Expert Money-Saving Hacks For Bank Holiday DIY Jobs

• 47% of homeowners fear they won’t have enough money to carry out planned home improvement jobs in 2023 
• New carpets, painting and decorating, and bathroom refurbishments are the top three jobs homeowners will postpone due to increasing costs 
• Searches for ‘DIY tips’ spike by 50% ahead of Bank Holidays in the UK according to Google Trends data from the past 12 months  

• DIY experts at Rated People have revealed their money-saving hacks for some of the most popular Bank Holiday DIY jobs 

Bank holidays are always a popular time for homeowners to take on some DIY tasks, and Google Trends Data reveals searches for DIY tips have increased by 50% on average ahead of bank holidays over the last 12 months.  

However, new research from the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People, reveals 47% of homeowners are worried they now won’t have enough money to complete the home improvement projects they want to do in 2023 because of the rising cost of living. So, to help homeowners beat increasing costs, DIY experts have shared money-saving hacks so homeowners can do DIY for less this bank holiday.  

According to this year’s edition of the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report, prices for home improvements are increasing by 17% on average this year as tradespeople battle with the increasing price of materials and operational costs.  

Getting a new carpet is the top home improvement job that homeowners will be putting off because of increasing costs, with 19% of homeowners who are putting plans on hold this year saying this is the improvement they’re choosing to delay.  

16% of UK homeowners will be putting off painting and decorating, making it the second most popular job to be postponed, followed by a new bathroom, garden landscaping and a new kitchen. 

Top 10 Home Improvement Jobs Being Put Off In 2023 

Rank	Home Improvement Job	% Homeowners (who are putting work on hold) Putting Off Jobs
1	New carpet	19%
2	Painting and decorating	16%
3	New bathroom	14%
4	Garden landscaping	13%
5	New kitchen	12%
6	New windows	12%
7	New storage	9%
8	New driveway	8%
9	New front door	8%
10	New wooden flooring	8%

Money-Saving Hacks From The Experts 

Last year, one in four (24%) homeowners said they had to stop a project midway through because they ran out of money, and this year more than half (51%) say they will be doing less home improvement work because the cost has increased.  

So, if you want to carry out work this bank holiday, but don’t have the budget for a full refurbishment, the DIY experts at Rated People have shared money-saving tips for the top five improvements that UK homeowners will be putting on hold this year, so you can still upgrade your home, but for a fraction of the cost.  

Get the look, feel and smell of a new carpet for £30 

Carpets can make a home feel cosy and comforting, but they can lose volume, become discoloured or stained and look worn over time.  

Nat White, Head of Brand Communications at Rated People, said: “If you’re not ready or able to replace your carpet, use a carpet rake alongside a carpet cleaner to help revitalise your carpet.”  

“By really getting into the carpet with the fine rake needles, you’ll lift any heavily embedded dirt, pet hair and dead skin that can cause your carpet to look dirty and worn. Once the dirt has been lifted to the top of the carpet, you can clear it away with a vacuum before giving it an additional clean with a carpet cleaner. This two-fold approach will help to fluff up the fibres which can make your carpet look almost brand-new,” she adds.  

Carpet rakes start from £5.99. You can hire a professional carpet cleaner for £24.99 for 24 hours here.  

Use a paint reuse scheme and opt for an accent wall instead of painting every wall 

In collaboration with Price Builder, Rated People estimate that the average cost of hiring a tradesperson to paint a medium-sized room (3m x 4m) is £1,127 (including VAT) with the cost of paint on top of that. Doing it yourself is definitely a good way to reduce the cost, and there are also other ways to bring the cost of painting and decorating down further so you can get the look and feel of a new room for next to nothing.  

Nat White, said: “Keep an eye out for sales and consider using a ‘repaint‘ scheme that sells unused paint for as a little as £2 a litre. 

She adds: “If you’re buying paint directly from a store, you can save money by not overbuying paint. Use an online calculator so you can make sure that you’re not buying too much paint for your space.  

Another option is to opt for an accent wall instead of painting every wall. Not only does this instantly transform the aesthetic of a room but it also requires much less paint. Many accent walls can be created using less than three litres of paint which means a much more purse-friendly project, costing around £20.” 

Upgrade bathroom hardware instead of doing a full refurbishment  
Rated People’s Home Improvement Trends Report 2023 reveals 22% of homeowners who are doing work to their homes this year will be ‘part-updating’ their bathrooms by just replacing hardware like taps, showers and radiators. This can completely transform the look of your room for much less of a budget than a full refurbishment. 

If your budget won’t stretch to new hardware, an even more cost-effective solution is to use spray paint to turn traditional chrome hardware into a more modern matte black tone, which will cost around £18. 

Paint your garden walls, fencing and decking instead of doing garden landscaping 

A quick, easy and cost-effective way to breathe new life into your garden without forking out for costly landscaping is to paint your garden walls, fencing and decking. Over time, garden fencing, border walls and decking can look dirty and aged.  

To save on budget, first have a dig around your DIY box to see what you already have there – to spruce up your garden walls, fencing and decking you will need an exterior paint brush, roller or sprayer. Make sure to brush off any dirt or cobwebs before you start, then apply your first coat of paint, leave it overnight and come back to decide if you need a second coat.  

For wooden fences and decking, you will need paint that is both specifically designed for that material and weatherproof (around £22.99 for 2.5 litres). 

Paint your kitchen cabinets and wrap work surfaces instead of getting a new kitchen  

You don’t have to fully refurbish your kitchen to get the look and feel of a brand-new room; in fact, kitchens are amongst the best rooms to renovate with a part-update. Instead of ripping out your cabinets and worktops, you can minimise the cost by simply painting your cabinets with an on-trend colour. Pair that with freshly wrapped work surfaces, which you can choose from a variety of aesthetics from marble to granite, and you have yourself a makeover.  

Satin and semi-gloss paints are the best options for kitchen cabinets because you can still wipe them down, and they are generally more resistant to grease buildup (750ml tins of washable satin kitchen cupboard paint start at £25). 

Nat White, Head of Brand Communications at Rated People, said: “Carrying out DIY tasks over a bank holiday weekend is a go-to activity for lots of homeowners but the cost-of-living crisis will undoubtedly affect how much budget many people have available this year.  

We want to help people to transform their homes into places where they feel happy spending time whatever their budget – whether that means carrying out cost-effective upgrades on their own or connecting them with a skilled local tradesperson for bigger projects or an even more professional finish when budget allows.” 

To see this year’s biggest home improvement trends and for more tips on how to improve your home for less, visit the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report 2023: https://www.ratedpeople.com/blog/home-improvement-trends-report-2023-home-improvement-squeeze