First of all you will need to decide where to place the water butt.  For ease of installation make it next to a downpipe.  It will need to be on a flat surface and raised far enough off the ground so that a watering can will fit underneath it.

Mark its height on the downpipe and cut the pipe 2cm below this line.  Next, fit the rain diverter onto the downpipe and replace the cut section of downpipe onto the bottom of the diverter.  Drill a hole into the water butt, about 8cm from the top.  Attach the butt connector to the water butt via this hole and screw in place.  Now attach the water butt connector to the rainwater diverter and you have finished.

Making sure you cut the wallpaper correctly so it matches all around the room is a key task.  Firstly, take a look at the label of the paper.  This will tell you any details of matching patterns you need to take account of.  For example, there could be a repeated pattern with a certain distance between repeats, or the pattern could be offset, in which case you’ll also need to know how much by.  The vertical offset will determine the waste you will end up with at the end after cutting the lengths to match.  If you want to reduce waste as much as possible, chose a very simple pattern or even plain paper that requires no pattern matching.

When getting ready to cut wallpaper lengths, firstly measure the vertical drop of the wall.  How high is it?  It’s probably easiest to keep a pad and pen to hand to note down measurements rather than trying to keep them in your head.  Roll out the paper on a flat surface, ideally a pasting table.  Cut a length of paper that is around 6-8 inches longer than the drop of the wall, for trimming.  Mark the paper at the top with a number.  This will let you know in what order you need to hand the pieces.

If the paper has a pattern, you will need to cut lengths that match when placed next to each other.  One way to do this to reduce waste is to have two or three rolls open at once, and cut from them in turn.  This should enable you to cut a few more wall lengths out than if you cut from one roll at a time.

Once you have purchased the timber boards, leave them in the room where they will be fitted so they adjust to its ambient temperature.  Before you begin, locate any wires or pipes hidden in the wall, using a pipe and wire detector.  Mark out where the pipe and wires are so that you do not accidently puncture them.

Fix three battens onto the wall, one at the bottom, middle and top.  The tongue and groove boards are then fitted onto these battens.  Use a spirit level and tape measure to mark out where each will go, depending on the height you want the cladding.  Fix the battens onto the wall with screws that are inserted into wall plugs.  Fix all of the battens onto the walls before you begin adding the panelling.

Always start in the left hand corner and work towards the right.  Cut the first board so that it is level with the top batten but has a gap of about 10mm at the bottom.  This is an expansion gap and will be covered by the skirting board.  The first board needs to be placed so that the groove faces into the corner.
 
If the board does not fit snugly up against the opposite wall you may need to trim it slightly.  If, however, you are going to use beading, this may not be necessary.  From this point you can now begin fixing the other boards.  Line them up with the top batten and use an off-cut of wood to tap them snugly into place to ensure there are no gaps.  After every fourth or fifth board check that they are still going on straight and continue until you reach the far wall.  Here you may well need to cut the final board to fit into place.

However, as there can be windows of differing sizes to cover, choosing a range of ready-made blinds in the different sizes can be difficult.  This is not a problem if you employ a professional blind-fitting company or if you are skilled at DIY.

Due to the height of most conservatory windows, one of the most popular choices is a set of vertical blind.  The slats on these – which can be of PVC, metal or wood, can be either pulled pack completely, letting light flood into the conservatory, or can be adjusted to just let a certain amount of light through into the space.

Another popular choice for conservatory blinds is a Roman blind, which is usually of a linen finish that can be cut to the right size. Roman blinds will give a lighter, more contemporary feel.

You may have a fight on your hands if you try to claim the kitchen table for workspace. Besides, kitchen tables are notoriously busy action hubs and not the best places to find peace and quiet.

If the spare room is already taken and the attic and extension have already been claimed, you may have to consider erecting an office in the garden.

Garden office buildings are very popular these days, and you will find many companies supplying solutions to the garden office conundrum. You can choose from pre-designed, fully-installed models that are wired for telecommunications, thoroughly insulated and comfortably appointed. It is possible for models to incorporate kitchen and WC facilities if required. Planning permission is not usually needed unless in a conservation area or close to public highways. Most garden office suppliers offer full installation services, and are able to arrange bespoke models and architectural designs on request.

When dealing with a patio in a small space, for example in a narrow garden with high walls, it might be better to turn the entire garden area into a patio instead of cramming a small patio into a small space within it.

If it is not possible to spread a decent-sized patio outwards, maybe you can think of vertical possibilities. Plants can be hung or grown on walls to disguise the area’s boundaries and give the onlooker the impression that there is more space than is actually there.

Use concealed lighting to turn a small, dark and frankly boring area into a place of promise and mystery by transforming it into a cavern, retreat or even a small shrine.

Even if a selected site for a patio has a fabulous view it may be open to the elements such as strong winds. There are four solutions here: build it somewhere else; plant a fast-growing hedge; build a feature wall to block the gale; or construct a sunken patio so the wind will go over your head.

If the site is sloping, you can build a retaining wall to level it off, made from ballast and hardcore, or construct a raised decking patio to straddle an extreme slope, which can look quite exciting if done properly.

Awnings are a common form of blind in the UK, for commercial and residential use.  Many businesses fix patterned or brightly coloured awnings to their buildings to attract customers and represent their brand.  They are a common sight in pubs.  Awnings are a popular blind fixture for the home also; an awning can transform an outdoor space into a warm, sheltered area free from insects and mist so that customers can enjoy their patios and decking at all times of the day.  In addition, this form of blind is not exclusively limited to buildings; in the UK, caravan awnings are extremely popular, providing an opportunity to further enjoy the outdoors whilst providing the above benefits to the user.

In temperate countries like the UK, window coverings keep out cold air and draughts, and they also provide shade in hot weather.  In countries where siestas are commonly taken at the height of the mid-day sun, window blinds are essential, and they can be very attractive. 

Roman blinds are made from fabric, and they are adjusted by means of vertical cords threaded through the blinds that enable them to be raised or lowered.  Venetian blinds are slat blinds, which use strips of rigid material – historically wood.  More contemporary slat blinds are constructed from metal, plastic or fabric.  The ingenious use of overlapping slats means the blinds can be adjusted so the slats are in the open position, or rotated back to a flat, closed position, thus allowing for a controlled flow of light and air.

Sheep wool is a natural, sustainable product with a smaller carbon footprint than many insulating alternatives. In addition, it is pleasant to use and does not require the donning of protective mask and goggles as with mineral fibre insulation.

Wool is a breathable material and this helps reduce condensation and humidity. Sheep wool has the unique ability of retaining heat whilst also absorbing and desorbing moisture.

Other qualities of sheep wool insulation include its resistance to fire and vermin. Mould growth is inhibited in this non-toxic product and it works well as an effective soundproofing and acoustic insulator too.

Why not try something different and opt for a viable, eco-friendly alternative to reduce your heating bills? Whether it is floors, walls or loft insulation you are tackling, sheep wool insulation is simple and pleasant to work with and comes in large, easy-to-cut rolls.

When the useful life of sheep wool insulation comes to an end, it can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way either by composting or energy-creating incineration.

If you want to insulate your home using a natural and sustainable product with minimal environmental impact but maximum heat-saving benefit, then perhaps you should consider sheep wool insulation.

The first stage is to create an even and stable base on which to lay the paving. Once this has been done, a layer of sand should be laid to bed the slabs in. The next stage is to lay the different sized and shaped slabs in the desired pattern. This can be extremely time-consuming, but ultimately satisfying when completed. Once the slabs are in position and you are happy with the design, the joints can be filled with mortar to create a smooth and solid finish.

It is worth conducting some research on different designs, which you may wish to emulate. One particularly popular design idea involves the use of large slabs for the main areas and smaller, more decorative mosaic pieces, which are integrated into the design in smaller ‘pockets’, rather than having a completely random mosaic design over the whole area. The beauty of the crazy paving technique is that you are able to create a unique design that can cover any area, whatever its shape.