Revamp
your bedroom on a shoestring
If
you're thinking about redecorating your bedroom, it doesn't need
to cost a fortune. Most of the ideas in fashion in interior design
at the moment are easy to reproduce in your own home at a fraction
of the price. All you need is some spare time and a little enthusiasm…
The
quickest and easiest way to give your bedroom a new lease of life
is to paint the walls a different colour. Here are some handy tips
on how to get it right:
1)
Pop down to your nearest DIY centre and pick up some colour charts
and testers before you buy a big pot. An extra half hour spent planning
the colour scheme will save you a lot of time and heartache later!
2)
I would recommend choosing a fairly pale and neutral wall colour
- if you fancy something bold, limit it to one wall (a very 'in'
option at the moment) to avoid 'shrinking' the room. Also remember
that you have to live with it until the next redecoration, so while
bright orange may seem like a good idea, think about how you would
feel waking up to it with a hangover!
3)
It's also worth spending a few extra pounds to buy a better quality
of paint. I would only use Dulux or Crown at the very least, and
if you can stretch to it, there's nothing better than Farrow &
Ball. Cheaper paint may seem like a more cost-effective option,
but you'll probably have to do an extra coat (very boring) and it
will probably work out more expensive in the long run.
4)
Use Matt Emulsion for a sophisticated, elegant, chalky look, Satin
or Silk finish for a slight sheen (good for reflecting light in
darker rooms). You can also buy wipe-clean paint now, which is excellent
for family areas that see a lot of activity!
5) Make sure you move all furniture to the middle of the room and
cover with dust sheets (ordinary old bedding sheets will do - emulsion
normally washes out) before starting.
6)
Unscrew your light fitting from the ceiling and your switches from
the walls (carefully - use plenty of common sense please!) so you
can paint behind them without getting paint all over them) and have
a damp cloth handy for any 'misses'
7)
Painting your ceiling white is a great way to spruce up and lighten
any room, but make sure that you paint the edges of the ceiling
(where it meets the top of the walls) carefully. If you don't have
coving, use masking tape to create a straight line, otherwise you'll
have a messy line where the wall colour meets the ceiling colour.
Alternatively, just paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls,
and then you won't have that problem!
8)
If you start painting on one day and intend to finish the following
day, wrap your brushes and rollers in cling film to keep them moist.
Unwrap them the next day and they should be absolutely fine to carry
on using.
8)
Invite your friends round for a 'painting party' - ply them with
wine or beer, have a laugh and get the job done in a fraction of
the time!
9)
Don't forget to wash your rollers and brushes in plenty of warm
soapy water afterwards. It's a pain to get all the paint out of
a roller until the water runs clear, but it's worth it to be able
to use them again.
Above
all, have fun! You don't need to be a master decorator to do a really
good job!
Submitted
by Emma Cooper Tarry
I-Candi Designs
020 8319 4486
07811
200279
http://www.i-candi.co.uk
