HIPPO have teamed up with DIY enthusiasts to create the #DIYSkillShare movement to help inspire and encourage people to pick up their tools and get started.
Winter often leads to us spending more time indoors at home, meaning we have more time to see (and think about) all of the home improvement niggles we’ve been putting off. While we might be avoiding our long list of DIY jobs due to lack of time or other priorities, could it be that we simply don’t know where to start?
Research from the waste removal experts, HIPPO, found that less than a third (28%) of Brits would speak to someone else to learn new DIY skills, so they’re on a mission to get the nation sharing their top DIY tips and learning new hacks whether you’re a beginner or a self-taught pro.
So HIPPO have teamed up with DIY enthusiasts to create the #DIYSkillShare movement to help inspire and encourage people to pick up their tools and get started.
Transform an unused space into practical storage
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Jenny from @jenshomejournal creates a DIY bench for her home. (Image credit: HIPPO)
Jenny with her HIPPOBAG(Image credit: HIPPO)
Make like Jenny from @jenshomejournal and turn an old piece of furniture into a useful bench in an unused space. Jenny flipped an old shelving unit on its side and DIY'd a robust wooden top, perfect for taking a seat. Her top tips are:
Avoid using MDF across the top, as it can easily get water damaged or warped.
Use a paint with a built-in primer to save time and make the bench suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Wait to book your HIPPO collection until you’ve finished all your painting – they can also recycle the empty cans for you.
Learn how to lay a wooden floor with ease
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Hannah from @theottohouse laying her own DIY wooden floor.(Image credit: HIPPO)
Hannah uses a HIPPOBAG to recycle her DIY waste.(Image credit: HIPPO)
Hannah from @theottohouse demonstrates the ease of laying a wooden floor. The best bit? It doesn’t need to be perfect! Here's Hannah's DIY advice:
When it comes to intricate corners, cut the boards as best you can, leaving a slight gap between the board and wall to allow for movement in the wood, plus it will give you a little space in case you need to run a cable along the wall for something.
We used packers to keep the spacing intact at the edges which can then be easily removed once the floor is all laid.
Finish with a skirting board to keep everything looking tidy.
Create an impactful skirting board on a budget
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Becky from @alittlecotswoldhome measures her DIY skirting board(Image credit: @alittlecotswoldhome / HIPPO)
Becky drills the skirting board into place on her dining room wall.(Image credit: @alittlecotswoldhome / HIPPO)
The finished skirting boards have real wow factor ((Image credit: @alittlecotswoldhome / HIPPO)
Becky from @alittlecotswoldhome reveals her top tips for creating a skirting board panelling effect on a budget:
Use additional mouldings to give the impression of a taller, more impactful skirting board.
Cut a piece of wood to size and use it as a guide along the wall for quick and efficient measuring.
Get gardening in the winter months
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Paula from @homewiththedenhams demonstrates how to fix a window box to external masonry(Image credit: HIPPO)
Paula working on her DIY window box.(Image credit: HIPPO)
Gardening isn’t just for the warmer months. Paula from @homewiththedenhams demonstrates how to make your own window box, using off cuts from wooden decking, to display evergreens and winter flowers. These are her top tips:
A number 8 drill bit is perfect for this task.
You can use glue and clamps to hold your wood in place before using wood screws to properly fix the panels together.
Make sure your wall brackets are evenly spaced and level.
Remember to add drainage holes to the bottom of the window box.
Add interest with floating shelves
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Forida from @thehomemama created her own floating shelf. (Image credit: HIPPO)
Here's Forida safely cutting her shelf to the correct size. (Image credit: HIPPO)
(Image credit: HIPPO)
Freshen up an area with versatile floating shelves, perfect for easily changing up décor throughout the season. Cut down, sand and paint existing wooden boards, as per Forida from @thehomemama and create a minimalist effect through the use of concealed brackets specifically for floating shelves. Here are her top tips:
For your shelves to be completely floating you need to drill holes into the shelf itself and drill the hidden bracket into the wall.
You can start the tidying up process as the paint on your shelf dries.
Recycle and Dispose of your DIY Waste
Use a HIPPOBAG to dispose of and recycle your DIY waste. (Image credit: HIPPO)
Available in a handy flat pack – ideal for storing until you’re ready to use it – remember to keep a HIPPOBAG on hand to throw in your waste from any home or garden DIY projects.
Simply pop it open in your front garden or driveway, fill it with your DIY and garden waste and book a collection at your convenience.
The DIY waste removal experts will take it away – you don’t even have to be at home – and they’ll go on to recycle at least 95% of the waste collected.
Follow HIPPO on Instagram @hippowaste for more #DIYSkillShare tips and tricks.
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