Jade Rotheram

The garden shed is a multifunctional space that could serve different purposes depending on your needs, from a DIY workshop to an additional room or office space. In this blog, you will find some great DIY tips that are easy to follow and will help you convert a dull, conventional garden shed into a space that you will enjoy spending your time.

Apply a New Coat of Paint

Fresh paint always gives a new look, even when you’re dealing with a shed that might be a decade old. A bright, neutral colour for the inside such as white is always the safest and best option, as it can reflect natural light, brighten up smaller spaces and make them look bigger, but also allows you to be more creative with the décor you choose. Pick the right paint according to your needs by choosing from a wide collection of exterior or interior paints and coatings and don’t hesitate to ask for more information when it comes to

We all know how important a great finish is when it comes to painting and decorating and this is equally true when it comes to a rental property. In this blog, we’ll look at what to focus on when decorating your property for the rental market and how to make sure the decorating appeals to the mass market.

Less is more

When it comes to rental properties the temptation can be to update and upgrade everything in the property to make it stand out, but our advice would be to focus on what matters. Functionality is key to success so simple furniture, fittings and fixtures will do the job just a well as more expensive alternatives at a fraction of the cost. Stick to neutral colours for things like your kitchen cupboards, tiles and flooring as these will help the property appeal to the most people.

Adopt a neutral colour scheme

While your own personal style might be bold and bright, it isn’t for everyone. Neutral colours will help to brighten up small rooms and

Let’s hear it for Brave Ground the latest colour to be chosen by a panel of Dulux colour experts. Chosen as the colour to best represent our lifestyles, Brave Ground is a warm and neutral colour that connects us back to nature and the simple things. In a world still dealing with a global pandemic, Brave Ground helps us align with the planet and look towards the future.

The colour was chosen by a panel of experts including design specialists, editors and architects from around the world. Working with paint company AkzoNobel the shade was chosen along with complementary natural tones to form the Dulux ColourFutures 2021 palettes. These palettes are split into four very distinct palettes which are Expressive colours, Trust colours, Timeless colours, and Earth colours.

According to Dulux “Brave Ground is a warm, earthy tone which creates a feeling of stability, growth and potential; and provides a firm foundation for change and creativity in your home.” Brave Ground will bring

Thinking of tackling that next home renovation project yourself? If you want to get professional results, then you need to make sure that you have the right tool for the job with a comprehensive toolbox. In this blog, we’ll look at the essential items that should be in any DIY enthusiast’s toolbox as well as a couple of additional tools that will make your life easier.

Hammer

One of the most basic toolbox items is a claw hammer as this is a good option for a number of jobs from hanging pictures to remove nails from flooring. While hammers come in many different shapes and sizes, a standard 16oz claw hammer will be suitable for a wide range of tasks. A great inexpensive tool that should be in everyone’s toolbox.

Screwdrivers

There are two main types of screw heads, flat-head and Philips which has a cross in the middle. Screwdrivers sets are cheap to buy and will give you a wide range of screwdrivers in different sizes suitable for a wide range of jobs.

Home decoration. Two little words that are the cause of far more disagreements than they should be.

Or at least, they used to be. But here at Trade 1st, we're sick and tired of hearing about people's decorating disasters. So we've put our heads together and come up with four quick and simple tips to ensure that decorating your home runs as smoothly as possible.

Tip #1: Prepare, prepare, prepare

Failing to prepare is, as the old saying goes, preparing to fail. And that's not a great idea – especially when it's so simple to prepare to succeed instead! First off, prepare your plan of action. You need to choose a colour scheme that compliments any existing furniture or fixtures. Choosing a few tester paint pots always helps with this.

Then, when you're set on a scheme, it's time to prepare your room. That means stripping any wallpaper, cleaning surfaces, and making sure everything is ready to begin. For this, we recommend our

Keeping your business costs down

There is some evidence that economic conditions in the UK are starting to improve, and you might have noticed a rise in demand for your decorating services. However, it’s by no means plain sailing for firms like yours.

According to new research from the Forum of Private Business (FPB), the costs associated with running enterprises are rising. This may mean it’s particularly important for you to source great value decorating supplies. By saving money on these resources, you can make balancing your books that bit easier.

A worrying trend

According to the latest research from the FPB, business costs have continued to rise in 2013. Perhaps unsurprisingly given all the media focus on this issue at present, energy costs were the most commonly seen increase.

In its Cost of Doing Business survey, which was carried out among its members, the organisation found that 94 per cent of firms