HOW LONG DID your “new year, new me” attitude last?

Well, no matter how good you’ve been at sticking to those pesky old resolutions, there are some things that are worth doing at any time of the year. Namely: doing up the gaff.

But it needn’t be a daunting task by any stretch. There are some distinctly hassle-free ways to jazz up your humble abode. Let’s check them out…

1. Rub a dub dub

Looking for a way to spruce up your bathroom with minimal hassle but maximum effect? Well, try looking for more creative ways to hang your towels and dressing gowns. Fancy door-knobs are just the ticket – and if you like the idea, it can be easily used in your hallway, too, to store your coats.

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2. Hideaway home

Reckon your bin is a bit unsightly? There are ways and means to tuck it out of sight (but not out of mind, if it’s your turn to leave them out, of course). Detailed instructions to make this are here, but in a nutshell, it involves attaching chains to the side of an ordinary cabinet to make the door drop down.

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3. Space cadets

If your living space is really short of storage (or you need another box to store your kids’ toys, for example), consider doubling up a trunk or chest for a coffee table. It means things can be tidied away quickly, and no one is any the wiser than their mug is resting atop that Spongebob teddy. See if you can spot the sneaky storage solution…

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4. Roll with it

Speaking of storage solutions, the space we have in some houses and apartments isn’t always in the right place. So why not make it come to you? This idea works especially well for a moveable kids’ mini-library. All you need here is a box or shelf, repurposed by adding some wheels at the bottom.

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5. Green fingers

Spruce up your kitchen with some living herbs – not only do they add colour and life to the room, but they’re also cheap and dead handy. There are lots of ways to do this, but one of the simplest and nicest ways (and again, easily involving kids) is using Mason jars and just letting them grow au natural. Herb plants could also be hung up in planters, grown in old wine crates, or kept hanging off bar and hooks.

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6. Warm welcome

Need to hide something a smidge ugly, like your alarm or thermostat? Consider a hinged painting, print or a family photo. Nifty.

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And applying for a mortgage just got a lot simpler too. You can apply in minutes at mortgagestore.ie using any digital device. Find out easily what you could borrow and what your monthly repayments might be. No pen, no paper – no hassle.

Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank, trading as The Mortgage Store, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.