The short answer
Distance and what is in between. Move the router to a central, high, open position first, because it costs nothing and fixes the problem more often than any gadget.
- Move the router out of the cupboard. Central in the house, high up, in the open.
- Away from metal and water: radiators, mirrors, fish tanks, foil-backed insulation and boilers all block the signal badly.
- Away from the microwave and cordless phones, which use the same frequency band.
- Move it off the floor. Signal spreads outwards and downwards more than upwards.
- Then, if it is still bad, consider a mesh system rather than a simple extender.
What will ruin it
A faster broadband package cannot fix a Wi-Fi coverage problem. You will pay more every month for a signal that still does not reach the back bedroom. Test with a wired connection at the router before upgrading anything.
Why it works
Wi-Fi is radio, and radio is absorbed by water and reflected by metal. A house is full of both, which is why a few metres of position can matter more than a whole tier of broadband speed.
Tipking is general household information, not professional advice. Test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
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