DIY - DIY Projects, home renovations, home improvements, MSN Homes NZ

Make MSN NZ your homepage

Outlook.com

Rugs add comfort and ambiance

Our home improvement section is where you'll find step-by-step DIY projects, craft and decorating ideas, home repair guides, house painting tips and much more.

DIY PROJECT

Remake your dresser

Here are nine easy ways to give your dresser a makeover with just a bit of sandpaper and a lick of paint.

CRAFT AND DECORATING PROJECTS

Bike rack shelf

We take you through the step-by-step process of creating this cool bike rack shelf

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Paint techniques

For something a little different, try one of these paint techniques

Editor's picks

All change on the home frontYou may not realise it, but the layout of your home makes a big difference to how you use it and how much you enjoy living there.

Individualising your furnitureIkea-Hackers have nothing to do with internet safety. They literally hack Ikea furniture into pieces and turn it into something unique.

Decorating with brightsIf you want to introduce a jolt of fluro or just a bit of punchy colour, try these tips.

Interior designer secretsBefore you start decorating consider these interior design tips to help improve the feel and look of a room.

Most popular stories

Build a timber deck

Materials

Timber piles 125 x 125 H5 treated Radiata Concrete, Easicrete, or cement and builder's mix Bearer: 100 x 100 H3.2 M/G No.1 Stringer: 150 x 50 H3.2 M/G No.1 Joists: 150 x 50 H3.2 M/G No.1 (@ 450mm centre to centre for 100 x 40 decking; @ 400mm centre to centre for 100 x 25 decking) Decking: 100 x 40 or 100 x 25 Griptread Nails: Galvanised 100mm and "U" shaped nails. Galvanised strap Nails: Flathead 30mm Bolts: M12 diameter galvanised or stainless steel

Tools

Hammer Sledge Hammer Stringline Spirit level/stringline spirit level Tape measure, square and pencil Spade Chisel Circular saw or handsaw Electric drill and drill bits Adjustable wrench Handy woman: Wine rack

Materials

Paintbrush & paint 16mm dowel: 36 pieces of 18cm length. A hardware store can cut these for you. Pencil, tape measure, eraser Timber panel: 1m x 72cm Drill, portable drill guide & 16mm viper head drill bit Drill bits: 15mm & 35mm Aluminium angle capping Screws: 15mm & 35mm Medium sandpaper (80-grit) Wood glue − we used Selleys “Blister Bar” craft glue Dynabolt or suitable fixture to mount rack on wall Build a timber pergola How to make stilts for the kids

Materials

Two pieces of 70 x 35 x 1800mm dressed (smooth) pine for the stilt legs. This is available from your local Mitre 10 store. For strength, ensure the timber is straight grain (the grain runs long ways) and that there are no knobs. One piece of pine 70 x 35 x 400mm as a guide for the handsaw (this can be an offcut from the wood above). Two pieces of 90 x 45 x 180mm dressed (smooth) pine for the footrests. This size is used for interior wall framing and is probably one of the most readily available timbers. Four of each 150 x 10mm coach bolts, washers and wing nuts. A piece of sandpaper.

Tools

Clamp (x2) Sharp hand saw Measuring Tape Hammer Pencil Set square Electric Drill (get an adult to use anything electrical) 11mm Drill Bit Saw horse or work stool Hessian rug