Interiors: DIY with a little help…

Holly Cozens explains why there is only so far we can DIY on our own before we call in the big boys

There must be a time in nearly every person’s life where they think that they are capable of some good old DIY, whether it is simply hanging a picture at the perfect height and angle, or constructing a whole new furniture unit to make it look as if it has been masterfully created by a skilled carpenter. Depending on your commitment to the property, or how attached you are to your original deposit, realistically you may want to think twice before trying it yourself.

Go your own way
There is nothing wrong with wanting to shout loud and proud about how you hung your own wallpaper or fitted your lighting with the minimum of difficulty. Putting a little piece of yourself into your home can make you feel all the more connected to it. However, decorating monogamy is not for everyone. There is nothing wrong with bringing in a specialist to help you improve your DIY relationship.
Their involvement can be as limited as giving you tips on how to mount tricky items on walls without risk of hitting a pipe, to taking particularly frustrating tasks off your hands completely. Wouldn’t you rather feel the rush of adrenaline from a perfectly completed light fitting, ready to be the object of discussion at any good dinner party, than from a rather startling shock involving the electrics?

Colour me happy
Dedication, dedication, dedication. Oh, and acute attention to detail. If these, plus patience are your virtues then painting and papering your walls could be fairly stress-free.

It could even be relaxing given a reasonable time scale. But finding yourself strapped for time, or close to ruining every wallpaper roll you excitedly bought in a paste-fueled crumpled mess, you may think about enlisting professional saviours who make DIY look easy.

There is no shame in asking for help, and at the end of the day if longevity is key rather than speed of completion, we would all love to see it done properly. Stick to the things you know, anything more than that is always worth an enquiry.