The days are getting longer and those sunglasses are finally out - it’s official: summer has arrived! Why not make the most of these extra hours of daylight by getting to grips with some really creative DIY?

Most of us can put together flat-pack furniture but few have the confidence to build from scratch. Now there’s no need to be restricted by ready-made furniture. With the help of an ingenious new product from Conti, anyone can be a bespoke furniture maker. Modern, fresh and exciting furniture, storage solutions and shelving can be created via these simple but inspired ready-finished coloured panels, now available at your local B&Q store.

Conti’s new coloured panels come in a choice of maple and oak and provide you with the ideal material to create truly individual designs. Maybe you have an alcove that is just crying out for some shelving but you are unimpressed by the constraints of regular flat-pack shelves? Simply take some ready-finished panels – perhaps in oak for a warm, summery look – cut to size and fix into place. The result: totally bespoke, stylish shelves that perfectly fit your space.

Conti’s coloured panels are 18mm thick and have an extremely dense construction which means they are very strong and do not crack, split, splinter or chip. They are easy to drill and cut to size, and can be used in a massive array of DIY projects, including wardrobes, cupboards, shelving, storage boxes, tables, office furniture – the list is endless. Conti even supplies project worksheets to help get you started, so head down to your local B&Q, pick up some panels, and make the most of these longer summer evenings with some really creative DIY.