with a slight twisting action - its bottom edge should rest slightly against the top of the batten.

Continue along the batten, bedding down tiles, and inserting plastic tile spacers in between them as you go. These will ensure an even grouting pattern later and should be pressed into the adhesive below the level of the tiles.


4. Leave gaps at either end until you have completed two or three rows. You will work more quickly if you tile in batches and cut in batches.


5. Tiles have always been cut by scribing and snapping separately, but a tile-cutting tool will do both jobs in one operation.


6. Care must be taken when cutting curves in tiles to fit around a basin. You may be able to tilt the basin away from the wall, insert a tile and mark your cut line directly onto its surface.

If not you will either have to make a cardboard template or use a profile gauge to obtain the exact dimensions of the curve. Use a pair of nibblers to remove the unwanted portion of the tile, taking small bits at a time to avoid cracking. Smooth off any rough edges using a tile file.


7. Covering a wall immediately below a window means the job will look best if you have a whole row of tiles here. Measure down from the edge of the window and position your batten accordingly.

HALLWAYS
Most hallways are simply a narrow passage through the rest of your home, so avoid a gridlock situation by keeping furniture, junk, and clutter to a minimum.

LIVING ROOMS
Avoid sofas that are shell shaped, floppy, velour covered, fringed or wrapped in a visible ‘antique’ timber frame. Sofas should be coloured, strongly structured, comfortable, and practical for you and all your family.

Darker colours and patterned designs will hide marks and grubby fingerprints that would be far more visible on lighter, plain ones, but remember that they will still need washing.

Many people make the fatal mistake of pushing furniture into the corners of rooms in an attempt to make them feel bigger.

Instead, you should fill out the space by bringing a coffee table into the centre and dressing your furnishing around a focal point, like a fireplace.

Remember that fashions come and go, so the best thing to do is invest in a timeless style that you love.