Ten DIY projects for the May Bank holiday weekends
Ten DIY projects for the May Bank holiday weekends
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1/10 Get your hands dirty
To truly embrace this time of renewal, plant some bulbs and sow some seeds. Plant gladioli and acidantheras. If you have a greenhouse, sow seeds of courgette and outdoor tomatoes; if you have a vegetable patch, sow radish, lettuce and peas – continue this process into the following month.
In May, plant foxgloves, Canterbury bells and sweet Williams. By the time summer rolls around, you’ll be rewarded with fragrant and colourful flowers and a glut of organic vegetables.
Alamy Stock Photo
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2/10 Consider a feature wall
Wallpaper is experiencing something of a revival in 2019, with searches for bold print wallpaper increasing by 401 per cent, according to a 2019 trend report by Pinterest.
This Leopard wallpaper from Etsy makes a fun statement. Price from £111.60 for a piece 120x310cm
Available in either a pasteable or peal and stick option, leopards adorn this wallpaper surrounded by an on-trend botanical print. -
3/10 Get creative with colour
While it might be possible to paint a room in a day, according to serial decorator, Marianne Shillingford, of Dulux, try a more creative approach to colour – which will also save you money. "If you don’t fancy a full redec but want a really noticeable change, paint blocks or stripes of colour on existing painted walls,” says Shillingford. "Use a durable paint like Dulux Easycare to make sure it lasts too.”
"Highlight the top of a room with narrow bands of colour just below a ceiling or be braver and paint the bottom third in a rich warm shade like Colour of the Year 2019 Spiced Honey.
Add simple geometric shapes for an individual twist (it's easier to do than you think). Have a look at the Dulux YouTube channel to learn how to paint the perfect crisp lines and geometric shapes,” she says.
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4/10 Put up shelves
If your bedside table is groaning under the weight of your ‘to-read’ pile, it might be time to think about putting up some shelves.
As well as clearing some much needed space in your home, shelves are an easy way to organise your belongings neatly.
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5/10 Get organised
If you’re spring cleaning and struggling to find space for all your belongings, get creative with the multitude of space saving solutions available for your home, whatever its size.
Tall and skinny shelves or bookcases are great for small spaces and there are plenty of options on how to arrange your possessions. Hide clutter or unsightly items in boxes or shelf inserts, add storage boxes or keep your things on display with open storage.
Utilise space in the kitchen by affixing hooks to the inside of cupboard doors to hang utensils and other equipment on.
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6/10 Upcycle your furniture with chalk paint
With minimal preparation required, upcycling an existing piece of furniture with a lick of paint is a quick and simple way to update a piece of furniture.
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7/10 See the light
Now the clocks have gone forward, we can look forward to lighter nights, but late nights mean electric lights. New lighting solutions bring an instant refresh to any living space and making your own shade is easier than you might think.
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8/10 Let in the light
Remove heavy curtains and replace them with something lighter. If you’re looking to save on cash, check out your local charity shop or Ebay, which often have second-hand curtains or suitable material to refashion into curtains. You can also try and make your own.
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9/10 Art is for everyone
A new wall print can provide inspiration, space for reflection or simply inject some colour and interest into a room.
Rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf print, consider something more original. Search through your phone and pick out some of your favourite images for framing and hanging or – if you’re feeling creative – put pen, pencil or paintbrush to paper and work on crafting your very own masterpiece.
Habitat
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10/10 Knit a throw
Depending on your skill level, three days might seem a little ambitious for this project, but it’s not impossible. Choose some bright colours to make your living space pop.
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Bank holidays grant us that much-needed time to do the things we’ve been putting off, like pulling up those weeds or installing a new shelf.
And this month, we’re treated to not one but two bank holidays, with the first one falling on 6 May and another on 27 May.
There are plenty of DIY shops across the UK where you can get all the supplies you need but on bank holidays, some stores may have reduced hours.
So you don’t get caught out and leave a job half-done, here are the opening times for some of the most popular DIY stores:
Argos
On bank holiday Monday, most Argos branches will be open for reduced hours, from 9am to 5:30pm. Check the opening times of your local branch here.
B&Q
Most B&Q stores will operate on standard weekday hours on the May bank holiday, opening at 7am and closing at 8pm.
Opening hours may differ depending on location. Check your local store here.
IKEA
On bank holiday Monday, IKEA stores will have their usual opening hours of 10am-10pm.
Hours may differ store to store though, so make sure you check your local store using the IKEA store finder.
Homebase
Most Homebase stores across the UK will be open from 7am to 8pm on bank holiday Monday.
You can check your local store here.
Wickes
Wickes will be running normal opening hours over the May bank holiday (usually 7am-8pm).
However, keep in mind that opening hours will vary from store to store. Check your local store.
Screwfix
On bank holiday Monday, Screwfix stores will be open from 7am-8pm.
These opening hours exclude Brentford (9am-4pm), Clitheroe Barrow (9am-4pm), Ilford (10am-4pm), Ringwood (10am-4pm) and Nottingham (8am-6pm). Check your local store.
The Range
The Range will be open as normal, from 9am-8pm, on May 27.
However, some stores may have restricted opening times on these days. You can double check using the store finder.
