It is amazing what you can achieve by investing in a new kitchen or bathroom - or simply giving your home a spring facelift with a lick of paint and some new accessories, writes Gabrielle Fagan Uncertain house prices, spiralling living costs, and the threat of recession could all mean the property boom' of the last decade is over.

Experts predict that buying and selling homes will become increasingly difficult as the credit crunch bites.

But that doesn't mean you have lost out on your dream home, because, guess what? You could already be living in it. And you might be surprised to find that you're probably not using the space you have.

Recent research by Yorkshire Bank found that while housebuyers stretch their finances in the pursuit of more room, most end up not using it. The poll discovered that one in four people had at least one room that remained largely unused - usually a spare bedroom or dining room, lying empty until Christmas.

Gary Lumby, head of retail for Yorkshire Bank said: "While location still tops the charts of must haves', space is now the new frontier.

"However, once we've got it - and in most cases paid a premium for it - we don't often use it the way we intended.

"So instead of moving house every time they need more space, a significant number of people are looking at houses they can grow into and extend."

Making a home more comfortable and desirable - and ensuring all the space works hard - so it is more enjoyable to live in can't be a bad move.

Also, it will pay dividends if you finally decide to put it on the market.

On the bext few pages DIY expert Tommy Walsh (pictured) explains how you could add thousands to the value of your home while turning it into your perfect property.

Planning is key to success, so you should write a list of what you want to do, the tools and materials involved and how long you think it will take' Tommy Walsh

11:07am Wednesday 26th March 2008

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