UpMyStreet ©

› Read part two

DIY disasters cost the average UK home improver £669.58 a year, according to confused.com. From not preparing properly and ignoring safety, to setting unrealistic budgets and choosing the wrong fixtures, we reveal the most common renovation mishaps. Find out how it happens, why people do it and, best of all, how to avoid making these mistakes in your own home.

25. Gutting everything

When faced with a big renovation, it’s tempting to pull everything out and start afresh. But usually it’s much more sensible to work around some areas if you can. You might think that all you’re going to do is remove some wallpaper and give a room a lick of paint, but you can end up with a demolition site for a home.

24. Buying cheap materials

With renovation, you get what you pay for when it comes to materials. You’re going to have to live in the home you’re working on eventually, and you don’t want to end up doing the whole thing all over again in a year or so. The golden rule is that if you can’t afford to do it, save up, don’t cut corners.

23. Excessive use of duct tape

Duct tape might seem like a quick fix, but it should never be left up for more than a few hours. Replace it with something more permanent, or if it’s holding something together that’s broken, bite the bullet and replace that.

22. Inaccurate measurements

It is amazing how just half an inch can make all the difference between something that looks professionally done, and something that looks like a child made it. If you’re having problems measuring, get someone to help, don’t try and stretch or guess.

21. Not doing any preparation

Not paying close attention to the preparation for a home renovation project can spell disaster. Simple things such as cleaning the subfloor of all dust and debris before adding new flooring can make for a much smoother application. It’ll probably be the most boring part of the job, but it’ll save you time, money and you’ll be rewarded with a job well done. If you can’t be bothered, consider calling a professional.

20. Using the wrong tools

Using the wrong tool can cause huge problems, namely that you can ruin the tool, ruin your project, or worst of all ruin yourself. Invest in the right tools, and don’t be afraid to seek advice at your local DIY store. Read our DIY tips for more advice.

19. Building a small bathroom

We’re not saying don’t build a small bathroom, but don’t approach the project like you would a large bathroom. The key is in picking the right fixtures for small areas such as narrow sinks, and low-profile toilets.

18. Ignoring lighting

Pay attention to the lighting in a room, and don't be afraid to combine styles. Bright lights can be complemented nicely with soft candle light. The lighting in your home can completely change the look and feel of a room. You need a combination of the three main types of lighting – general, task and accent lighting – to be able to change the feel of a room and get the best out of it depending on the situation.

17. Going too trendy

Picking the latest and coolest trends to use in your renovation might seem like a great idea, but in reality, it’ll probably be appealing for a few months. If you’re really looking for longevity (and if you ever want to sell your home) you should err towards classic styles. Read our guide to choosing colour schemes for some great advice.

16. Building small doorways

Look at the entire floor plan of your home when you're planning your doorways. Look for, and make sure that every room has multiple exits. Or, if those doorways are in high-traffic areas, make sure they're wide enough to let multiple people to pass through.

15. Failure to anticipate chaos

Be realistic about how long your renovation is going to take, and plan in time for the unexpected. If you assume it’s going to take longer than you expect, you’ll be prepared for the worst and pleasantly surprised if it all goes to plan.

14. Incorrect storage of materials

Always store materials in a cool, dry place. Something as simple as a roll of plastic will save you a lot of time and a lot of money, when it comes to wood and concrete. And make sure you keep your tools and other equipment inside. None of these items are things you want to buy twice.

13. Not using green materials

Going green when renovating is a new idea and people will often not do it for two reasons: either they don't know how to, or they think that it costs more money. But, this isn’t necessarily true, as you're really ahead of the market so going green is a very smart investment. Read our introduction to eco-decorating.

› Read part two