Decorating Your Home Requires Good Planning

Home decorating can be a challenge. But, if done properly, very rewarding. Beware though, there can be pitfalls to such a do-it-yourself project. So before you start any home decorating project, weigh up the pros and cons.

Choose Materials Carefully

The variety of materials now available offers you considerable choice when it comes to the style in which you decorate your home. What is practical in your area? Will a decorative wallpaper present a pleasing appearance? Or perhaps you prefer a veneer or a fabric wall covering? You may conclude that a simple coat of paint will provide the look you prefer. Before finally deciding, take into account the practical aspects. These include the cost, the durability of the finish, the ease of installation, and the time and effort needed to maintain and clean the walls. All of this has to be compared with what it would cost to have professionals do the work.

The color of your chosen decorative material is also important. Will it blend with other features of the room? If the room is usually cold, a warm shade of paint will create the sense of warmth. Light blue or green hues will make rooms that are on the warmer side of the house seem cooler. Dark or poorly lighted rooms can be brightened with light-colored finishes.

A kitchen often gets hot of course. Therefore, some prefer a cooler color, to `cool down` the room. A bathroom, on the other hand, is a place where a `warmer` color, a red, or brown, for example, will create a warmer feeling.

Very small rooms suit pale, cool colors. Coat low ceilings with a pale paint, and contrast with slightly darker walls to create an illusion of height. If you choose dark colors bear in mind they absorb heat and have more moisture problems than lighter shades. Dark paint fades quicker, so it's difficult to touch up.

Planning and Preparing the Key

The secret of successful decorating is good preparation! Professional decorators take time and effort to prepare surfaces for painting, in comparison with the time it actually takes to do the job. If you are doing it yourself, do not skimp on time and effort when getting ready. You should aim for a surface that is dry, smooth, and clean.

Repair damaged surfaces by filling in cracks. Then rub down the repaired surface with glasspaper or sandpaper to achieve smoothness. Before you begin to paint, wash the surface with a damp cloth to remove dust from the wall plaster, and allow to dry.

What about your plan of action? Will anyone else in the family be able to provide help, whether it`s in the preparation, or in the painting, and/or wallpapering itself? And, there`s nothing worse than getting partway through and finding that you have insufficient materials to complete the job. And if the stores are closed you can`t just go out to buy more. So, make sure you have all the tools and decorating materials you need to finish the job.

Correct Care Of Brushes And Rollers

1. Bend and thoroughly work the bristles of a new brush to remove dust and loose bristles.
2. Avoid dipping the brush too deeply into the paint. (Cover only between one third and one half of the length of the bristles to prevent excess paint from becoming embedded in the stem.)
3. Clean the brush after use. Use mineral spirits for oil-based paint and warm water for latex, or water-based, paints.
4. Store clean, dry brushes in clean paper to absorb remaining dampness and help keep the bristles in shape.
5. Follow a similar procedure with paint rollers, making sure to dry any metal parts completely to prevent rust and consequent paint discoloration next time you use them.