Winter DIY projects
In most parts of Australia, it’s cold and wet outside, so why not get stuck into a winter DIY project or two! While Indoor projects are a great way to use your time productively in winter, there are also some great things to do outdoors. Check out some of these DIY projects for some inspiration:
Indoor projects
Refresh your kitchen
There are 2 ways that you can give your kitchen a quick and easy facelift. Replacing all your cupboard handles can make a striking difference. You only need a screwdriver/drill and new handles. It can be relatively easy and quick!
Painting your kitchen cupboards takes more time, but will make a bigger impact. Remove all of your cabinet doors, take off the handles, give the doors a light sand and paint with 2-3 coats before putting the handles back on and rehanging doors.
Hang a picture or piece of art
Its a great time to change your wall decorations. Play with new places and things to hang up on your walls, by moving existing hangings or introducing in some new ideas. Photos and framed art can easily be moved around from wall to wall or swap things into different rooms to create change. Alternatively create a design feature on a wall, such as a basket wall by hanging woven baskets on the wall. Hanging a rug or other woven art piece is another idea.
You could even create your own artwork to hang, paint or draw a picture or pattern and hang it in your home. The options are endless!
Add texture
Change the look of any room from the ground up by adding some texture to a room. Whether that be by incorporating a rug, changing cushions, adding a throw rug or indoor plants. Don’t be afraid to use different patterns and materials. Some other ideas include the use of baskets, layering your floor rugs, having various plants in a variety of pots and adding a textural wall hanging, wall paper or texture paint. Vintage or antique items can also add unrefined texture to a room.
Organise a cupboard
A great indoor winter project is to reorganise a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom cupboard. Similar rules apply to organising any cupboard no matter what type it is. Start by emptying out the cupboard. Then clean all the shelves. Go through everything from the cupboard and dispose of any unwanted or expired items – donate items in good condition. Get your storage in order, label it and put it back into the cupboard with its contents. For the kitchen and bathrooms, try to organise the contents so that you can see as many of the contents (or the storage labels) upon opening the cupboard door.
When reorganising your cupboards, think about what you need to access regularly and put these things in more accessible places with less used items up higher or down lower. Large storage boxes can be used to store out of season clothing in a wardrobe or rarely used crockery/cutlery in a kitchen.
Also try to have a set method for reorganising each cupboard. For example, with your clothing, put it in order of category and then colour. Category organising also applies to the kitchen and bathroom, for example put all breakfast cereals together, put all baking items together etc.
Eliminate drafts
Do you have any cold drafts in your home? Now is the time to fix up these drafts or install new roof insulation. Putting insulation in your home is a relatively easy D.I.Y. job however you may need some smaller fixers to help with drafts, which will also help your heating bills. Install draft excluders on your doors, close air-conditioning vents, turn your fans on reverse. Also check your window frames for cracks to be repaired and window coverings for ways that heat can escape as you may need to install better blinds or curtains on your windows.
Outdoor Projects
Mulching
Winter is the perfect time to mulch the garden. Wait for the it to rain, then remove all weeds from garden beds, pots and pavers. Then cover the ground with a generous layer of mulch to keep moisture in the ground and prevent further weed growth. A layer of 2-6cm of mulch is ideal for coarse mulch, other mulch, like straw mulch can be applied thicker.
Your garden will be ready for summer with a little hard work now.
Pruning
Winter is the ideal time to prune. Pruning tidies up the garden while also stimulating new growth. Get your secateurs, shears, loppers or saw out and start pruning your fruit trees, ornamental deciduous trees, roses, hydrangeas, fuchsias and hibiscus.
To keep your trees healthy, prune to remove dead and broken branches and prune trees to maintain a trees shape.
There are many online tutorials for learning how to prune properly, as the correct pruning techniques can help your plants increase its fruitfulness, growth and allows wounds to heal.
Sharpen your tools
Prepare your shed and garden tools for the warmer seasons (and winter pruning) by making sure they are all sharp and well maintained. Sharper tools are easier and safer to use, as they require less force when using.
Sharpen small hand tools such as secateurs with a handheld diamond sharpener by sliding the sharpener across the bevelled blade until sharp.
Sharpen other tools like chisels with a sharpening stone and larger tools like axes with a grinder or metal file. When using electric grinders, be safe and make sure tools are held securely with clamps or a vice and use appropriate safety gear.
For tricky tools or if you don’t have the equipment to sharpen your own tools, a professional sharpening service is definitely worth it.
Tidy your shed / garden shed
It’s an opportune time to tidy up and sort out that outdoor shed or workspace.
Clean up your work bench or potting bench, and put all like items together to later put away. Add shelving or extra hanging spots for tools and supplies, grouping similar items together. Get storage tubs for chemicals and put them in a safe place. Group all your fixings according to size and use and store appropriately. Larger tools, like gardening tools can be put up using a hanging system or hung on the outside of the shed. Extension cords, wire and hoses should be wound up and hung appropriately. Use open shelving so that you can see where everything is, or label closed storage options. Even use a blower or broom to clean out old cobwebs and dust and make sure to throw out rubbish.
If you are really keen you can paint the interior walls or flooring for a total makeover!
Sources:
www.homestolove.com.au/how-to-add-texture-to-your-home-7046
www.handyman.net.au/10-essential-winter-garden-jobs
www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/planting-and-growing/winter-garden-ideas
www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/garden-tools/shears-pruning-tools
www.bhg.com.au/5-diy-winter-jobs
www.bhg.com.au/diy-ideas-for-winter www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/a33515/how-to-sort-your-wardrobe-edit-clothes/
www.organicgardener.com.au/blogs/how-sharpen-your-tools
www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/garden-tools/how-to-sharpen-chisels
www.lifestorage.com/blog/organization/how-to-organize-a-shed/
