50 ways to give your home a facelift; Transform your living space with Location Location Location's Kirstie and Phil.

Byline: Adapted by CLARE GOLDWIN

SPRING. It's a time for fresh starts - and there's no better place to begin than inside your own home.

Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp have nosed around thousands of homes in making Channel 4's Location, Location, Location - and it hasn't always been a pretty sight.

But updating a home needn't be a difficult and complex job and with their 50 clever ideas you'll find it's even fun.

Their tips include tasks you can do in a day, weekend projects and longer term changes that mean some outlay, but will repay you many times over when you come to sell.

Today they give you the first 25 ideas to give your living areas the ultimate face lift.

HALLWAY

Build a radiator cover

PHIL says: "Radiators are ugly and they take up valuable space, which is at a premium in narrow or cramped hallways. Covers aren't difficult to build and they double up as a shelf."

Radiator cabinet kit from pounds 59 from Jali.

B&Q's Radiator Cabinet range starts from pounds 29.96 for a classic style cabinet. Cabinet and grille are supplied unfinished so you can paint or varnish it in any shade.

Paint in sunny tones

KIRSTIE says: " Yellow is the ultimate warm and welcoming colour. Either paint the walls or set off other pastel colours by picking out features in yellow. Be careful to choose shades that are not overpowering.

As a general rule, pale paints will look darker on walls while strong shades will appear paler than you expect."

TRY Crown's margherita shade which is pounds 13.99 for 2.5 litres.

Transform the space under the stairs into a mini office

PHIL SAYS: "It's a really effective way to use an awkward space. The sloping ceiling isn't an issue because you will be sitting at your desk."

KITCHEN

Bench seat for the kitchen table

KIRSTIE says: "My number one space-saver for the kitchen. A banquette built around two or three walls needs only half the space that chairs require and you can use the space under the cushions for storage."

Use corner spaces with a specially designed unit

PHIL says: "This is the all time wasted space in a kitchen so if you are struggling to store all your tins and packets it's worth rethinking the corners."

Try B&Q's Plastic Carousel, from pounds 38 for the carousel to fit a 1000mm base cabinet or the Pull & Swing Corner Cabinet which gives complete access into hard-to-reach corner cabinets - pounds 199 in chrome to fit a 1000mm base cabinet

Paint tired tiles

KIRSTIE says: "Re-painting is easier than replacing tiles. It's cheaper and you can do it in a day. Use masking tape for clean lines."

Try International's one coat tile paint in pistachio or soft aqua pounds 14.99 for 750ml

Rethink your kitchen door

PHIL says: "Open doors take up a surprising amount of space. Consider installing either a sliding door, split saloon-style swing doors or a hinged folding door."

Homebase stock "Bi-fold" doors from pounds 39.99 to pounds 79.99

Install a tubular skylight

KIRSTIE says: "This is a clever, cheaper way to bring more natural light into a gloomy kitchen."

Solatube sells kits from pounds 249.10 for a 250mm Solatube including delivery and from pounds 400 including installation, which takes about half a day.

Build a foldaway work surface or table

PHIL says: "Attach either a rectangle or half oval shaped piece of MDF the required size to a wall with hinges and then use slidable supports underneath to prop the table up.

It lies flat against the wall when you don't need it."

B&Q have extra worktop space with their pull-out work surface - pounds 75 for use with 600mm drawer cabinet.

Steam clean appliances

KIRSTIE says: "Just cleaning existing cookers and other kitchen appliances can give them a whole new lease of life."

Hire a steam pressure cleaner for pounds 31.73 for one day from HSS 

Paint dated kitchen units.

PHIL says: "Painting unit doors will your kitchen. Pale, Shaker- influenced creams and subtle minty greens and blues are fashionable."

Try Melamine one-coat paint from International in either antique cream or Pampas. pounds 12.99 for 750ml

Replace cupboard handles

KIRSTIE says: "Go for sleek, metal handles with angular and clean lines or simple large wooden knobs which you can paint different colours."

B&Q Long Rod Handles. pounds 8 per pair

Dimpled Matt Nickel Effect Handles. pounds 5 per pair

Install drawers under cabinet plinths

PHIL says: "The floor space under kitchen cabinets is ideal for storing baking trays."

Plinth Drawer Kit from B&Q - from pounds 6.00 for drawer conversion kit plus cost of standard kitchen drawer

LIVING ROOM

Stencilling

KIRSTIE SAYS: "Done properly, it can be a real asset to a room. Use stencils to bring attention to focal points by painting them above features like fireplaces and also vertically from ceiling to floor to make rooms appear taller."

For more paint ideas go to the Paint Quality Institute's website www.paint quality.co.uk

Change perceived dimensions of a room through flooring

PHIL says: "If you are going to lay laminate flooring, think about how it can add the illusion of space to a room. If you lay it across the width it will make the room look wider, for instance."

Laminate flooring starts at pounds 19.30 for 2.15sq metres

Install a new fire surround

KIRSTIE says: "You can revamp the whole look of a room by replacing the fire surround. They are simple to build or you can buy ready-made versions. Just make sure you are aware of the fire safety implications."

B&Q have a selection of solutions:

AFFORDABLE: Woodthorpe Surround from pounds 89 in pine

CLASSIC: Sherringham Surround from pounds 228 in Dark or Natural Cherry

effects

CONTEMPORARY: Cheltenham Surround from pounds 389 in Marfil Stone Micro Marble

Varnish floorboards

PHIL says: "There are often decent floorboards under grotty carpets and real floorboards always look better than laminate imitations."

Re-cover main pieces of furniture

KIRSTIE says: "If you can't afford a new living room suite then recovering will revamp the whole room."

Fabric colour stripper pounds 3.15 and machine dye pounds 4.65 Dylon

PHIL says: "People assume you need a chimney for a cosy gas fire, but youInstall a flueless gas fire can find them without flues. They cost a little, but think of snuggling up in front of flickering flames."

Flueless gas fire pounds 399 from B&Q.

LONG TERM IDEAS

Build a toilet/shower room under the stairs

KIRSTIE says: "Buyers like downstairs toilets and I would suggest you take this idea one step further by considering a "wet room" that has a shower in the ceiling.

When the door is closed the whole area becomes one big shower.

You will be looking at spending at least pounds 1,500, but a second wash area can add up to double its cost to the value of your property."

Knock through kitchen and dining room

PHIL says: "You can expect to pay from pounds 2,000 for the alteration building work and it will be around double if you need a reinforced steel joist for a load bearing wall. Planning permission won't be an issue, but you will need to meet building regulations."

Move bathroom upstairs

KIRSTIE says: "Buyers prefer bath

rooms upstairs. It's more convenient if you have children and as most downstairs bathrooms are off the kitchen, it feels more hygienic too.

Also, moving the bathroom will increase the size of your kitchen.

Altering the layout of your home in this way is especially good if you have a three-bedroom home, but it may detract from the value if you reduce a two-bedroom home down to one bedroom."

Build a conservatory

PHIL SAYS: "A well planned conservatory will add value to your home as it

will increase the light and add more floor space.

But make sure that proportions are right and that it's a compatible style and doesn't mask any attractive features outside.

Conservatories that are built off kitchens and can be used as dining room areas are a particular asset.

If you build, make sure it is on proper foundations and has heating and blinds so it can be used all year round. Don't forget that you may need planning permission."

Extend upstairs

KIRSTIE says: "Many older homes

have single-storey kitchens just crying out for an extension on top of them.

An extension will cost from about pounds 12,000 depending on labour costs where you live, so it's a hefty investment.

But if you are running out of space then it is still cheaper than moving as you don't have to pay estate agents, stamp duty, legal fees and moving costs and you can expect to add up to double the cost onto the value of your home.

Make sure that you get three different quotes and ask to see a builder's previous work."

Replace boiler system

PHIL says: "In a flat, a hot water tank will take up valuable cupboard space in a home where storage is already at a premium.

Combi boilers don't require a hot water tank and they are so compact they can be hidden behind unit doors in the kitchen.

A new system will cost from around pounds 1,500, but as a nation we are hoarding more so storage is increasingly a key issue for home buyers.

More room will add value to your home.

And a more efficient heating will also save on bills."

Adapted by CLARE GOLDWIN

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CAPTION(S):

GO FOR IT: Kirstie knows just how to boost your home with ideas such as the corner carousel, below; ADVICE: Phil Spencer; BRUSH UP: Brighten up kitchen units by painting them, paint the tiles and steam clean appliances; BRIGHT IDEA: Stencilling