Toni Trevillion - Diy. On a Budget.: From the founder of the best-loved two-million-member DIY community

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First published in Great Britain in 2022 by Bantam Press

Copyright Toni Trevillion 2022

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologize for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.

Illustrations: Shutterstock and May van Millingen/Illustration X
Design: Bobby Birchall, Bobby&Co
Cover design elements by Diy. On a Budget

ISBN: 978-1-473-59828-7

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Welcome to the DIY OAB handbook! Whether youre a DIY beginner or a bit of an expert, this book is bursting with tips and tricks to help you totally transform your home.

When I started the DIY OAB Facebook group, I had one simple goal: to prove that anyone can achieve a beautiful home on a budget. At the time, I was working as a cleaner on a zero-hours contract, and between feeding the kids and paying the bills, I didnt have the cash to hire tradespeople to help around the house. I decided that if I needed something done, Id have to do it myself, and after a glass (or three) of wine, I tried my hand at wallpapering my very first DIY project. Pretty soon I became a DIY addict, spending every spare second working on the house, sometimes making mistakes, but learning lots and saving even more.

As I continued my DIY journey, I began sharing my projects on the Facebook group, and to my surprise, other people started sharing theirs, too. A year later, I quit my job to focus on the group, and now, with the help of my brilliant community of DIYers, we have over 2 million members!

So here we are. I hope that in these pages you find not only inspiration but also a little bit of empowerment as I always say, if I can do it, so can absolutely anyone! Good luck, and dont forget to let us know how you get on by sharing descriptions and pictures of your projects in the DIY OAB Facebook group.

Toni x

PS Thank you for making my dreams come true you are all amazing!

Before you dive in to your first project, you definitely need to read this section! Whatever youre planning, its so important to consider your budget first. No matter how frugal you may be, its way too easy to get carried away and end up spending extra cash that you could have saved. Everyone has their own budget tips (youll find loads on the DIY OAB group), but these are my absolute non-negotiables:

1. Set a budget and stick to it. If you know what youre working with from the start, its much easier to stay on track, and itll encourage you to think smarter when it comes to paying for materials. Bear in mind that some elements of DIY projects can be expensive, but theyre worth the investment in the long run, particularly items such as wallpaper and curtains that can last for years. Think of value for money when youre budgeting.
2. Work with what youve got. Dont splurge on expensive materials when youve probably got something perfectly usable at home. If you actually stop and think about the things you can reuse, youll find you dont need half the items you thought you did.
3. Do your research. I live by the mantra that theres always a better deal to be had somewhere else. Never pay the first price you find shop around, and make sure you check out online freebie sites, such as Freecycle.
4. Go outside. In an increasingly digital world, its easy to forget that some of the very best deals can be found offline, in charity shops and at local markets, and so many items can be upcycled to suit your style.
5. Use your network. Before you splash out, ask friends and family what they have lying around. Youd be amazed what Ive found in peoples garden sheds!
6. Use everything. In my world, theres no such thing as an offcut. Absolutely anything can be reused. Whether its broken tiles for a mosaic or leftover flooring pieces for a splashback, waste is a definite no-no.
7. Invest wisely. Spend a little extra on tools youll use regularly. Take it from me, a paint brush you can use only once is not a money-saver!

Over the months and years, youll find you end up accumulating all sorts of gear. If this is the start of your DIY journey, however, you may be wondering what basics youll need to tackle your first projects. The following list doesnt contain everything youll ever need for every job, and you wont necessarily need every item listed below, but it gives you a good idea of where to start.

• Tape measure ideally a retractable metal one rather than a cloth one
• Paint brush and roller sets these include a range of sizes to suit every task
• Painters tape or masking tape these are similar, but the former leaves clean lines and is less likely to remove existing paint as you pull it off the wall
• Protective kit including safety gloves, goggles and face mask
• Dust sheets, old bed sheets or old newspaper
• Claw hammer equally handy to hammer in nails as to remove them
• Pliers ideally a locking set
• Screwdriver set with flat- and Phillips-head attachments
• Allen key set
• Adjustable spanner or wrench
• Utility knife
• Decorators caulk and caulking gun
• Spirit level these come in a range of sizes, get one to suit the task in hand
• Stud finder you can either buy a physical one or download an app on your phone
• Power drill with a range of drill bits suitable for use on a variety of materials, such as masonry, wood and plasterboard