FIX IT YOURSELF 10 easy DIY skills

From the creative to practical, these DIY jobs are the ones everyone should have up their sleeves

- Sophie Demetriades

It can be tempting to resort to calling the plumber to fix leaky taps or bring in the decorators when you need to repaint a room. But with the right advice to hand, you can achieve a professional finish without their help and save a few pounds in the process. So, we listed our top ten DIYs we'd love to feel confident doing ourselves and chatted to experts in the industry who have shared their trusted advice. From hanging shelves to bleeding radiators, dust off your tool bag ready for your next DIY project.

Put up a shelf

According to Scott Godfrey, expert carpenter at Black Hammer, the key to hanging shelving is taking your time to get the measurements spot on: 'If you get the measurements wrong, you'll end up with a shelf that's slightly off, and you'll notice it every time you walk past. Take your time with the tape measure and double-check before you drill.' Make sure you have the right equipment to hand too, including brackets that can handle the weight, wall plugs, screws, a drill and the right drill bits, spirit level, tape measure and a screwdriver or drill driver. If you're working on plasterboard, you'll also need a stud finder.

Hang your own blinds

From Roman to Venetian blinds, there are several types of window dressings you can install in your home, but roller blinds are one of the most straightforward. Begin by marking where you want the two brackets to sit on your wall or window recess with a pencil, then drill the holes before securing them using rawlplugs and fixings which are suitable for your wall type. Next, measure the distance between your two brackets and purchase a blind that fits your space before slotting it onto the brackets. Some blinds can be cut to size, but if you want to skip this step then make sure you check the packaging before you buy.