This week, I put up a shelf and a mirror and swapped the handles on (22 argh) cupboard doors and drawers, so it's fair to say my drill saw some action!

I thought I'd share some of the hacks and tricks I use when using my drill, that make my life easier, in case they are useful to you too.

1. Make a dent first We've all been there, you put your drill bit against the spot on the wall and it slips as you start to drill. To prevent this happening, make a little dent in the designated spot. There are lots of tools that you can use to do this job, but as our walls are (feeble) plasterboard, I'll often use the round end of a screwdriver handle, or even a pen. Alternatively, you could hammer the end of a nail into the desired spot to make a helpful dent to rest your drill onto.

2. Use masking tape to prevent splitting

There's nothing worse than drilling into a wall and causing a crack or split in the surface. If you pop a piece of tape over the location and drill through it, it should prevent this from happening. It's a super quick trick that can save you time and effort later on in repairs.

3. Make mess-catching shelf

I know you can hold a dustpan under the drill to catch any dust, but I personally find it quite hard to drill accurately with one hand, so this quick little trick is super handy and saved lots of mess.

You can use a post-it note if you have one, if not then fold a small piece of paper up to make a little shelf and stick it to the wall, under the location you need to drill, using some masking tape. If you are drilling multiple holes, then you can simply unstick the tape and move it along to the next location.

Et voila! Three handy little tips to help you drill with ease. Let me know in the comments if you use any of these already or plan to after reading this.

Thanks so much for reading. I'd love to keep you up to date with future DIY, decorating, interior styling and upcycling projects, if you would like to receive my (not more than weekly & no spamming I promise) emails then please subscribe by scrolling down to the box at the bottom of the page. Don't forget to check out my other blog posts a few examples are linked below... 4 Creative ways to reuse, rotate and revamp your decor Bedroom styling tips Money-saving home decor hacks Upcycled shelves, but make it arty DIY Hacks how to repair plasterboard walls DIY Hacks - Painting IKEA Hack - Billy is my hero 5 tips for a successful IKEA hack

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Budget bedroom makeover to beat the lockdown blues ...and why not pop over and give me a follow on Instagram too. Feel free to share this with anyone who wants to transform their home without spending a fortune. Thanks again. Claire