All images in the post are courtesy of Holly Keeling, from Holly Keeling Interiors

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been approaching builders and interior designers from across the country to ask for some helpful DIY tips for people who are renovating their home. Here are some tips from the people kind enough to reply.

Gayle from Greenstone Design says Use colour to enhance the mood of a space, indoors or out. Choose a colour from a favourite flower in the garden or painting on the wall and coordinate the space around that colour. A Greenstone Design sensory, or wellness, garden uses colour to stimulate and support mood and well being.

Hillplan Building gives us 2 great tips.

1. Before re-skimming (in plaster) walls that have been stripped of paper or paint apply a coat of watered down PVA to seal the walls it helps adhesion and stops cracks.
2. Before painting new plastered walls apply what a professional decorator would call a miss coat, water down your chosen color or white emulsion and roll on it gives a deeper finish to walls and ceilings.

Style My House advises you to ensure that when you decorate you have thought the whole house through as one – so keep the ceilings and woodwork the same throughout for unity, and use a similar tone paint in each room. They can of course be different colours but if you keep the tone similar then the rooms will flow really well and feel like the house has been really well thought out.

The Sacred Space Company kindly gives us 4 tips.

1. Always seek advice on the work you are planning to ascertain whether planning permission or building regulation approvals are required

2. Never remove walls without first seeking professional advice to ensure they are not load bearing

3. Always ensure that electrics and heating works are carried out by qualified and certified trades people

4. Ensure that you invest enough time at the design stage, as rushing in will inevitably cost you more money in the long run.

NS Interiors tells you to Plan your budget before you buy. Cheap is not the best option as it generally wont last so don’t save money on fittings, taps, kitchens and bathrooms. go for mid range if on a tight budget, as quality is important. You can make savings by doing it yourself, and it will last for years.

Finally, Cromptons Interiors advises you to Always line and interline your curtains for extra insulation. You will be amazed by how much warmer your rooms are (and will save you money on your energy bills).

Thanks to all the kind design and building companies for giving us their expert tips – hopefully we’ll be back next week with more, so if you have any tips for us, please comment below.