4 easy DIY jobs you can do to spruce up your home in a weekend

Self-isolation and social distancing means a lot of Australians are spending more time at home and trying their hand at a bit of DIY.

It's no surprise people are turning to odd jobs and small renovation projects to make their home feel more homey. But if you're not sure where to start, there are a few easy jobs you can do in a weekend, or even in a few hours, at home.

Experts from the tools brand Trojan have shared four easy DIY jobs you can do now or over the Easter long weekend to spruce up your home — while leaving you with time to relax too.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a handy person around the home you'll already have a lot of what you need for these projects, but everything else can be picked up from your local hardware store.

Installing a new letterbox (30 minutes)

What you need

• Spanner
• Trojan Individual Hand Held Screwdriver
• Spade
• Concrete
• Spirit level
• Letterbox

A quick way to refresh your façade is installing a new letterbox. You can buy a new letterbox from your local hardware store along with everything else you need. If your mailbox is secured to a cement base, you will need to attach legs or posts using your spanner and screwdriver.

Using your spade, dig out a level area of at least 40mm for your letterbox to sit in. Pour concrete into the hole and push the mailbox into the concrete. Use your spirit level to check if it is installed correctly and then leave it to dry.

Install floating shelves (1 hour)

What you need

• Trojan 100mm Scraper
• Stud finder
• Electronic wire and pipe detector
• Brackets
• Tape measure
• Spirit level
• Pencil
• Drill
• Shelves
• Trojan Individual Hand Held Screwdriver
• Screws
• Hammer

Floating shelves are stylish space-savers and surprisingly easy to install. First remove any flaky or cracked paint from the wall with the scraper. Before you get into the job, consider the weight of the shelf and weight of each item you intend to place on top.

For denser shelving, use a stud finder to see if there's stud in the area you want to hang the shelf. The lowest shelf should be at least 90cm from the floor and there needs to be at least 30cm in-between shelves. Use an electronic detector to check the wall area is free of hidden pipes or cables.

Place the first bracket against the wall and ensure it's even with a spirit level. Mark the fixed spots with a pencil, then drill these holes into the wall and screw the brackets into place with the screwdriver. Slide the shelf onto the bracket to make sure it's level and fix into place with small screws.

Refresh your walls with paint (40 minutes – 1 hour per coat)

What you need

• Trojan 6 in 1 Multi-Scraper
• Trojan Medium Paint Mixer
• Paint rollers
• Tray
• Paint
• Trojan Brush & Roller Cleaner

Freshly-painted walls are one of the cheapest investments in improving the look and feel of a property. Embrace a pop of colour with an accent wall in your living room or make a statement with a painted ceiling, there are plenty of options.

Before painting, remove any flaking paint, nails, silicone or loose material with the multi-scraper. Mix paint thoroughly with paint mixer to improve the colour and consistency of the finish. Push your roller forward on the tray and make sure the paint is spread evenly then proceed to roll across the wall.

When you've painted a section of 3-4 metres, place a clean roller at the top left corner and roll straight down the wall and across the entire area with no pressure. This process is known as laying-off and will give the wall a smooth finish. Finally, remove paint residue from rollers with the Trojan Brush & Roller Cleaner.

Transform a kitchen countertop with faux granite counters (2-4 hours)

What you need

• Trojan 220 Grit Sponge
• Primer
• Black paint
• Trojan Medium Paint Mixer
• Sponges
• Glitter
• Polycrylic sealer

You don't need to rip up your kitchen countertops to give them a new look. Another DIY you can do is revive the appearance of your countertops with a faux granite look.

Start by sanding down the countertops with a grit sponge and wipe off extra debris and dust. Prepare the counters with primer — this may require two coats.

Mix black paint and primer (with the Trojan Medium Paint Mixer) to create a few different shades of grey. Using a sponge, dab the counter with the darkest shade first then slowly move onto the lighter shades. Do touch-ups for any areas where more colour is needed.

To make the countertop resemble actual stone, sprinkle a bit of glitter on the surface while the paint is wet. Finally coat the counters with polycrylic sealer.