You don’t need a university degree to decorate a room yourself. Though some sections of the project demand skill, it is a matter of following a process to the end. There are some parts of a room renovation that you cannot do yourself for safety reasons. Expect to spend money on professional help where you need it.
If you want to decorate a room for the first time, you have come to the right place. There are some useful instructions here to help you finish the decor to a high standard.
Lighting And Power
Before you decorate a room, you must deal with a new lighting system. Your room might have only one light source in the centre of the ceiling that is old fashioned. Think about using more of the ceiling for the main lighting by fitting modern LED units into it. The recessed fittings are popular in modern rooms today because they do not intrude into the design scheme. Consult an electrician for advice and to install extra power points.
Preparation
Any decorator will tell you that the preparation of the room is the most important part of the task. After a couple of hours work with sandpaper, this is the point where many people give up on their project. If you feel the same way and decide to seek reliable painters and decorators in North London, contact Rob’s Decorators. Some people find this part of the job therapeutic, so stick it out for a while; you may come to enjoy it. Here is how to prepare your room for new decor.
- Remove the curtain rails, artwork, and anything else that is fixed to the walls.
- Use a steamer to remove the old wallpaper. Be very careful because it can damage the plaster. Hold the plate against the paper for ten seconds at a time until it comes loose.
- Use sandpaper of the walls. A product made from aluminium oxide will last a long time, Traditional sandpaper will wear out quickly.
- Give the woodwork a key for new paint by rubbing it with the same sandpaper that you used on the walls.
- Repair and cracks using filler. You can buy it ready mixed or as a powder to mix yourself.
- Use decorators caulk to fill any gaps where the skirting boards meet the wall.
Painting
Paint the ceiling first with a roller. Silk emulsion is the most suitable product, but you can use any other paint. Use a brush to paint around the edges.
Apply an undercoat to the woodwork next. The product is easy to apply and leaves a good surface on which to apply the topcoat. The topcoat is an oil based gloss paint, and it goes on now. You will probably only need to cover it once because you took the time to apply a base coat first.
Now you can set to work painting the walls. Matt paint has better coverage than silk, but it will not wipe clean. The choice is yours.
Finally, you hang the new wallpaper. It isn’t as difficult as you might think. The trick is to keep everything clean and take your time. The paste does not set quickly so you can work each piece for fifteen minutes or so.
When you understand the procedure and techniques, you can achieve great things. The style and design of the room are personal choices so we must leave that to you. Look for more of my articles and improve your skills further, but for now I wish you well.
