ONE of the biggest problems today is finding something original. The availability of decorative items, furniture and soft furnishings has increased dramatically over the past few years.

You only have to take a walk around most shopping centres to find a full array of home interior outlets with prices to suit most wallets.

So how can you find something original? One answer is to make something yourself. We have largely turned into a throw-away society and the thought of making a piece of furniture most would find horrifying and many would not even know where to start. However, hand in hand with the interest in interiors has come the availability of materials.

Even the least practical of us, with time and patience, are capable of creating a unique and useful piece.

The bed illustrated was built in about six hours and proves what can be achieved with imagination and a little effort.

Not an easy first project, but one which illustrates the success that a little time and effort can bring, not to mention the personal satisfaction.

This bed was built at a fraction of the cost to similar ones found in designer stores, with the added benefit of incorporating personal design specifications.

All the materials used in the project were sourced locally, the only pre-manufactured part being the mattress.

If you are not quite so confident in your carpentry skills, build your confidence with smaller projects.

Tired furniture can be given an individual face lift with very little effort. A chest of drawers can be stained or painted, adding new handles.

Again the wide range of paints and handles available is endless, offering more combinations to create a one-off piece.

Furniture delivery periods can now extend past 10 weeks in some cases.

The more individual the item generally the longer you will have to wait for delivery. If this bed can be made in six hours at home, it seems a tempting alternative!