A home wouldn't be homely without carpet. Carpet makes it cosy and comfy underfoot, and it's less draughty and more heat retentive and sound absorbing than many other floor coverings.

Financing a self-build isn't necessarily easy, especially in this economic climate, but it's certainly possible. Selling your home, or releasing the equity in it, is one option (and ideal for buying the building plot), but many self-builders need a loan for the project, and a self-build mortgage is a popular choice.

If you've watched one episode of Grand Designs too many and have been bitten by the self-build bug, be prepared for a bumpy ride.

One of the best ways to make your home more suited to your needs, especially if you have a growing family or want to work from home, is to add a bedroom.

The weather's finally warmed up, which should signal the start of the DIY season.

Many period properties (as well as some modern ones) were built with wooden windows, but in more recent decades, replacing them with UPVC ones has been popular.

If you've outgrown where you live, adding space is often more cost-effective than moving home, especially in more expensive parts of the country.

Buying a house or flat in this country can take a very long time, even if it's chain free, and if you want to speed things up, buying at auction could be the answer.

As well as major home improvements likely to add value and make your home more sellable, there's a lot you can do to make it more appealing to buyers without spending too much.

You do home improvements to make your home more suited to your lifestyle and taste, but unless it's your forever home, you may also be interested in what would make it more sellable and valuable when you come to sell.

If you're anything like me, you can never have too much storage at home, but it's something that a lot of houses and flats lack and unless you like cluttered living, it's not something you can do without.

If you have a house or flat with a bad layout, or you're thinking about buying one, changing the layout can be expensive and won't necessarily be easy, but it could transform your home life.