I won Big Brother & now I’m a DIY pro – my 40p tip is ideal for making your home look like it’s just been redecorated
HE was the first-ever winner of Big Brother which landed on our TV screens in 2000.
But although at the time Craig Phillips had absolutely no idea just how much of an impact being on the show would have on his life, the dad-of-two has stayed the same – and his love for building hasn’t vanished because of fame.
The 52-year-old Liverpudlian may live in a stunning £1.5million mansion with massive kitchen and home gym – but that doesn’t mean he’s not up for a cheap DIY challenge.
Before appearing on the reality show more than two decades ago, Craig – who’s got experience in bricklaying – ran his own building company for ten years.
With an expertise spanning over 30 years, Craig certainly knows everything about renovations – and the TV personality has now shared a few tips and tricks for a home glow-up on a budget.
Colour drenching
A bit of paint is one of the cheapest yet most effective ways to spruce up any room with practically no effort, and it’s totally foolproof too.
Craig said: ”You can ‘colour drench’ rooms – which means painting the entire room, woodwork, ceiling, one colour. Very bold but can be very effective.”
If you’re not feeling as brave, the DIY guru recommended opting for a feature wall or an accent wall that ”can make all the difference, and brighten a room”, whilst also adding the illusion of size.
”Also don’t be afraid to re-vamp important rooms like the kitchen – you can transform your kitchen by using Frenchic to paint your kitchen cupboards, and make it look entirely new!”
On a tight budget or don’t want to spend thousands on new gear? The DIY whizz was raving about different sites, such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay, where you can give pre-loved furniture a second life.
”Then those aesthetic changes – new curtains or blinds, changing knobs, handles on units, fresh light fittings, flooring – can all makes a home or room look entirely different.”
Money-smart shoppers can find purse-friendly door and cabinet knobs on Shein for as little as £4 for a ten-pack – which works out at just 40p a piece.
Al Fresco
It’s not just our homes that need a little TLC – Craig also urged green-fingered Brits to spruce up their outdoor space, and there are plenty of simple yet effective methods to do so.
”For your garden, the main visuals are fences, decking, sheds, patio areas – they can all be transformed on a budget, and all can be preserved, often with a lick of good quality paint.
”With all of these, jet wash the areas to give them a good clean, leave to dry and prepare the surfaces ready for painting by sanding.”
The guru advised to stick to a minimum of three coats of paint to achieve the perfect results – and also check the weather beforehand to ensure all the hard work doesn’t get washed away.
”Frenchic Paint have a brilliant Al Fresco Indoor Outdoor Range, with some stunning neutrals if that is your preference, but some fantastic, bold and bright colours to really give your garden that lift.
”I absolutely love looking at the Before and Afters of front doors – a great money saving instead of buying a new one – garage doors, sheds and garden furniture. Benches are a great option for an upcycle, as is rattan furniture!”
Craig went on: ”You can genuinely give your garden and outdoor spaces an absolute transformation with just a few tins of paint!”
Craig's How To videos that will transform your home
The DIY-loving dad-of-two is always up for a challenge - and here are some of his top How To videos that will help you spruce up your home.
- Is your existing panelling in a dire need of a glow-up? Or perhaps you’re not happy with the newly installed one? As long as the wood is in good condition, Craig says a deep clean, sanding and a new coat of paint can transform its look. Here’s how.
- Over time, old wooden tables can develop a dark, orange tinge. This is due to surface oils, stains and natural decay that can affect the wood’s colour. If you have a wooden table that you’d like to zhuzh up, Frenchic’s paint ranges have exactly what you need. Here’s how.
- Painting is a great way to freshen up any tired-looking metal radiator and add to your home’s aesthetic on the cheap. Whether you like bright and cheerful colours or subtle shades, painting an old radiator can give it new life -whilst also saving you a fortune on replacing it with an expensive, new one. Here’s how.
- With summer here in full force, it’s time to give your outside decking area some much-needed TLC. Luckily, the task isn’t as challenging as you might think. All you need is high-quality paint from the Al Fresco Inside/Outside Range, cleaning equipment and a little elbow grease, Craig said. Here’s how.
- Staircase spindles and bannisters are some of the trickier projects to tackle, as they tend to have several fiddly sections. However, fear not, as refreshing this spot with a lick of paint doesn’t have to be challenging. Here’s how.
When to leave it to the professionals
Although cash-strapped households are on the lookout for ways to renovate their homes themselves, Craig warned there are some things better left in the hands of experts.
Chatting exclusively to Fabulous, the Big Brother star said: ”We never really advise people to do any electrical work – at all.
”If you’re not qualified to do it, don’t attempt it. Likewise, with some of the plumbing side of things we wouldn’t tell anyone to do any gas engineering at all.”
Even some of the more basic aspects of plumbing the 52-year-old pro strongly advised to steer clear from – unless you want to fork out a hefty bill to fix the mess.
”If it goes wrong and is damaging, it can be quite costly to repair it.”
According to the savvy father – who reckons that the DIY culture really took off around the first lockdown in 2020 – it’s better to ”start small”, as this will ”build your confidence”.
Eight Easy DIY Tips & Tricks
The ultimate guide for homeowners and renters:
- DIY expert’s lazy painting hack will make decorating your home much easier
- Save time and money with this easy DIY tiling hack to transform a room in under an hour
- Avoid these five mistakes in your next DIY project
- Transform your kitchen with this renter-friendly DIY hack
- Noisy neighbours? Here’s how to soundproof a room
- DIY expert shared her favourite strategy for painting around glass without tape
- If you want to give your kitchen a fresh look, here’s how to paint your kitchen cabinets
- Five tricks to spruce up every room in your home for less than £5
Frenchic Paint Partnership Collection With Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Charity, Samaritans
In 2023, Frenchic Paint announced their official Partnership with mental health and suicide prevention charity, Samaritans.
Frenchic simultaneously launched their ‘Frenchic for Samaritans’ Paint Collection consisting of seven Chalk Wall and Trim paints.
10% of sales from these chosen colours go directly to the charity to help their vital work within the mental health arena.
The Collection donations include all online and store sales, with the many hundreds of Frenchic stockists and boutique high-street retailers across the UK supporting this great initiative.
The seven paint shades in the Collection are:
- ‘And Breathe’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint)
- ‘Cool Beans’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint)
- ‘Golightly’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint)
- ‘Serenity’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint)
- ‘Steaming Green’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint)
- ‘Calming Carol’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint)
- ‘Breezing’ (£42.95 for 2.5L, Wall Paint, £14.95, 500ml, Trim Paint).