Property-Thedosanddon'ts ofhomedécor

Guide to the basics of decorating your home by Helen Say

Planning how to decorate your home We're used to seeing “before and after” shots of home renovations in magazines or online. Although it might look easy, a lot of thought and planning will have gone into making the space work. Decorating your home can be daunting, putting coherent schemes together can be anything from tricky to terrifying. Decorating is all about the things you do; the colours you pick, the furniture you love and the accents you choose to finish the space. Decorating is also about what you don't do, as you may need to undo it later. Do think about how you use the space While it’s nice to have a beautiful home, it also needs to be practical. Think about how you use rooms, if you have children/pets and whether you entertain a lot or prefer nights in. Do remember the mantra ‘less is more’ Subtle accessories and accents are more tasteful than trying to fill a room with things in the same colour/print. Once a room starts to look clut1 tered, stop filling it or add storage space. Do make a budget It’s easy to get carried away when decorating. Make a budget and stick to it, decide which elements are most important and which you can do without. Don’t choose the wall colour first When remaking a room, never choose wall colour first. Paint/ wallpaper is available in thousands of colours and can be easily changed. Choose expensive items first and build a colour palette around them. Don’t stick to one colour A colour theme is a good way to pull your home together. However, an entire room with matching walls, carpet and furnishings will make the space feel claustrophobic and old fashioned. Don’t opt for style over comfort There are a lot of items that look great but are uncomfortable or impractical. Think about how you're going to use the piece before purchasing. Helen Say copywriter/blogger - cblservices.co.uk