Do you love or loathe decorating? However you feel, if decorating is a chore you could happily do without, perhaps how you approach it can help.
Discovering inspiration
How do you find inspiration? Maybe you’re moving into your first home and it’s not your preferred colour scheme. One way to inject enthusiasm into your interior design plans, could be to view various show homes. Consider visiting a new restaurant or shop, as often they reflect trends and influence themes.
To produce a perception select colours and finishes, collect paint samples or cards along the way, to form a colour palette. Try to experiment with brighter colours or textures, applying them on intended spaces. Bear in mind, wallpapering one section of a room. Although to some, the art of wallpapering is daunting but with a little patience, you can really make a statement. There’s some useful technology available online, which gives a virtual taste of how your finished room could look.
Planning & preparation
Planning and preparation should be at the forefront, with the revamping of any room – it’s the secret to success! Before you start, it’s best to completely clear the area. If you’re looking for ways to achieve this, you could make use of self storage for a short period of time. By putting your belongings into a separate space, items can be organised and you’ll bring focus to their destination in your newly decorated home! Once empty, make an assessment from ceiling to floor, working out objectives.
Cleaning and sanding uneven wall surfaces, along with the removal of any obstructions, is an essential part of the process. Purchasing masking tape and cover sheets, will give protection to power sockets and woodwork. If it’s an older property, be aware of the structural formation of external and internal walls. If a layout seems beyond your capabilities, take some advice from an expert.
Usually paint manufacturers provide useful guidance on types of paints, primers and decorating materials. As a beginner, doing your research will help ascertain correct use; such as gloss, matt and suitability. Despite the fact that many paints on the market are water based and quick drying, it’s still beneficial to have good ventilation.
Architraves, skirting and flooring are the last steps in the process. With flooring, sometimes it’s best for it to be laid by a specialist, particularly if it’s solid wood. The finishing touches deserve to stand the test of time and be durable for possible traffic they’ll be exposed to.
Timings
Now you’ve embraced your project, you’ll need to work out how it’s going to fit into your schedule. The pre-décor phase is an important step and may take more time than anticipated. It’s easy to become distracted with life’s commitments, although the more on task you stay, the quicker you’ll move to the next stage.
Following an order of priority lays the foundations particularly, if it involves bathrooms and kitchens. With rooms that are essential to everyday living, endeavour to resume working order, reducing inconvenience. Be mindful that if utilities have to be replaced or worked around, the relevant trades need to be organised accordingly. Calculating the duration of a job and lining everything up, is helpful. Where possible, avoid delays or bringing your project to a halt, as it can be hard to slot back into your daily life again.
Keeping costs sensible
To keep within a budget, carry out a cost comparison exercise and track down cheaper alternatives. By estimating quantities and measuring the room area, you’ll establish an accurate shopping list for the DIY stores. Prior to purchasing materials, it’s a good idea to search for special offers or seasonal promotions.
With working at height equipment, do you weigh up the pros and cons to hiring? Using a local tool hire company, could be better than investing in your own, depending on your intentions.
If family and friends are able to help out, this will speed up the process whilst lowering labour costs – many hands make light work!
After you’ve decorated, rather than buying brand new furniture you could think about upcycling existing pieces for a unique look. This can be done simply by repainting or applying surplus material for instance, to be used as a worktop counter.
Approaching a contractor
Provided your purse strings allow, why not contact a painting and decorating contractor, if the project is too much. By setting on a professional, concerns can be alleviated around difficult working areas. It’s advisable to obtain at least three quotations and do your research on their reviews. Reliable decorating companies become booked up especially around spring, so try to book in advance if you’ve a target in mind.
Delivering the décor!
Beginning a decorating task and finishing to a good standard, hopefully enhances your home. Not only does a cosmetic uplift inspire you to do it again, but it has potential to give pleasure for years to come. Aspire to freshen up your surroundings and gain results from a neat décor, it can be fulfilling!
