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The bathroom is a place in which many of us spend quite a lot of time. From getting ready for work in the morning, to washing away the cares of the day before bedtime, it plays an important role in our daily routine. Yet some of us are still living with outdated, ugly looking bathrooms. We may not even realise the effect that waking up to an ugly bathroom is having on our overall mood. But never fear – there are lots of different ways to update and improve the look of your bathroom, giving it a fresh, modern look which you’ll be able to enjoy, every day.

Step One: Deep Clean
We all clean our bathrooms, but how many of us get to those really stubborn spots? Places like behind the toilet and underneath the rim of the sink are prime places for dirt to collect. Before modernising your bathroom, make sure you get into all of those hard-to-reach places with a good, bleach-based bathroom cleaner.

Step Two: Wash the Windows
Windows let light into our home, and dirty windows will prevent this from happening. To modernise and freshen up your bathroom, you should make good use of natural light by allowing as much to come in as possible.

Step Three: Replace Old Flooring
Like it or not, bathroom floors are a prime place for germs to collect, and, unless your bathroom floor is perfectly tiled and easy to keep clean, you may wish to consider replacing your bathroom floor every few years. Laminate flooring is an inexpensive option and incredibly easy to lay. Not only that, but it will give your bathroom an ultra modern look.

Step Four: It’s All About Accessories
Modern bathroom design is all about accessorising. Bathrooms often end up being strewn with towels, soaps, toothbrushes etc., and if you can manage to co-ordinate these items your bathroom will look ten times better. Match your towels to your bath mat and, if you have one, shower curtain.

Step Five: Lighting
Lighting can make all the difference to your bathroom, so make sure your bathroom is lit as well as possible by installing a mixture of spotlights, downlights and even illuminated mirrors & bathroom cabinets. Not only should your bathroom lighting make your bathroom look great, but it should also make you look great. For extra points, install a dimmer switch so you can create a romantic atmosphere for those cosy evenings in.

Step Six: Storage Solutions
As mentioned above, bathrooms have a habit of getting messy. And if there’s more than two people in the house, this mess can sometimes get out of control. This is where great bathroom storage comes in. Modern bathrooms tend to integrate storage into the overall design layout, sinking sinks into cupboards and hiding cabinets behind sleek, sliding mirrors.

Step Seven: Keep it Simple
This is less of a step, and more of an injunction. If you want to make your bathroom look as modern as possible, it’s best to keep your design simple. Decals on tiles are dated, as are floral wallpapers, and too many colours will make your bathroom look agitated and over-busy. If you want to incorporate colour into your bathroom, do so in a way which won’t dominate the room. Soft colours can be used throughout, as long as they are complimentary, but bold colours should only be used as accents or features. And anything which can be put away, should be. Linens, towels, bottles, lotions, medicines – all of these things will make your bathroom look cluttered if left lying around. So make sure your bathroom storage is adequate, and make sure you have a good clean out on a regular basis.

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With summer just around the corner, many of you may already have begun your garden renovation projects. In fact, the intermittent good weather has meant that the past few weeks have been a great time to perform some basic tasks, such as weeding, mowing the lawn and replenishing your flower beds.

But gardens aren’t just there to look pretty; they’re also there to be put to good use. Well kept gardens are a great place to spend time in, whether you’re playing outside, relaxing in the sun or hosting a fun get-together for friends and family.

Perfecting Your Outdoor Space
Ideally, your garden will be able to perform many functions. This is why planning is essential when designing the look of your garden, in order to fully maximise the available space and light.

If you’ve got entertaining in mind, you may wish to consider allocating a section of your garden specifically for that purpose. Some people lay flagging, others use pebbles. But if you really want to impress, a well built deck will be a great addition to your garden.

How to Build a Deck
Building a deck is easier than it sounds. Begin by measuring your space and draw a plan of the area, to account for any obstacles. You can use this plan to calculate the area of your deck, so you will know exactly how much decking you will need to buy. At this stage, you should make sure you are wearing the right protective gear, e.g. gloves.

• Your ground can be prepared by clearing all vegetation and laying a deck fabric. The framework for your deck should be laid onto concrete slabs, so use a level to make sure they’re level.
• Build your framework from the outside in, fixing the joists together with rustproof screws. If your deck is against your house, you may wish to secure it to an outside wall. Long joists fill the outer framework, spaced at regular intervals, and short boards can be used to strengthen the frame.
• Lay your decking boards at a right angle to your house. Doing so will make your garden seem longer. Use stainless steel screws to prevent rust and staining, and fix the ends of your boards first.
• Voila! You are now ready to entertain guests on your beautiful, hand-built wooden deck. Install some rattan outdoor furniture for your guests’ comfort, and don’t forget the Pimms!

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Shutters are a lovely way to dress your window, but contrary to popular belief, they are relatively easy to fit. So whether you fancy a dark wood European style or a white Caribbean look, then don’t hesitate to get started. Most shutters come with a frame and the shutters themselves, so you are able to choose where they are positioned.

Measuring
First you should divide your window into thirds vertically and measure along each of those points. Record whichever measurement is the smallest. Do the same horizontally, remembering to record the smallest measurement. This is to make sure that the frame fits within the window. Any gaps can be filled in with decorator’s caulk. Use these measurements to order your shutters.

If you wish to have a divider rail or a split in your shutters, then make sure that you measure to the right location.

If your shutters are to be placed externally rather than in the interior, then the measurement procedure is the same, but should be between the window surrounds.

Fitting
If you have opted to save money and do the fitting yourself, then when you receive your shutters, you should make sure that everything that should be included in the package is. Usually included are the pieces of frame, the shutters and the appropriate hardware. You should also read the instructions fully before you start.

The Frame
If the frame is not already constructed, then you should lay out the frame as how it should look when assembled. They may be labelled, but you should be able to figure out which piece goes where if you compare it to the window. If you’ve opted for a cafe style frame, it is common to have three pieces in the frame instead of four.

Fit the frame temporarily and mark where you are to drill holes. If you have measured it well, then the frame should hold. If the holes in the frame are big enough, you’ll be able to drill with the frame still in place and secure the frame as you go. Making sure that the frame is square and level with a spirit level or plumb bob at every step will prevent problems later on too.

The Shutters
The hinges can be the hardest part of fitting shutters and ideally would require another person. Some shutter panels and frames will have the appropriate part of the hinge already attached and all you have to do is to drop the hinge pin in and secure the hinge. Others you may have to line them up and attach them yourselves. It may be a long process of small adjustments before you get it exactly right, however, when your shutter panels hang right it will all be worth it.

Finishing Touches
Decorators’ caulk is not only good for filling in any gaps that there might be between the wall and the frame, but also covers up screw holes and screw heads.

If you’ve realised that fitting a shutter may not be that difficult after all, then check out Niche Blinds who offer a wide range of blinds, awnings and curtains as well as shutters.

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Through many years of use, it’s easy to see how the door gasket or seal on your washing machine can eventually wear out. This can cause a variety of problems, most notably the potential for the machine to leak when it’s running a cycle. This could be a major problem for both the appliance and wherever it is stored. Most spaces are not waterproof, meaning the leaking water could damage the floor or kitchen units. For this reason, if you find that your door seal is beginning to look as though it might be wearing out, or it has already started to lose its watertight qualities, then you should certainly think about replacement.

Fortunately, replacing the gasket on most washing machines isn’t a particularly tough DIY job; it requires minimal tools, and is generally straightforward. Companies such as Easy Spares are your best bet for finding the right seal for your appliance. You need to ensure a snug fit, or you’ll continue to suffer problems.

Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1
The first thing to do, as with just about any job that involves some form of electrics, is to ensure that the power supply to the washing machine is off. This is primarily a safety measure, as it is never safe to work with plumbed-in appliances when they are also connected to a supply of electricity. You also won’t have the problem of any warning beeps while working on the unit.

Step 2
Turning off the water system is the next thing to do. Again this is a safety measure, but it will also ensure that nothing gets wet inadvertently. All you need to do is turn the main tap off, wherever that might be in your home.

Step 3
It’s important to have a good look at what you’re working with before you dive in and tear off the old gasket. Find out how it is held on and where, and then gather together any tools that you think will be useful in getting it off. There are several extras that you might encounter, including clips and tensioners.

Step 4
When actually removing the seal, undo the outer clamp first. You may or may not need to slacken off any tension bands, and detach clips. You’ll probably need a flat headed screwdriver to ease off the clamp, but be careful not to break anything.

Step 5
Now it’s time to remove the inner clamp. This is the one that attaches the gasket to the drum. Again, there may be clips to undo, but somewhere there’ll be a clamp that needs taking off.
Step 6

With all clamps, clips and tensioners free, it’s time to take off the old seal. It shouldn’t be too difficult to prize it away from its mountings and grooves by hand. Be careful if you use a tool to do this; it’s not always easy to see what you’re doing unless you feel with your hands, and a tool could potentially cause harm or damage the machine. Be aware that there could even be water inside the seal.

Step 7
The final job is of course to attach the new door seal. This bit can be tricky, as some gaskets will have a tighter fit than others, especially if they don’t come with a tension adjustment. Once it’s in place, work round with your hands, fitting the seal into the groove. Ensure that all clamps fit tightly, and that everything is snug in place. It’s a good idea to double check that you’ve done everything correctly before running the machine again.

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Can you help us hit the Million?

We are getting so close to a million views on You Tube, and we would love to hit the big one by the end of the month, so we are encouraging all our users to go to our channel and browse through all the fantastic videos we have been uploading to entertain educate and review.

UPDATE – we did hit 1 Million views on 28th April 2013 – thanks to everyone involved!

Please visit our You Tube Channel to see the following 10 most popular videos, you can click on the video or the link at the bottom of this page.

Hanging a door in minutes 127,417 views
If you haven’t got time to hang around and you need to know how to hang a door then this video is ideal for anyone who is pressed for time.

Easter Bunnies – DIY Hopping Easter Bunnies 120,165 views
Just a bit of fun really but this shows you what you can get done with a free afternoon and some spare timber!

Karcher K2 300 Pressure Washer Product Review 57,214 views
This looks at the pros and cons of this pressure washer, we also have lots of other product reviews and instructional videos on the channel.

DIY Christmas Tree from DIY Doctor 53,335 views
More fun, more spare timber (and other bits and bobs).

Mixing Cement and Concrete with a Cement Mixer 48,297 views
Just as the title describes really this goes through the process of Mixing cement and Concrete.

This is one of the most common projects our users tell us they need help with, which is why we did the video. We are always pleased to get your suggestions on what we should film next.

How to Lay a Path 32,253 views
This is a weekend project that is very popular, and we also have a project page on the main website with lots of useful information including tips and tricks when laying a path.

Mag, Mig and Arc Welding How To Tips and Information 30,831 views
This needs a bit of specialist equipment but can be easily mastered with a bit of patience. Safety is paramount here so do follow the safety advice.

Nilfisk C110 Pressure Washer Product Review 26,016 views
Another one in the ever popular product review range, if you have suggestions for what products you want to see reviewed please leave a comment here on our blog.

Hard Water Solutions from Eddy Water Descalers 23,808 views
Hard water affects about two thirds of the population, and this details an easy system to soften your water.

How to Use a Laser Level 22,960 views
We have lots of ‘How To’ videos on our You Tube channel some of the for specific tools and some for DIY and Home improvement jobs, why not start with this one and see what else we have that might interest you?

Please visit our You Tube Channel to check out all our video offerings

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