These DIY buys really are easy to use – even if you're just starting out. (Photo: Amazon)
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
As a renter, I’ve never really needed to do much DIY. It’s always been something my landlord has taken care of. But recently I’ve started wanting to make a few small updates and improvements to my home, which got me thinking about DIY (and how the hell you get started with it).
My first step was to venture into my local hardware superstore which, in hindsight, was probably a mistake. After walking around for a good 40 minutes, I began to feel overwhelmed and a bit stressed out. Everything looked super complicated and, if I’m honest, too much like hard work.
But browsing online since then, I’ve stumbled across some easier approaches and tools reviewers insist are simple to use, and bonus, most are mess and drill free. Score! I started out with stick-on tiles and, hooked by just how easy this kind of DIY is, I’m not looking back.
If you’re a fellow DIY novice, these are some starter products that will make giving your home an upgrade feel far easier and more achievable.
These peel-off tile stickers simply sit on top of your current tiles. They're quick and easy to apply, as well as simple to remove. FYI, they look great as a DIY splashback.
Wallpapering has been dubbed one of those super tricky DIY tasks that you need to be a pro to do. However, with the right wallpaper – like this easy-to-apply (and remove) paper – it can actually be a super simple task.
Get a roll from Amazon for £16.99
Once you get the hang of it, painting can be super therapeutic. For best results, use a combination of rollers and paint brushes and ensure you have plenty of masking tape on hand to protect ceilings, light switches, and floor trips from paint splatters.
Get the set from Amazon for £14.99
Applying sealant does take a little practice (think: the same level of precision as piping a cupcake) but with a steady hand and the right amount of pressure it really is doable.
Get it from Amazon for £7.09 (was £8.24)
Noticed a patch of mould or water staining on your ceiling? This quick, drying spray is just what you need. It works like a dream with one coat covering (and blocking) most damp, mould and other stains. (I used this when my bathroom developed a little black mould problem and it was a game-changer.)
Get it from Amazon for £12.99
Whether your wall has chips, scuffs, cracks, or holes, this repair paste is a godsend. Simply squeeze it out of the nozzle, apply it to the wall, and set in place with the scraper, and your wall will be as good as new. It's really that simple!
Get two from Amazon for £9.59
Sick and tired of greying, stained grout that doesn't seem to sparkle no matter how many times you clean it? I feel your pain on this, but luckily I discovered this cheap-as-chips pen. You literally draw over the grotty grout with this bad boy and it's as good as new.
Get it from Amazon for £4.50 (was £7.98)
For updating your bathroom or kitchen, this stainless steel, rust-proof handrail is the one. Complete with a peel off adhesive strip that can be attached to walls, tiles, glass, or metal surfaces, it's strong and sturdy. Just make sure to leave it for 24 hours after application, before hanging a towel off of it.
Get it from Amazon for £14.99
Been dying to upgrade your floors but can't justify spending hundreds on them? Opt for these ultra simple peel and stick vinyl floor tiles instead. They're easy to cut to size and fit together, and I promise you, the result is absolutely flawless.
For upgrading your kitchen cupboard doors (or any other doors for that matter), these self-adhesive handles are simple to apply and offer a really lovely luxe-looking finish.
Get two from Amazon for £7.99 (was £9.99)
For quick home upgrades, these stick on tiles are the one. Whether you’re redoing your kitchen or bathroom, these durable tiles work wonderfully to refresh and revive the space. All you need to do is peel off the cover, interlock the tiles and stick down.
Get 10 from Amazon for £34.39 (was £40.99)
For adding a little something to your walls, these wall stencils are a game-changer. They're simple and easy to use (just remember to pick up some tape) and create a wonderfully chic finish.
Get it from Amazon for £19.99
Whether you want to update your walls, counter tops or furniture, this sticky back roll of PVC film is ideal. It works on a range of surfaces, and shouldn't cause any damage when used correctly, making it perfect for in rental properties.
Get it from Amazon for £19.99 (was £21.99)
Not quite mastered the art of using a hammer and nails? I feel you on this. Instead, opt for these secure adhesive hanging hooks. They're easy to fix to the wall and are ideal for renters as they won't damage the walls.
Get them from Amazon for £11.99
This article originally appeared on HuffPost UK and has been updated.
16 Small But Mighty Kitchen Gadgets If You’re Strapped For Space And Cash
18 Practical Products You’ve Probably Never Heard Of But Will Change Your Life
Crap At DIY? Here's 15 Foolproof Ways To Spruce Up Your Space
16 Products That Make Cleaning Your Cruddy Home Appliances So Much Easier
‘Though I feel bitter, Abe is not my true enemy’
Around 100 protesters gathered outside Ofgem headquarters in London on Friday urging consumers to withhold payment for “astronomical” energy price hikes they could not afford. The demonstration was promoted by Don’t Pay UK, a grassroots movement describing its aim as “building a mass non-payment strike of energy bills starting on October 1”.
Presidio TrustThey say youth is wasted on the young, but what about a playground with a view? That, after all, is what the youth of San Francisco have been given at the newest major addition to a national park—Presidio Tunnel Tops. Now, every day, hundreds of children will clamber, run, fall, and splash with the Golden Gate Bridge wreathed in fog as a backdrop.I was in San Francisco for the first time since the pandemic to check out a host of things old and new. My home was one of the city’s mor
Drop-off fees have increased at two-thirds of the UK's major airports since 2019, according to research. An RAC investigation found 16 of the 22 airports analysed have introduced or raised charges for dropping off passengers in the past three years. Stansted Airport is the most expensive for so-called kiss-and-fly charges, which are typically levied for dropping off someone as close to the terminal as possible.
Pamela Raith PhotographyWhen Jack Holden was 22, he volunteered at Switchboard, a much-cherished and valued LGBTQ+ information and support line in London. He had already landed his big break, starring in the West End production of War Horse, straight out of drama school. Suddenly, he was a young gay man smack in the heart of London. He wanted to meet people. “I wanted a community,” Holden said. “In some sense it was quite selfish, but I also did want to help.”Ten years later, Holden is back on t
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Adrian Mannarino became the fifth Frenchman to reach the Winston Salem Open final. Mannarino dominated second-seeded Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-4 on Friday. Djere beat Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5).
Ian Happ had the only hits for the Chicago Cubs — just enough to hinder the Milwaukee Brewers' playoff push. Happ hit two two-run homers to account for Chicago's two hits, and the Cubs beat the Brewers 4-3 in 10 innings on Friday night. Happ hit a drive off Matt Bush in the seventh and a tiebreaking shot against All-Star Devin Williams (4-3) in the 10th. Both homers sailed over the right-field wall.
The Prime Minister said the UK would support Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
Foreign Office confirmed it is providing support to her parents
York and North Yorkshire GCSE results day: students show 'great resilience' after disruption of Covid and school closures.
Firefighters were called to deal with a fire on a farm near Thirsk that spread across farm machinery.
Police are considering “legal options” after Pc Amelia Shearer was not immediately fired despite urinating in a York shop fitting room while drunk off-duty and then lying about it.
Sergiu Boianjiu came to the UK after being released early from a 14-year term for murdering his girlfriend and hiding her body in a drainage shaft.
Rebecca Adlington has suffered a "devastating" miscarriage and says she is fighting sepsis after emergency surgery. The former Olympic swimmer shared the heart-breaking news on Instagram, posting a photo showing her lying in a hospital bed holding a cup of tea, with an IV line in the back of her hand. In her message, she said that she and her husband, facility manager Andy Parsons, discovered they had lost their baby during their 12-week scan.
The Swindon sewage treatment works suffered a spillage into the River Ray and all life died in the river Thames from the outfall of the Ray to where the river Cole and the Colne joined together at Lechlade.
‘Radiation disaster’ narrowly avoided, says Zelensky, as one of six reactors ‘reconnected to grid’
According to new research, whether the medication is taken in the morning or the evening does not have an impact on how effective it is.
Martin Lewis shares his frustrations over the delay in government support as he explains the negative impact the rise in energy bills is having on people.Source: Good Morning Britain, ITV
A key fertiliser plant is set to halt its production of CO2.
Bethenny Frankel says she's 'proud' of herself for speaking up after criticising Kardashians.Source: Bethenny Frankel