Tik Tok and Instagram are awash with interior trends. Getting a professional to do the job or buying products online or in-store can cost a pretty penny, but if you’re crafty, creative and not shy of a bit of DIY, you could save hundreds of pounds by giving some of these trends a go yourself.
Insulation Express has looked at 4 of the latest interior trends and worked out how much it might cost you to get the job done professionally or buy the products outright, versus how much it might set you back to do it yourself. We’ve also dropped in some easy how-to tips to get you started.
Add The Dried Pampas Grass Trend To Your Home For Free!
In case you didn’t know, dried pampas is a kind of white, feathery grass. You might be surprised to learn that it was once very popular in gardens across the nation, but it fell out of favour after rumours spread that it was being used as a secret signal to indicate you were a swinger. Oo er!
It’s now having a bit of a revival in interior trend circles, with a 285% increase in search trend over the past year alone. Available through stores like John Lewis and through Amazon and Etsy, dried pampas grass is now being sold for anything between £10 to £40, depending on the length and amount you buy.
But why buy something when you can get it for free? Pampas grass is overgrown in certain areas, so you can pick some wild and dry it out yourself at home. Sustainable and budget-friendly! Just make sure you’re not picking from areas where it has been planted to help with conservation, such as South Tyneside, where it has been used along the coastline to prevent erosion of the dunes.
If you really want to be sustainable in your efforts, why not buy pampas grass seeds for as little as £2.00 and grow your own?
Here’s how to dry out pampas grass in 3 simple steps.
Create Dried Pampas in 3 Simple Steps
- Cut the stems low down on as you require and trim the foliage on the stems so that you have a nice clean area, which helps them dry out
- Tie together the stems and hang them upside down somewhere warm but ventilated, so the air can circulate around them. Leave for 2-3 weeks.
- Use hairspray to help prevent shedding. After giving them a shake to dislodge any loose bits, spray generously over the plumes and add to a vase where they can be displayed.
Revamp A Tiled Floor With Stencilling For As Little As £25
If you’re looking to revamp the floor of a kitchen or bathroom, then re-tiling is a pretty big job. It’s no wonder people pay to have an expert do that for them according to job-prices.co.uk, it can cost anywhere from £450 - £750 on average.
However, if you’re not shy of a bit of DIY then floor stencilling may be the way to achieve a brand new look at a mere fraction of the price. An interior trend that's a little like art attack!
You can buy stencils online for as little as £7.50, or if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can create your own with sheets of Mylar, available in packs of 10 for around £7.30. Once you have your stencil, you just need to prepare your tiles and paint them.
5 Steps to Floor Stencilling
- Sand the tiles to smooth over the surface and make the area more receptive to the paint - otherwise, it might flake off or not last as long. Then clean over thoroughly with a stripper.
- It’s best to prime the area, but we found this ceramic paint that is a primer and paint in one.
- Once that first coat is completely dry, tape or hold down your stencil over a tile and use a small roller to cover the stencilled area with your other colour or colours of paint. Remove the stencil before the paint starts drying so that it doesn’t come off when you peel the stencil away.
- Clean the stencil and move onto the next tile.
- Once the room is complete, cover it with an appropriate sealant.
Pot Your Pampas For Up To 80% Less
If you want something to work on while you’re waiting for your pampas to dry, then creating your own ceramic pot or vase to put them in could be just the thing.
High end, instagrammable vases or pots can be quite expensive, but you can buy or even make your own chalk paint and cover any pot or vase to create an on-trend vessel for your dried or fresh flowers. Here’s how to do it.
- A small tin of chalk paint costs around £5 and should be enough to cover most pots or vases. If you’ve got some old wall paint still hanging around though, you can add 1 tbsp of baking powder to it and it will dissolve and “fluff” up your pain, giving it that chalky texture.
- Paint your vase - a foam brush will give it a smoother appearance, a bristle brush will give it more texture.
- Wait till it’s dried and give it another coat.
TOP TIP: The paint dries quickly, so make a small batch in a separate tub as you need.
How to create wood panelling in any room and save at least £228
1.Measure and prepare
Design what you want your wall to look like first. Instagram is great for inspiration. Then measure your wall for the full width and height.
2. Measure again
Experts will always recommend measuring at least twice to check you’ve recorded them correctly.
3. Decide how many panels you want
Some people go for the full wall, others prefer a half wall. Whichever you choose, don’t forget to account for the frame across the top and bottom, as well as vertical and horizontal panels. Work out the distance you want between each panel. This will determine how many panels you need.
4. Cut Your Panels
Some DIY stores may cut your panels to size for you. If not, use a mitre box and saw to cut at a 90° degree angle. Lightly sand the edges so they are smooth.
5. Sand Your Walls
Prepare your walls before attaching panels by sanding them down as smoothly as you can. This will rid the wall of any lumps and bumps that might show through or make the panels uneven.
6. Apply The Panels
Now’s the time to start adding the panels to your wall. Benign with the frame, adding the base panels and then the top ones. Ensure the panels are straight. Laser levels are good for this. Now apply a strong adhesive to both the back of the panel and to the wall. Press firmly together and let dry.
Continue adding vertical panels first, then the horizontal ones.
For added security, you can also use nails to attach them to the wall.
7. Fill In Gaps
Don’t worry if there are some minor cracks, gaps or holes. Just go over them with decorators caulk. If you find you’re a tiny bit short on any of your panels, fill with Polyfilla and then sand to create a seamless join.
Sand everything down to create a smooth finish.
8. Paint Your Wall
Make sure everything has fully dried and set before painting. Choose your colour and off you go! On-trend colours for the home this spring and summer, are likely to be a combination of neutral, warm, calming colours, but there’s also been a movement towards botanical colours and a 60s Miami vibe. Shades of pink, greens and greys are popular.
For more ideas on revamping areas of your home, check out our blog.
