Simple, effective, and affordable, Ajai Guyot shares her DIY journey and tips on how to embark on your own.

09.08.24 | By Bed Threads | Journal

An Interior Designer's DIY Hacks Even Total Beginners Can Tackle

Simple, effective, and affordable, Ajai Guyot shares her DIY journey and tips on how to embark on your own.

It’s only natural to inherit the passions and skills of those you grow up with, and for founder and principal designer of self-titled Ajai Guyot Design, this sentiment couldn’t ring more true.

Growing up with a fix-it-all father, Ajai learnt more than a thing or two about fixing up home before she had even left school. When the time came for her and her husband to purchase their first home, her innate resourcefulness kicked in, resulting in a wonderfully curated space, perfectly designed to suit the needs of her family.

As Ajai continues to experiment with design and DIY in her home, her bank of experience in every space grows. From complete home makeovers to tackling room by room on a budget, Ajai has a trick (or ten) up her sleeve on getting the results you want on your own.

We were lucky enough to chat with Ajai where we discussed all things design and DIY. So if you’re eager to make some changes in your home but may not necessarily have the budget for them – let Ajai teach what is possible when you put your mind to things and teach yourself to do them on your own.

Olive European Pillowcases, Olive Cushion Covers, Oatmeal & Olive Muslin Throw and The Makers by Bed Threads.

How did you start out doing DIY and what advice would you give anyone wanting to give it a try?

My grandfather owned a couple of apartments/condos, and when the tenants needed a handyman, my father was the person that showed up to fix the plumbing, patch up, and paint. So naturally, I would join in and help him during the weekends. This eventually turned into me helping out around the house with painting and installing new chandeliers.

I grew very curious about renovation work, so when my husband and I purchased our first home, I started YouTubing how to tile walls and how to take up carpet.

I would advise that anyone wanting to get into DIYing, start with the cosmetics things like: painting, tiling, and staining wood. Do a fair share of research, and leave the structural things to the professionals.

Before embarking on a first DIY project, what essentials do you need?

I would say to always have on hand: heavy duty gloves, goggles, a kneeling pad, sanding paper, caulk, drop cloth, paint brushes and tape, paint trays, and a few different types of cutting tools.

What are your top budget-friendly tips for a kitchen refresh?

Changing out the cabinet knobs is always budget friendly (knobs are more affordable than pulls). Paint your own cabinets if you have the patience to do so – you’ll save so much money doing this. Opt for prefab counters if you really want to swap them out but are working with a smaller budget – you’ll be looking at saving thousands if you go this route.

Olive Napkins, and Sage & Olive Scalloped Placemats.

What DIY changes can a total beginner make to a bathroom?

Painting the cabinets, walls, and swapping out the cabinet hardware. Source a beautiful shower curtain, towels, and a bathroom rug to complete the look!

In living and dining spaces, do you follow any rules when it comes to layout and styling?

I like to use a high traffic rug underneath the dining table. Scale is also important for me in this space – the rug and chairs need to coincide with the scale of the dining table. In addition, I like to make sure my chandelier or pendant never hangs lower than 30-36 inches above the dining table.

Charcoal Heavy Linen Bed Cover.

What are your go-to tricks for decorating bathrooms?

I always make sure to add texture into my bathroom. This is usually in the form of tile work (because it is one of my favorite DIYs to do in a bathroom). I’m also big on painting the bathroom walls and ceiling, because it helps to elongate the walls and creates such a good feeling in a space. Never leave the ceiling without a paint colour – it’s your fifth wall!

For more from Ajai, follow her @ajai_guyot