We’ve been in our house just over two years and are only the second family to live in it, but the place was in need of some serious renovation when we moved in. We’ve stripped the place right back, replacing all the doors, skirting board and skimming the walls. But if you are not doing as intense a renovation project as this, there are a lot of areas that can easily be overlooked.
Skirting
For example, with so many other things to pay for during a room upgrade, it can be easy to think that keeping the existing skirting board would be a cost saving. However you would be surprised at the difference replacing skirting board with some ovolo skirting can make. It really freshens up a room and makes the overall feel much more ‘finished’.
Paint
A fresh lick of paint is the most obvious way to brighten up a room, but taking time to prepare the walls can make such a difference to the overall look. Try to avoid painting over the walls as they are and take time to prepare them by sanding them down and filling any small holes with filler.
Art Work
Art is a cheap and easy way to brighten up a room. Changing the pictures on your walls can help change the mood of a room, for example you may currently have a coastal feel with images of the sea but wish to upgrade the space to something more modern. Choosing abstract paintings or graphical words can help to do this. There are many sites like Desenio and Juniqe that sell affordable artwork to take a look through, but a neon sigh such as one of these from Neon Mama will really make your wall pop.
Storage
Not incorporating enough storage into the design of a room can lead to problems later on, especially if you have children! Nothing can undo all of your hard work faster that lots of clutter. Providing somewhere to stow away toys, books and craft projects can really help keep a room looking tidy and welcoming.
Furniture
Be careful not to over decorate a space and add too much furniture as this can make a room feel smaller. If your living room is small, you may not need a coffee table, perhaps a smaller side table would do?
These are just a few things to consider. Redecorating can be great fun, but sometimes it’s more than a lick of paint and some new cushions that are needed.
