DIY – what did YOU do this holiday weekend?

Posted By Laura in Other Stuff | 1 comment

DIY. I have to admit – in theory I love decorating. I do. Stripping it back, revealing the bare bones of the room (when we moved into this house 20 years ago we wrote on each wall we uncovered. Now when we strip a room, it’s like a little trip into the past, and makes us grin when we see the messages from my 18yr old self), and then creating something fresh and new.

Though I’m not good at glossing. I admit it, I’m just rubbish. Drips, runs, brush marks and bristles… the husband banned me years ago from the glossing the paintwork. In turn, he’s banned from touching the wallpaper paste – I do a mean matched drop.

But.

I do not love the time it eats up, the all-consuming must-get-on-with-it-ness of having a room in tatters for days on end.

And whilst the romantic notion of Doing It Myself still tickles me, in these days of growing family and frantic work life I have to be honest. Given the opportunity (and the funds) I’d hire a professional in two heartbeats, wave the pot of gloss at them, and leave them to it. Strolling in to inspect at the end of the day suits me – I get the fresh room, get to choose lovely colours, but I get none of the how-do-I-paper-that-wonky-corner angst. None of the bloody-hell-where-did-that-lump-of-plaster-come-from stress, and none of the damned drippy-gloss arguments.

And I’m not alone – Maplin have done a survey of the nation’s DIY habits (naturally – Easter weekend is traditionally the DIY weekend of the year. It seems that four days off and an improvement in the weather brings out the tape measure in all of us), and 41% of us would rather pay a professional. I’m surprised that it’s not higher, actually – I wonder if it took into account being able to afford to pay someone, which I know is the biggest factor for us personally when we dig out the paintbrushes, or put off transforming the daughter’s bedroom for another month. Although, according to the survey 70% of men wouldn’t pay a professional to do their DIY at all. I guess it depends on the job though – there’s a difference between putting up a shelf and redecorating a room, and even my lazy DIY skills will run to the odd shelf or flat-packed chest of drawers!