Home Renovation: Your Ultimate DIY Checklist
DIY is not only rewarding but totally thrilling too. You are the sole project manager of your home’s facelift — pretty exciting, right?
When it’s all done, you can sit back and admire your work, knowing that you did it all yourself and saved yourself a small fortune along the way. Your creative mind and elbow grease could be adding significant value to the price of your home too — it’s a win-win 🏆
So, if you’ve got a DIY project in mind, whether it’s as simple as changing the handles on your kitchen cupboards for an instant freshen up, or you’ve got a more complex upcycling project on your agenda, our in-house expert and Plank Hardware's Co-founder, Tom, has rounded up everything you need to know to ensure your home renovation project goes off with without a hitch.Home Renovation: Getting Started
Before you so much as pick up a screwdriver, plan your project. What would success look like to you? Did someone say moodboard? Map out the full project from start to finish, making a note of everything from tools and materials needed, to ideal timelines and most importantly, budgets 💸
Our Co-founder and all-round DIY expert, Tom, explains:
“Achieving your interior goals doesn’t have to be hampered by budget, but it’s so important that you factor in your personal budget before you embark upon any home renovation or DIY project. Naturally, different people will have different budgets, and that’s fine. Make sure that you set a budget for any project and stick to it, or the costs can really run away with you. For instance, the cost of a kitchen renovation will vary dramatically depending on a number of factors; whether you opt for tiles or paint, for example, and whether you get a tradesperson to fit your mixer taps or do it yourself. My advice would be to be realistic with your budget or you’ll be disappointed. You’ll be amazed at some of the ways you can save.”
Download a project planner 📝
If you’re eager to get cracking on your project, but need some help with the planning stage, why not download one of our handy planners? Choose an option; DIY Project or Home Renovation? 
Essential DIY Tools and Materials
Depending on the room and specific job, there are a huge range of essential DIY tools and materials you could need for your project.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and even give up, which is why we’ve highlighted the most common DIY jobs here, and teamed up with power tools supplier, RYOBI®, to make sure you have everything you need for your home renovation project before you get cracking.
Most Common Home Improvement Tasks and DIY Tools You’ll Need At Hand
1) Kitchen cabinet upcycle 🍴
Painting your kitchen cabinets and changing the cupboard handles gives an instant face lift to any kitchen.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
4V Cordless screwdriverCordless compact combi drill starter kitCordless palm sanderCordless sander kitScrewdriver bit set
🪛 Ryobi’s top tip:
Where space is tight, opt for a cordless angle drill to ensure maximum results 👌🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"Give a dated, gloss-finished kitchen a timeless treatment by using MDF panelling to create Shaker style doors. Prime, paint and complete with brass hardware, for a high-end look that will endure changing trends."
2) Create a feature wall 🖌️
Maximalism is back; try painting or papering a feature wall to give your room the ultimate, instant refresh.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Cordless palm sanderPalm sander sheet setPaint brushes
🪛 Ryobi’s top tip:
After stripping wallpaper, or before applying a new coat of paint, sand down your walls to ensure a perfectly smooth surface on which to start.🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"If you've collected a drawer full of paint sample pots, or have left over scraps of decorative wallpaper, get creative with your feature wall. Colour blocking has been very on trend in recent years, meaning you don't need huge quantities of any specific colour."
3) Revamp tired garden furniture 🪑
A simple lick of paint can lift tired garden furniture for a summer of outdoor living.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Cordless palm sanderPalm sander sheet setPaint brushes
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"Before you hit the local hardware store, be sure to double check those tins you have stored in your garage or garden shed — you might just have enough. Otherwise, ask a neighbour if they have any half tins of paint left unused."
4) Put up a shelf 📚
It’s a simple one, but adding a shelf to your room adds depth and interest. Add photographs, prints and seasonal decorations to cost effectively switch it up as the seasons change.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Cordless compact combi drill starter kitMixed drilling and driving setFraming hammerSpirit levelMeasuring tape
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"Those left over pieces of floor board from your renovation might fit the bill for this project — as well as creating a cohesive look in your home. If you're into the industrial look, reclaimed scaffolding boards always look striking in a kitchen space and can be picked up relatively inexpensively."
5) Hang pictures or prints 🖼️
Add instant character to your living room or bedroom by hanging nostalgic pictures or punchy prints on the walls.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Cordless compact combi drill starter kitMixed drilling and driving setFraming hammerSpirit levelMeasuring tape
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"Framing prints can be expensive, especially for custom sizes. I suggest sourcing cheap frames from IKEA, then mounting each print or picture on to backing paper that fits the frame perfectly. Get playful by working with coloured papers or cards, then spruce up your frame with trending wooden bobbin detailing."
6) Raised beds or planter boxes 🌱
Whether you’re taking a step towards a more sustainable life and growing your own fruit and veg, or just want an aesthetically pleasing spot to grow flowers, DIY planter boxes and raised beds are all the rage for garden renovation right now.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Cordless 150mm circular saw kitCordless compact combi drill starter kitMixed drilling and driving setCordless impact driver50mm screwdriver bit setMeasuring tape
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"Make your planters from wooden crates, palettes or even unused furniture. It's not uncommon to see these items discarded on neighbourhood streets. Could you remove the drawer from a cabinet and plant straight into that? Sure you can."
7) Invest in some new taps 🚰
Haven’t quite got the cash for a full kitchen or bathroom renovation? Don’t underestimate the power of switching up your tap game.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Order one of our kitchen mixer taps, and you’ll receive an easy-installation kit in your package.
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"Updating your taps can make a huge difference to your interiors, but it's not always cheap. If you want to improve yours, but your existing tap is functioning fine, why not repurpose it in a DIY outdoor kitchen set-up? Extend its life a little more ♻️"
8) Kitchen backsplash 💦
Not only do they protect your walls from cooking splatter and stains, but they’re easy to clean and install. It’s no wonder more and more people are fitting them themselves.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
For a tile splashback:Cordless tile sawCordless caulking gun
Measuring tape
For a stainless steel or acrylic splashback:Cordless jigsawJigsaw blade setCordless caulking gun
Measuring tape
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"If your tiling budget is slim, consider whether or not you need to go the full height and width of your cabinetry. Perhaps just two or three rows of tiles will offer the practicality you need, allowing you to introduce some wipe-friendly paint? Or maybe you create a feature of your tiling area, sitting just behind you hob?"
9) Regrout your tiles 🧱
Oddly satisfying and gross in equal measure, regrouting is bathroom renovation on a budget. To save time and effort, you can apply new grout right over the top of old grout for instant results.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Plunge cutter bladeGrout removal bladeCarbide raspScraper blade
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"It's often the case that we leave a DIY project until something is broken. Maintenance is key when it comes to grouting. Check in on your bathroom grouting every six months and address the areas that look most vulnerable. You'll better mitigate the risk of broken tiles and leaks, which are far more pricey to rectify."
10) Letter box 🚪
Curb appeal is real, so ensure those passing by your home know you mean business. No need for a new front door — simply replace your letter box to give your neighbours instant front door envy.🔨 DIY tools you’ll typically need:
Cordless compact combi drillMixed drilling and driving setCordless jigsawJigsaw blade setMeasuring tape
🫰 Tom’s budget-friendly hack:
"If your door hardware is made of solid brass, but is a little tarnished from exposure to the elements, why not give it a polish? We've a guide for how to clean brass that might be helpful. You may not need new door furniture after all."
For all of the above DIY jobs, don’t forget to protect your eyes with impact rated safety glasses, and wear gloves, overalls and ear protectors where necessary too 🥽🧤Can I Do It All Myself?
Sure, DIY stands for ‘do it yourself’, so where possible, we find people get the most satisfaction out of doing the majority of the work themselves. Go easy on yourself if you don’t succeed the first (or tenth) time, though — remember, you’re not a professional tradesperson, you’re literally learning on the job. And you’re doing great 💪
Of course, with some home improvement tasks, you do just have to admit that things are out of your remit. For example, you don’t want to start tampering with electrics at the risk of it going wrong and becoming a safety risk. Contractors are at hand to help — Tom’s top tip: make sure to get at least three quotes to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.If you’re looking for the answers for your DIY difficulties, or perhaps you need guidance for installing your hardware, you can find it all in our DIY how to guide. If you’re in need of some inspiration for your next project — we’ve got you covered for that too in our DIY inspiration gallery 🖼️ Don’t forget to tag #PlankProjects so we can have a look at your creations.
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