61 step-by-step guides
DIY & home how-to guides
Fix a loose handle, learn an everyday skill or take on a weekend build. See what you need, how long it takes and how to check the finished result.
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Search by task or filter the list. Hands-on time excludes waiting for things to dry, set or grow.
61 guides
Small repairs
Tighten, adjust or replace everyday fittings with basic tools.
- Beginner10 min
Tighten a loose cabinet handle
Fix a wobbly cupboard or cabinet handle with a hand screwdriver. Find the screws, seat the handle evenly and check for damaged threads.
- Beginner15 min
Adjust a cabinet door that rubs
Realign a cupboard door that rubs by adjusting its concealed hinges. Identify the right screw and even out the gap with small, reversible turns.
- Beginner15 min
Replace felt pads on chair legs
Replace worn felt pads on dining chair legs. Measure the feet, prepare the surface and test that the pads protect the floor without rocking.
- Beginner10 min
Quiet a squeaky interior door hinge
Find and quiet a squeaky interior door hinge. Protect the surrounding finish, apply a small amount of suitable lubricant and check the door swing.
- Beginner15 min
Tighten a loose drawer front
Tighten a loose drawer front with accessible screws. Find which part is moving, support the panel and check the gaps after tightening.
- Beginner15 min
Replace stick-on cupboard door bumpers
Replace worn stick-on cabinet door bumpers. Match their height, clean the contact points and check that the door still closes flush.
- Beginner15 min
Steady a wobbly table with furniture shims
Stop a wobbly table rocking on an uneven floor. Find the foot that lifts, fit a furniture shim and check the table from every corner.
- Beginner15 min
Free a sticking wooden drawer
Free a sticking drawer that slides on bare wooden runners. Find the rubbing point, clear grit and apply a thin layer of paraffin wax.
- Beginner20 min
Replace a missing drawer runner screw
Replace a missing drawer slide screw. Match the original fixing, seat the head flush and test the empty drawer for scraping or misalignment.
- Beginner10 min
Replace a missing cabinet shelf peg
Replace a missing shelf support pin in a cabinet. Match the shaft and support shape, align all four pegs and check for rocking.
- Beginner20 min + curing time
Reattach loose laminate edging
Reattach a short strip of loose laminate edging. Check the board, choose a compatible adhesive and hold the strip flat while it cures.
- Beginner10 min
Refit a loose screw-on broom head
Refit a screw-on broom head that keeps coming loose. Clean and inspect both threads, start the handle squarely and test with short strokes.
- Beginner10 min
Replace a worn rubber doorstop tip
Replace the push-on rubber cap on a fixed doorstop. Match the cap to the fitting and check that the door handle clears the wall.
- Beginner15 min
Replace a broken bath plug chain
Fit a replacement bath plug chain to the existing plug and anchor. Set the length, close the end rings and test with a little water.
- Beginner20 min
Replace a missing picture frame backing tab
Replace a screw-in turn button on a small picture frame. Choose a short screw and check that the tab holds the backing board flat.
- Beginner10 min
Replace a missing zip pull on a bag
Replace a missing zip pull on a bag or suitcase. Check the slider, fit a compatible clip-on pull and test it around the corners.
- Beginner20 min
Patch a small hole in an insect screen
Patch a small tear in a window insect screen. Match the repair kit to the mesh and check for gaps before refitting the screen.
Cleaning
Clean tracks, blinds and removable parts without damaging them.
- Beginner20 min
Clean a sliding window track
Clean grit from a sliding window track from indoors. Brush and vacuum first, wipe the groove and check that the sash travels freely.
- Beginner20 min
Clear hair from a removable vacuum brush roll
Remove hair and thread from a removable vacuum brush roll. Disconnect power, clear tangles and check the roller is seated before testing.
- Beginner20 min
Dust wooden blinds slat by slat
Dust wooden Venetian blinds without soaking the slats. Work from top to bottom, clean both faces and check the maker’s advice for sticky marks.
Laundry
Sort washing, dry delicate knitwear and fold fitted sheets.
- Beginner15 min
Sort a mixed pile of laundry
Sort laundry before washing by reading care labels, separating colours and grouping similar fabrics. Check pockets and the machine’s load limit.
- Beginner10 min + drying time
Dry a wool jumper flat
Dry a washed wool jumper flat. Blot excess water with a towel, reshape the knit and check the cuffs and seams before storing it.
- Beginner10 min
Fold a fitted sheet into a rectangle
Fold a fitted sheet into a neat rectangle. Nest the elastic corners, flatten the edges and size the final folds to your linen shelf.
Home routines
Set up simple systems for paperwork, linen and cupboard food.
- Beginner25 min
Set up a household paperwork tray
Set up a simple household paperwork tray with folders for action, waiting and filing. Add deadlines to a calendar and schedule a regular review.
- Beginner25 min
Make a linen shelf inventory
Organise a linen shelf by bed size and count complete bedding sets. Match sheets and pillowcases, label each stack and keep a short inventory.
- Beginner20 min
Make a pantry use-first basket
Make a use-first basket for cupboard food. Keep date labels visible, follow storage instructions and check the basket when planning meals.
Organisation
Make room for the things you use with dividers, liners and cable storage.
- Beginner30 min
Make cardboard drawer dividers
Make a custom drawer organiser from a cardboard box. Measure the drawer, plan the compartments and cut slots that lock the dividers together.
- Beginner10 min
Make a desk cable holder with binder clips
Keep charging cables from falling behind a desk with a binder clip. Protect the finish, route each cable and leave enough slack for everyday use.
- Beginner20 min
Cut a removable cupboard shelf liner
Measure and cut a non-adhesive liner for a kitchen cupboard. Make room around shelf supports and trim the liner so it lies flat and lifts out.
- Beginner15 min
Make reusable cable ties from hook-and-loop tape
Cut reusable hook-and-loop ties for spare charging and data cables. Size each tie to a loose coil so the connectors stay visible and the cable unrolls easily.
- Beginner20 min
Make a receipt organiser from envelopes
Turn envelopes and a small box into a receipt organiser. Create easy-to-read tabs for returns and warranties and test that slips are quick to find.
Make and mend
Practise basic stitching and reuse fabric or craft scraps.
- Beginner45 min
Make a fabric draught excluder
Sew a fabric draught excluder from scraps. Measure the door gap, make a tube, fill it evenly and check how it sits along the floor.
- Beginner20 min
Make a cork coaster
Make a cork coaster from a craft sheet and a round lid. Trace the right size, trim the edge and test the mug on a level surface.
- Beginner25 min
Make a stitched felt bookmark
Make a thin felt bookmark with a hand-stitched border. Size it to the book, practise a running stitch and finish the thread so it stays flat.
- Beginner25 min
Mend a small open seam by hand
Mend a split seam on a woven garment by hand. Align the original stitch line and overlap the intact stitches with a short row of backstitch.
- Beginner35 min
Make a no-sew tote from a T-shirt
Make a no-sew tote bag from an old T-shirt. Cut wide handles, tie the bottom fringe and check the knots before carrying light items.
Paper crafts
Fold a gift bag or book cover, or stitch a small notebook.
- Beginner20 min
Make a gift bag from wrapping paper
Fold a flat-bottomed gift bag from wrapping paper. Size it around a lightweight gift, tape the seams and test the base before lifting.
- Beginner30 min
Make a small stitched notebook
Bind a pocket notebook from folded scrap paper using a three-hole pamphlet stitch. Mark the holes, sew the spine and tie off the thread inside.
- Beginner20 min
Cover a book with a paper bag
Make a removable hardback book cover from a paper shopping bag. Fold pockets for both boards and leave enough room for the spine to move.
Growing
Pot herbs, label seedlings and propagate plants at home.
- Beginner20 min
Pot a windowsill herb
Repot a nursery-grown herb for a windowsill. Choose a pot with drainage, keep the root ball at the right depth and settle it in with a first watering.
- Beginner15 min + rooting time
Propagate a spider plant pup in soil
Propagate a spider plant pup in soil while it is attached to the parent. Set up a second pot, hold the pup in place and check when it has rooted.
- Beginner20 min + growing time
Sow pea shoots in a shallow tray
Grow pea shoots in a shallow windowsill tray. Choose seeds sold for edible shoots, water from below and harvest the tops above the compost.
- Beginner15 min
Make reusable plant labels from yoghurt pots
Cut reusable seedling labels from a clean yoghurt pot. Shape smooth markers and test that your writing stays readable after watering.
- Beginner15 min + rooting time
Root a coleus cutting in water
Propagate coleus from a stem cutting in water. Cut below a leaf node, watch for roots and transfer the cutting to a small pot.
Advanced projects
Plan longer builds, work from cut lists and tackle more involved sewing and furniture repairs.
- Advanced2–3 hours + curing time
Build a wooden monitor riser
Build a wooden monitor riser with a keyboard opening and a rear brace. Size the platform to your monitor, work from a cut list and test it under load.
- Advanced3–4 hours + curing time
Build a wooden book crate
Build a low plywood book crate with a square base and reinforced corners. Use the worked cut-list example to size it for your own books.
- Advanced3 hours
Make a removable window insect screen
Make a removable insect screen with an aluminium frame kit, mesh and spline. Measure the window, square the frame and tension the mesh evenly.
- Advanced2–3 hours
Reupholster a drop-in chair seat
Recover a removable dining chair seat with fresh fabric. Use the old cover as a pattern, staple opposite sides and refit the seat securely.
- Advanced3 hours
Build a tabletop display stand
Build a braced two-tier display stand for lightweight objects. Plan shelf heights, mark matching side supports and check stability before use.
- Advanced2–3 hours
Build a slatted rack for a boot tray
Build a removable wooden boot tray insert. Measure the tray at its base, space slats for drainage and fasten them to low support rails.
- Advanced3–4 hours
Build a timber planter box for nursery pots
Build a timber planter cover around nursery pots and a drip tray. Size the panels, support the base and check the fit with the pots in place.
- Advanced2–3 hours
Make a freestanding trellis for a large pot
Build a timber trellis sized to a large pot. Match the stakes to the pot, brace the crosspieces and tie in a lightweight climbing plant.
- Advanced3–4 hours
Sew a removable box cushion cover
Sew a fitted box cushion cover with a side band and an envelope opening. Draft a pattern from the foam dimensions and align all four corners.
- Advanced2–3 hours
Sew a lined drawstring storage bag
Sew a lined drawstring storage bag with a buttonhole casing. Cut matching panels, join the lining and thread the cord through the finished rim.
- Advanced3 hours
Make a removable bench cushion
Make a removable bench cushion from a paper template, upholstery foam and an envelope cover. Check clearance around arms and hinges before cutting.
- Advanced2–3 hours
Replace a sagging wooden drawer bottom
Replace a sagging drawer bottom that slides into grooves. Match panel thickness, measure the grooves and test the drawer before reloading it.
- Advanced1–2 hours + curing time
Reglue a loose wooden drawer joint
Reglue a loose wooden drawer corner. Dry-fit the old joint, check both diagonals while clamping and test the drawer after the glue cures.
- Advanced2 hours + drying time
Fit a cabinet handle with different hole spacing
Fit a cabinet handle with a new screw spacing. Make a drilling template, support the front to reduce breakout and fill the unused holes.
- Advanced3–4 hours + curing time
Build an open wooden tool tote
Build an open wooden tool tote sized around your hand tools. Drill matching handle holes, assemble the box and test the joints before carrying it.
- Advanced3 hours
Build a freestanding desktop pegboard organiser
Make a freestanding pegboard organiser for a desk. Build in rear clearance for hooks, brace the feet and test it with lightweight items.