If you’re planning to transform any space, you need to think about the aesthetic (how you want the room to look) and the practical (how you go about achieving the desired result). It’s always a good idea to understand the process—even if somebody else is decorating for you—and you should always start with a mood board.
Getting in the mood
Just to get a piece of board—a large-ish piece of cardboard will do—and paint it white. You now have a clean canvas. Next, go through as many lifestyle and home decorating magazines as possible and just tear out the pages that you like, be it colour or fabric, or anything that inspires you. Whittle down your pile until you are happy with your focus and potential overall look. Then pin those on your board.
Do the same thing with wallpapers to focus your look and colour. Feature walls look great and can allow something bold without being overwhelming.
Top Tip: Never buy wallpaper directly from the internet without having a physical sample, because there’s always a subtle difference in colour.
Preparation
Make sure the room is properly prepped. Preparation is key; you cannot skimp on this. Remember to thoroughly sand any woodwork you are painting. It is also a good idea to give it an undercoat, but be sure to choose the correct undercoat for the top coat paint you will be using.
The paint type you use will depend on the finish you require, how long you want the job to take, and so on. Oil-based paints are harder wearing, but cleaning your brushes is much quicker and easier with water-based paints. For most walls, a water-based paint is ideal, but for woodwork you may want to think about oil-based.
If the walls are in a bad way, they will need to be replastered by a professional. However, if they just have a few cracks with small holes and dents, then you can probably get away with just filling in these blemishes. If the wall has had water damage or black mould in the past, you may need to put a specialised undercoat on first. Your local hardware store should be able to advise you.
Decorating
Once your preparation is complete, the next step is a mist coat: 50% water and 50% emulsion paint. If you are painting straight onto the plaster, it’s imperative that you do a mist coat first which, when dried, will highlight the areas to be filled and sanded. Alternatively, you can line the walls with lining paper to smooth them and avoid doing additional work on the wall. But always use a high-grade paper.
If you are using wallpaper, make sure to slightly overlap the edges. The last thing you need is to hang a really expensive paper then look at it the next morning and see a white line between the two sheets – shrinkage definitely happens. The paper needs to be pushed together enough to allow for movement as it dries.
When I decorate, I start from the top and then work down. Ceilings first and always two coats or a mist coat then filling and then another two coats. I also mist coat the walls before finishing them. Then I do woodwork and wallpapering my feature wall(s). Finally, I paint my remaining walls.
Furnishing
Before choosing your furniture and other decorative items, go back to your board and take another look now that your room is decorated. If necessary, look at more magazines or visit your favourite stores and snap pictures of the items that appeal to you. At Daisy’s Emporium we encourage people to bring their mood board with them when they visit so we can help suggest ideal items.
If you already have furniture items that you’d like to keep, but feel aren’t quite right for the new look, then it is always nice to upcycle a piece of furniture. Or perhaps you spot a piece that would be perfect, if it were just a little different. Then upcycle it. You might be surprised at the places where you can find good quality furniture at a fraction of the price of new items. Personally, I love auctions, junk shops and house clearances.
Top Tip: Try to find furniture made of either mahogany or oak as these upcycled items look substantial and exude quality when finished.
Finally, remember that lighting is also hugely important. Think about what the room will be used for, as this will influence your lighting decisions. Do you want bright light in a kitchen, or mood lighting in a lounge, or softer lighting in a bedroom with a brighter bedside table light for reading? Think about how you intend to live in the room.
Source: London Daily News / Digpu NewsTex