home & garden

gr eat decor atin g tips from Cr aigar d Decor

One of the up-sides of being at home more during l ockdown is that you might have the time to look at some serious DIY. It helps keep you fit as well as occupied and a bit of decorating will give you a whole new fresh space to enjoy. Craigard Decor has teamed up with Dulux to give you some tips on how to make it a stress-free and professional project!

Discover the dos and don’ts of how to decorate, to keep you on track towards your design goals.

Whether it’s a clashing colour choice, a lumpy paint finish or a sofa that’s too big for the living room, taking the wrong turn while decorating is as easy as taking the wrong exit on a roundabout. It’s time to load up your decorating GPS with interior design tips to keep you on the straight and narrow towards success. You’ll learn about decorating mistakes to avoid and easy things to try for brilliant results.

First up, let’s start with the top 10 dos and don’ts of painting to ensure that the foundation of your design is rock solid.

Don ’t: 1. Forget to prep your walls

It’s very tempting to skip this crucial first step, whether it’s to save time or because you think your walls look fine to paint over. But, it’s often hard to see dirt, dust, scratches and cracks, until they rear their ugly heads through your new paint. Before you do anything, give your walls a good clean with warm, soapy water, fix any cracks or holes with filler and wait until the surface is totally dry before painting. 2. Paint directly out of the can

As colours can vary slightly from can to can, it pays to decant paint into a smaller container to mix it before you start painting. In terms of how to decorate while making the least amount of mess, this tip might just save your sanity. Imagine accidentally knocking over a 10- litre can of paint? Enough said. 3. Load your brush up with too much paint It seems like a good idea to load your brush up with as much paint as possible. However, it’s one of the biggest decorating mistakes to avoid. With a brush, this results in a lumpy finish, so make sure the paint doesn’t come down the bristles further than halfway. Too much paint on a roller will only result in pesky drips. Lightly spread paint around the head by rolling it up and down on the tray until it’s saturated, but not dripping. 4. Paint directly over damaged wallpaper

It’s possible to paint over wallpaper if it’s in prime condition, smooth and clear of debris. However, if it’s heavily textured, loose, ripped, damp or mouldy, painting over it will only cause bigger issues in the future. It’s also even more difficult to remove once you’ve done so. Sorry, a bit of extra muscle power is required to strip it, but you’ll be glad you did. 5. Paint in low light

Whether you’re rushing to get the job done just as the sun goes down or it’s dark and stormy outside, it’s always better to wait for bright, natural light to paint your rooms. Painting in dim or harsh artificial lighting can easily result in patches and imperfections that only show up in glaring natural light.

Do: 6. Use the right paint finish

The right paint finish for different surfaces and specific results is the key to a perfect result. For example,

mid-sheen and gloss finishes reflect light, while Dulux Easycare Bathroom and Dulux Easycare Kitchen offer moisture and stain resistant qualities 7. Cut in the edges

Before you start painting the walls, cut in the edges with a one or twoinch brush. This means first painting the areas that are too tight for rollers, like the ceiling line, corners and trim. 8. Paint from top to bottom

From preparation to painting, work from the top of your room down, for best results. Start with the ceiling and the architrave. Then, paint your walls from the top down with your roller. Finish the job with woodwork and skirting. 9. Paint for best coverage

If you’re flinging your roller around willy nilly, you might not achieve the best coverage. Instead, apply your paint in a ‘W’ shape on the wall. Go over the ‘W’ with an ‘M’ shape to fill in the gaps, then reload your roller and move onto the next section in the same way. 10. Seal paint-filled roller heads

Are you painting in the same colour over a couple of days? Save yourself time and paint by sealing your paint-filled roller heads in airtight plastic bags overnight.

Get in touch with Tony at Craigard Decor on 01631 562680.

Sponsored by

JUNE GARDENING TIPS

June is a busy time in the garden. Everything is fl ourishing, including the weeds, so keep your borders well hoed to keep the weeds away.

Grass cutting should be at least once per week to get the best results and keep it well watered. Avoid any lawn feeds in dry sunny conditions, as this may result in burning the lawn.

The spring/summer Bedding planted last month will be now just starting to really take off , so help encourage fl owering by nipping off old shoots and fl ower heads and keep well watered.

Some spring fl owering shrubs may need pruned back now after fl owering, such as weigela and philadelphus and some rhododendrons, could have a light prune after fl owering.

Remember to turn your compost heaps to keep them rotting down the grass clippings and leaves. The algae will be taking hold on your patios and walls, so either pressure wash it off or use an algae killer for best results.

The Landscaping Centre team are currently installing new driveway and paths- this is a great summer job and always easier to do when the weather is dry, so if there are any larger tasks that you cannot manage, then get in touch and we will be happy to help.

Although we may not get many dry days, outdoor kitchens are becoming more and more popular. Outdoor living can be created using solid timber gazebos and paved areas with built in units to cater for a BBQ and eating area. We have recently been asked to build an outdoor kitchen with a hot tub. Creating more living space in the fresh air can’t be beaten.

#jogscotlandActive