Thankfully, decorating doesn't have to be time-consuming. Whether you want to focus on the living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or kid's room, there are plenty of useful tips which will quickly turn your house into a home. Because it's not about how much space you have, but what you do with it.
For even the busiest of people, let's look at some easy home decorating ideas to help you achieve a fresh new look in no time.
Repaint inexpensive furniture
Occasionally, you can find a gem in an opshop. Sometimes it's perfect the way it is, and others need a little attention. Furniture is the usual culprit that many people love to bring back to life. Tired wooden furniture generally just needs a quick sand and paint. Christchurch Resene Colour Consultant, Brooke Calvert, recommends using Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel, Resene Enamacryl Gloss waterborne enamel or Resene SpaceCote Flat Waterborne enamel, which can achieve a distressed vintage look if desired.
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"Repainting old furniture is a great way to keep costs down and you can select any colour you desire to work with your current style.
It is very important the preparation is done correctly to ensure you get a long lasting result," she says. "To achieve an all over even finish, apply Resene No.4 Sleeve or alternatively a good quality brush, such as the PAL
legend brush."
"To save your time sanding varnished surfaces, try using Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer for an adhesion coat prior to painting the topcoat."
For a neutral palette, painting a table or chair white offers that clean and crisp look and stands out in a living space which is alive with colour in other decorative forms.
If you have your heart set on a plain wooden chair but want to add a little pizazz, you could add a decorative pattern to the chair back by painting over a stencil. Allow to dry and apply a second coat. Once dry, peel off the stencil.
Change the layout of your furniture
When you change the layout of a room it can completely change the dimensions, making it feel as though you're stepping into an entirely new home!
First, consider what should be the room's new focal point and arrange furniture around it. This could be a fireplace, a piece of art or architectural element.
Keep the layout user-friendly. For example, when you're sitting on the sofa, the coffee table shouldn't be out of reach when you want to place your drink glass down. If you're looking to move away from the 'aligned' look, consider a diagonal arrangement.
Move your furniture around and don't forget the little details such as rug placement. The three rug placement options are: all furniture feet on the rug, all furniture feet off the rug, and just the front feet on the rug.
Small rooms can still ooze comfort, functionality and cosiness by rearranging small pieces of furniture to create an intimate setting. Opt for less intrusive furniture such as large sofas which can suffocate the space.
Potted plant
Is there a corner of your home which needs a little love? Try placing a potted tree plant in a basket or pot and it will add some green cheer to your corner. Opt for varying plant heights, too. If you're feeling super creative, you could paint the plant pot.
When using terracotta pots, the pot must be sealed from the inside out using Resene Terracotta Sealer to prevent any moisture seeping through to the paint finish, which will cause it to peel off. Apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer prior to painting glass jars and finish with a topcoat to create adhesion.
Paint the walls and paint details in contrasting colours
Make your walls stand out by painting details in contrasting colours such as shelving and window frames. "Try The Range fashion colours for a subtle combination or a strong burst of colour, there is plenty to choose from such as Resene Dawn Chorus and Resene Dark Side – an excellent on-trend combination," Brooke says.
Mix and match bedroom linen
It might seem a little daunting when it comes to creating an eclectic look in your home, but try a small space first to help you feel confident with the look you're going for.
To create a cohesive eclectic look, start by picking a favourite object in the room and identify the colour and design of that object to work out what elements will complement it.
Mix floral print items with a bold, striped throw or solid textured duvet. Go for a mixture of prints which have difference shapes, sizes and styles but contain a similar colour theme.
Repaint your bookcase
Make your bookcase pop by refreshing its look using Resene paint. "Choose Resene Chalk Dust for a subtle classic white. It is a limestone white and creates a soft but definite mark. Try Resene Chalk Dust with peach brown ochres, pastel peaches or faded greys, such as Resene Calibre Resene Sazerac or Resene Quarter Baltic Sea." Also, consider patterned wallpaper, fabric, raw wood or panelling as a way to enhance your bookshelf.
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