“DIY and Home Maintenance for Dummies All-in-One” is exactly what its name suggests, a comprehensive home improvement guide for people with no prior DIY experience. Published by John Wiley and Sons in 2005, this book has received a wealth of positive reviews from publications such as ‘Good Woodworking’, ‘Traditional Woodworking’ and ‘Boys Toys’.

The book’s main author is Jeff Howell, who has a list of previous titles to his name, including “The ‘Sunday Telegraph’ Guide to Looking After Your Property 2004” and “The Rising Damp Myth”. Here, he is also joined by several other respected authors and experts in the DIY field.

From fine woodworking to installing underfloor heating, “DIY And Home Maintenance for Dummies” covers every aspect of home improvement. There is also plenty of helpful advice on fitting bathroom furniture, bathroom sinks and shower enclosures. Plumbing is explained clearly and in a simple way that anyone could understand.

A point of caution however, this book, as the title suggests, really is for someone with little or no knowledge of DIY. Every task is described at the most basic level possible, so anyone with even a smattering of expertise would do better to look elsewhere.

Having said that, “DIY and Home Maintenance for Dummies” has been a welcome addition to the ‘Home-Improvement Manual’ market, as there are very few, if any, other titles that have as much appeal to the complete beginner. The informal and accessible style of the content makes this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in carrying out their own home improvements.

“How to Design and Build Your Own House” is a comprehensive manual of everything you need to know about the design, layout and building of a home. The book was written by Lupe DiDonno and Phyllis Sperling, who also worked together on “How to Redesign & Renovate Your House or Apartment”.

This book explains each step of the process and will help you get your design ideas onto a blueprint. There is also extensive advice on what tools will be suited to the job and when you will need to call on the professionals. Fitting bathrooms, shower enclosures and plumbing are just some of the other interior areas covered. The easy to read and practical advice offered in the book will also make it a handy reference for anyone looking to undertake smaller DIY or home-improvement projects.

Each chapter is split into categories such as “Functional Space Planning” and “Design Elements”, which aim to educate the reader about how space and rooms can be best utilised. There is also a chapter dedicated to solar power and energy conservation.

Designing your own house may seem easy and fun to do, but this book will help you see what is really important when it comes to layout and how you can use space to its full potential. For anyone building their dream home this book will prove to be indispensable, even if you are using an architect and will enable you see things from a very different perspective.

The “You Can Do It: The Complete B&Q Step-by-Step Book of Home Improvement” guide contains almost 400 pages of in-depth and clearly explained instructions on how to tackle most common DIY tasks in the home. Covering everything from fitting bathroom furniture and shower enclosures to installing underfloor heating, this is undoubtedly a book that will be suited to beginners in DIY.

The manual will prove indispensible for anyone facing DIY tasks at home. For every job, each step is clearly explained and there is no need for any prior knowledge of home improvement. It could easily turn a complete novice into a respectable DIY’er and has the potential to save you lots of money.

The authors are Nicholas Barnard and Ken Schept, who also collaborated for “Outdoor Living: The Complete B&Q Step-by-step Guide to Designing and Enjoying Your Garden”. The authors come from quite different backgrounds; there is Barnard, whose design knowledge has also led him to write a book on Indian Textiles, while Schept has more expertise in the nuts and bolts of building and DIY.

As well as the easily accessible content, what has made this book such a big seller are the concise pictures and diagrams that are used throughout. Even if you do become confused by what is being explained in the text, every picture can show you exactly how to carry out the job at hand. The range of tasks listed is quite impressive and no doubt took a long time to compile, so it is hardly surprising it has been such sought after book.

99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim & Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special is a comprehensive, spiral-bound manual that is full of great ideas about how to change your old T-shirts into snazzy and eye-catching garments. This book was written by Justina Blakeney and Faith Blakeney – who specialise in revamping women’s clothing and accessories – with Anka Livakovic and Ellen Schultz, who all worked together on 99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim.

What is very impressive about the book is that the majority of the designs and techniques are easy to follow. Finding the right supplies to carry out the revamping work is also easy. Each style is given a difficulty rating between one and four, and the book also claims that no style should take more than half an hour to create. Each can range from the basic sewing of patches to dyeing in different colours, and there are plenty of ideas that could be utilised for both women’s and men’s fashion.

The book is published by Potter Craft who are renowned for their many guides on fashion and the re-styling of old clothes and accessories. Other titles that they have to their name include “Bend-the-Rules Sewing” and “Socks from the Toe Up”.

But as much as the information laid out in the book is in a clear step-by-step format, you may find some basic advice – regarding such things as preparation – has been omitted and it will therefore be up to the reader to find out about those tasks for themselves. However, for anyone interested in style or making their own clothes, this would make a great Christmas or birthday gift.

It is hardly surprising that Kevin McCloud’s book, “Grand Designs Handbook: The Blueprint for Building Your Dream Home” has been so well received. The author of such other titles as “Kevin McCloud’s Grand Tour of Europe” and “Colour Now: An Expert Guide to Choosing Colours for Your Home” is, of course, best known as the presenter of the popular TV series “Grand Designs”.

In this particular edition, McCloud has used his expertise of building design and architecture to produce a book that is easy to follow and full of invaluable advice, from initial plans to overseeing the building of your dream home.

As much as McCloud permeates the grand dream of building the home you’ve always wanted, he is sure to add a healthy dose of realism and doesn’t put the reader under any false impression about how much work is involved. However, in saying that, his opinionated observations that are so much a part of the TV series are present throughout the book.

A polite notice introduces the book, in which McCloud informs the reader that if you don’t like his choice in houses, you are probably not going to like what he has to say about them; therefore, quite simply, you shouldn’t have bought the book.

There are many options to choose from in this category, but you will find that, provided you are a fan of McCloud, the “Grand Designs Handbook” is probably one of the most informative and definitely one of most entertaining out there. Its glossy layout and style will also make it a good choice for a stocking filler at Christmas.

If you are planning to carry out any type of repairs in your home, the “Collins Complete DIY Manual” will be the most indispensable tool at your disposal. From fitting your bathroom furniture to installing dry lining in your basement, this book clearly and concisely explains every step that needs to be undertaken.

Each DIY task is laid out in such a way that you will easily be able to carry out any repairs to your home, and should you be wary of tackling the more difficult jobs yourself, this book’s simple explanations will help you understand what will be happening when you get the professionals in.

Albert Jackson and David Day, who were also behind the publisher’s other popular titles, “Collins Complete Wiring and Lighting “and” Collins Complete Plumbing and Central Heating, wrote the “Collins Complete DIY Manual”.

You should be aware that due to the nature of the tasks included in the “Complete DIY Manual”, it would be fair to say that it is not for the complete beginner and is more suited to people with at least a basic knowledge of the subject.

Underfloor heating and other jobs such as capping chimneys are examples of the type of areas covered. However, though both are easily carried out, the most basic aspects of the tasks involved won’t be covered here.

The “Collins DIY Manual” will make a great Christmas or birthday present for anyone who likes to think they are good at DIY, but who is in need of some expert advice to top up their knowledge.

“1001 Ideas for Bathrooms: The Ultimate Sourcebook” is highly recommended if you fancy designing your own bathroom. Types of furniture, cabinets, bathroom furniture and bathroom sinks are all covered extensively and there are a wealth of inspiring tips and tricks for combining different styles. Its glossy and stylish layout makes it an ideal birthday or Christmas gift.

The book is published by Apple Press and was written by Jerri Farris, who was also the author of “Kitchens and Baths for Today and Tomorrow: Ideas for Fabulous New Kitchens and Baths”, “The Complete Guide to Decorating with Ceramic Tile” as well as numerous other titles. She is also a regular contributor to interior design and home-improvement websites.

No matter what style of bathroom you are looking for, it will be covered in this book. Farris looks into every aspect of bathroom design, including factors such as where it will be located within the house and who will be using it. As much as this glossy book focuses on the style and look of bathrooms, the less-glamorous side of fitting pipes and installing shower enclosures is still given plenty of coverage.

Every step of the installation process is explained clearly, so you will know how far you can go before you have to call on the professionals. Each chapter is conveniently split into sections, such as bathroom taps, shower enclosures, etc. It’s easy to follow layout and jargon-free explanations will make it a recommended read for anyone interested in designing and installing a bathroom.