The New Year has arrived, and for millions of Brits across the UK, it’s time to get planning home improvements for 2025.Â
It can be overwhelming to know where to start, and the multitude of ideas on social media and interior design platforms can make it even more confusing. Once you have decided on your new decor, it can be difficult to know how to achieve that desired effect. But now an expert from MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, has come to the rescue – advising on the best methods of achieving these must-have styles.
Renovations expert Andy Simms, from MyBuilder.com, said that while some trends can be done yourself, others require a professional for the best finish.
“Jobs such as painting walls can be done yourself, but if you’re after a guaranteed high-end finish, then you’re probably better to get a professional in. While it can seem like a good idea to DIY, if you do the job wrong then you’ll end up redoing it or stuck with a finish you don’t like.
“Our tips are designed to let you know how to achieve the best results of these new trends, and one that you will hopefully love for many years to come.”
Here’s three hot trends for 2025 – and MyBuilder.com show you how to achieve them.
Colour drenching
Colour drenching involves using your colour across walls and ceilings to maximise the impact and create the illusion of a bigger space – doors, radiators, and even furniture won’t escape the paint job if you want the full effect. Brown, terracotta, beige – once the preserve of the 70s, earthy colours have been slowly gaining popularity. Similarly, bold greens and blues are also making a return, with the intention of colour drenching rooms.
How to do it
Preparation is key to achieving a good result with paint. If you’re planning on colour drenching, you’ll have to consider different surfaces and how they need to be prepped for painting. The order of painting is also essential – start with the ceilings, before starting on your walls and finishing with the woodwork. Radiators and furniture, if applicable, can be finished last. Make sure your surfaces are well prepared – and this means filling, sanding, and cleaning with a mild detergent before you start to paint. Priming is essential for all of your surfaces if you want an even finish, whether that be walls, skirting boards, or metalwork. Once your priming coat is completely dry, make sure you have selected a suitable paint and apply a minimum of two coats. Many popular brands now offer multi-surface paints which is great for this trend – but make sure you check.
Statement wallpaper
For many years, wallpaper has divided designers, with some loving it and others preferring painted walls. 2025 will see a resurgence of wallpaper, and the bolder the better. For small spaces, such as downstairs loos or studies, choose a bold print and ignore any concerns about making the space look smaller. For larger spaces, consider a stunning mural theme, which will make you feel like you’re living in a piece of art and won’t minimise space.
How to do it
Wallpapering may sound simple, but it’s actually a really hard job to do well – especially with a bold print. Before you even get to the wallpaper, you need to prepare your walls. If they are painted in a dark colour, you may need to repaint them first to ensure it doesn’t come through your wallpaper. Once this is done, you should wait a few days to make sure the paint is fully dry and set. You also need to check for any lumps and bumps or holes, and if necessary sand them down or fill them in to create a smooth surface for papering. You’ll also need to remove or loosen any lightswitches or fittings that are in the way, and tape over any sockets. When this part of the prep is completed, you can plan your papering method. This should include using the roll and measuring along the wall several times to identify where all strips of roll paper will go, helping to prevent being left with a very small strip at the end Many use “plumb lines” (straight lines created with a pencil and a spirit level) drawn on the wall to mark where your first roll of paper will be hung, and ensure straightness of subsequent panels. Ensure your first strip of paper is not full width, this leaves excess to cut off so that if the corner of the room is not straight, it can be cut to match. Measure the wall and the wallpaper, and cut it to size – it’s best to leave a few inches at the bottom and top to trim off later. Now, you can apply paste or glue (if the wallpaper is not self adhesive) and begin papering, beginning on the left hand side and moving to the right. Align the edges carefully before smoothing out any air bubbles from top to bottom with a smoothing tool. Trim off top and bottom edges and carefully finish around electrical fixtures – leave excess paper to be tucked in behind fittings.
Broken plan living
Open plan living has been popular for over a decade now, but while it hasn’t quite had its day, many are returning to smaller, functional spaces – with a twist. “Broken plan” is when a bigger space is cut into various parts using screens, archways, crittal-style windows and doors or textured glass.
How to do it
While building archways or glass walls might be a job for a professional, other broken plan ideas can be done yourself. Open shelving is one way you can achieve a partition effect. Once you have chosen a position for your shelving, you need to attach it to the wall. To do so, first you need to find the wall studs where you want to place the shelving unit. Position the shelving brackets on the wall, marking the screw holes where they will align with the studs. Drill small holes in the correct position and then screw the brackets into the wall. You might want to use rawl plugs for a better fit. This method also works for a screen should you wish to attach it to a wall, with hinges for ease.
Featured Photo by Brian Babb on Unsplash.