But visually?

I wasn’t a huge fan.

To me, they looked a little cluttered and untidy, especially when packed with food, DVDs, bottles of water, and all the other bits and pieces that seem to accumulate on a boat.

So I finally decided to do something about it.

A Trip to B&Q

The day before filming, I headed to B&Q and picked up a few supplies.

Nothing particularly fancy.

Just:

• Wood-effect self-adhesive wallpaper
• Magnetic catches
• Screws

The plan was simple.

Create removable panels that would cover the shelves and make the interior look cleaner and more organised.

I only bought enough wallpaper for one panel initially because I wanted to see whether the idea actually worked before committing to doing the entire area.

Learning As I Go

One thing I’ve discovered during this boat journey is that my DIY skills aren’t exactly legendary.

In fact, they’re pretty limited.

A drill would have made life significantly easier during this project, and I quickly realised that trying to do everything by hand isn’t always the smartest approach.

I may need to borrow one from a colleague soon.

Still, the whole point of this adventure is learning.

Every project teaches me something new.

Applying the Wood-Effect Covering

With the plywood cut to size, it was time for the part I was most nervous about.

Applying the self-adhesive wood-effect wallpaper.

Like many DIY jobs, it looked easy when I watched other people do it online.

Reality is always a little different.

Slowly peeling the backing away and smoothing it down section by section, I tried my best to avoid air bubbles and creases.

To my surprise, it actually went quite well.

When I finished the first panel and turned it over, I was genuinely pleased with the result.

It looked far better than I expected.

The First Test Fit

Once the panel was complete, I carried it back into the boat to see how it looked.

The difference was immediate.

The open shelving suddenly looked much cleaner and more organised.

Was the colour a perfect match for the existing wood?

Not really.

But that wasn’t the point.

The goal was to make the space feel tidier and less cluttered.

And it definitely achieved that.

Adding Magnetic Catches

The next stage was fitting the magnetic catches.

These are the same style often used on wardrobe doors and cupboards.

The idea was simple.

The magnet would hold the panel closed while still allowing easy access whenever I needed it.

Fitting them without a drill was a challenge, but eventually I managed it.

The result isn’t perfect.

It’s not professional joinery.

But it works.

And sometimes that’s enough.

Why Doing It Yourself Matters

One thing I’ve realised while working on Sarang is that the satisfaction comes from doing the work yourself.

Could I have paid someone to build proper fitted cupboard doors?

Absolutely.

Would they have done a better job?

Without question.

But that’s not really what this journey is about.

The blacking project taught me that.

This project reinforced it.

Every improvement I make teaches me something.

Every success builds confidence.

And every mistake teaches me what to do differently next time.

Progress Is Progress

The second panel still needs finishing because I ran out of wallpaper.

That’s the next step.

Once that’s completed, both shelves will have matching covers and the area should look much cleaner.

Eventually, I may add handles or improve the design further.

But for now, I’m genuinely happy.

It’s another small improvement.

Another lesson learned.

And another step towards making Sarang feel more like home.

One project at a time.