HIA Newcastle HOMESHOW

The HIA Newcastle HOMESHOW is on at Maitland Park on Saturday 19 September, a one-day showcase of where home design is heading in the region. It's put on by the Housing Industry Association, and the whole thing is built around the latest trends in renovation, building, kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor living.

If you've been thinking about a renovation, it's a good spot to see what's current without having to commit to a project first. The kitchen and bathroom sections usually draw the biggest crowds, and the outdoor living part is worth a look if you're planning a deck or a patio. It's a broad sweep of the home, from the structural side of building through to the finishing touches that actually change how a room feels.

Because it's a single day, it's an easy one to fit in. You can wander through at your own pace, pick out the bits that interest you, and leave the rest. It's less of a formal exhibition and more of a walk-through of different ways to approach a home, so it works whether you've got a full build planned or you're just looking for a few new ideas for a single room.

Entry is free, and parking is free too, so there's no real barrier to dropping in for an hour or staying for the afternoon. The show runs at Maitland Park on Saturday 19 September.