Did you know that remaining at home during the holidays is now referred to as taking a ’staycation’? It’s a new one for me too, but I like it. Sitting in traffic for hours on end with fractious children is not my idea of fun and it’s often better to take your annual leave at the end of the main holiday season, rather than at its peak. For some people a staycation represents the chance to chill out and do nothing, but at our place there’s lots to be done, and I’ve been compiling a list!

GARAGE A GO-GO

Summer is the perfect time for getting your garage into shape. When it’s sunny you can easily pull things out, pile them in the yard, discard what’s obviously rubbish, and re-organise the interior to make it more user friendly. This can also be a perfect opportunity to slap up some plasterboard linings and a coat of paint where necessary. It’s amazing what a strong psychological effect this has in discouraging you (or other members of the household) from just opening the door and throwing stuff inside – which is what tended to happen at our house before a recent much-needed garage clean-up! Putting hooks or pegs on the wall for hanging tools and garden implements will instantly make the space look better organised. A well-labelled system of stacking plastic boxes, available from stores such as The Warehouse, takes care of a multitude of other sins.

WAYS WITH WALLS

Even the best intentions can go awry if the weather closes in and you can’t tackle any of the outdoor jobs on your list. And we all know how changeable New Zealand’s weather is! Yes, a wet week or weekend during summer might put outdoor maintenance plans on ice, but it’s the ideal time for Plan B: indoor makeover magic!

Wallpaper is enjoying a surge in popularity as homeowners discover how easy it is to make a simple space sensational. Don’t be put off by the work involved; modern wallpapers are pre-pasted and all you need to do is add water. Some of the loveliest wallpapers I’ve seen are European, and admittedly they can come with hefty price tags, but if you fall in love with one of these, a feature wall is the perfect answer. It’s a bit like food really – a little of what you fancy can be just as good as a feast!

THE SHINIEST SHOWER

A build-up of scum and water stains on a glass shower-door is frustrating and if it has happened over a number of years, the chances of getting back to a clear surface using conventional household methods are minimal. It’s worth trying things such as cream bathroom cleanser, ceramic cook-top cleaner, or lots and lots of elbow grease, but it’s unlikely the glass will ever look quite new again.

At this stage, it’s time to call in the experts, and this is where products such as Clearshield can yield miraculous results. An operator calls at your home and uses a special method to restore the glass to pristine condition before applying a clear polymeric resin to stop scale from binding to it in the future. From then on all you need to do is wipe the surface religiously after every shower and your investment will pay dividend s for years to come – with permanently sparkling clear doors!

PAINT A BRIGHT FUTURE

It’s a job that often has home handy-people quaking in their boots, but painting the house needn’t be the major, long-winded project it first appears. Modern paints go on more easily than their predecessors and it’s even becoming more acceptable to spray, rather than brush, the paint on, meaning you can cover a bigger area in the same amount of time.

Choose the right paint for the job and buy the best you can afford. Good-quality paint will withstand the elements better and help your good work last longer. The key to house-painting success lies in good preparation and the first thing you should do is clean the weatherboards or other outer surface thoroughly. A good waterblasting should remove dirt, mould and loose paint flakes, giving you a good idea as to where repairs and priming may be necessary before you start painting.

When it finally comes time to pick up your brush or spray wand, divide the job into four quarters, doing a wall at a time as weather permits – and resisting the temptation to look ahead and panic at the enormity of it all!

HOT TIP

Before you paint the house, remember to paint yourself thoroughly with sunblock. Being out in the hot sun for hours on end is potentially dangerous. Cover exposed skin at all times and try not to be painting during peak UV hours.

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.resene.co.nz

www.dulux.co.nz

www.clearshieldglass.co.nz

www.visionwalls.co.nz

www.thewarehouse.co.nz