Sometimes, decorating your house can be tricky, and tiresome. There’s so much to think about. What color scheme to choose. What kind of furniture compliments each room. “Is that the right shade?” “Will that sofa fit in the room?” It can be a very daunting task especially if you’re new to decorating and are worried you might not get it right the first time or the next time. Everyone wants to make their house a home they love and can be proud of after all their hard work. Below are a few handy tips to being as prepared as possible before you begin purchasing and painting.
Inspection
Before you begin decorating, it’s really vital that you inspect the area first. Check your walls for peeling paint, holes, any damage that needs tending to first. Make sure there is no clutter on the floor. If you’re going to be dragging furniture in, or using substances that can spill, it’s important you protect your floors and any woodwork. Plastic sheets are a good way to prevent damage. Make sure plug sockets are covered, and any rough/sharp surfaces are sanded down.
Neutral is Not ‘Boring’
Picking a color scheme for your house can be tricky. For example, strictly speaking you could have your bathroom any color you like, but it’s very rare you’ll find an orange bathroom. If you’re worried about what color schemes to go with, playing it safe is not a boring option, and there are a lot of neutral and light color schemes that not only go well together, but go great in any room. Here a list of neutral colors that you might consider for decoration:
- Repose Gray
- Kendall Charcoal
- Balboa Mist
- Pale Oak
- Havana Tan
- Zurich White
- Accessible Beige
Know Your Measurements
When you’re looking for furniture for rooms, or even ornaments to an extent, it’s important to know the measurements of the space you’re trying to use, and the furniture you want to buy. Sounds like a no-brainer, but more often than not, you’ll find that people will ‘go with their gut’ instead of taking the time to measure accurately, which can be incredibly risky in a game where even the smallest of miscalculated measurements can be the difference between a comfortable fit, and trying to force your newly furnished oak desk in an alcove that’s simply too small. It’s a good idea to take into account the size of your entrances, and if what you’re trying to build should be built in the room first. Another common mistake is building furniture that’s simply too tall for your doorway, rather than bringing inside the room first before assembling it.
Feel free to sketch out a rough plan of the room with the furniture placement. It doesn’t have to be a work of art, it just needs to guide your redecorating efforts. You can even take a picture of the room to help with visualizing if you’re out and about picking new furniture. There are also free apps you can now download to most smartphones that will allow you to create room plans by taking a photo of the room and letting you design over it. Try one out and let me know what you think!
XOXO,
