Hints and Tips
This section is here as a guide to offer you helpful and practical advise, we hope you find it useful and informative:
Do not rule out a more expensive wallpaper or fabric when selecting a design scheme; instead think of alternative ways of how to incorporate them.
Hang wallpaper on one feature wall, rather than the whole room. For the other walls select a colour from the paper and either paint or paper them in less expensive plain paper.
You could add the paper to the walls in feature wall panels framed with painted plaster or wooden moulding.
Fabric can be made up as Roman Blinds rather than curtains, therefore cutting down considerably in fabric quantities. If curtains are still required select a co-ordinating plain in less expensive fabric.
Use the desired fabric for scatter cushions on a sofa or a bed. Or make into a table runner for a dining or coffee table.
Why not stretch the fabric over a wooden frame, to create your own wall panel?- When buying your chosen items, try to buy quality. This particularly applies to those pieces that have to withstand a lot of wear and tear – sofas, beds, flooring, curtain poles/tracks, blinds etc. Initially if you’re on a budget just buy the key elements for your design and then build on this as and when you are able. Of course there could be a single item of furniture that is so expensive it is out of the question, if this is the case try to find something similar in style and have it covered in a more expensive fabric.
- A few very good quality pieces in a room will automatically upgrade other lesser items.
- Try a mixture of vintage pieces with contemporary ones for a more eclectic feel.
- Never lose sight of a rooms function, and always decorate it with this in mind. A kitchen doesn’t need lots of ornamental knick knacks unless you enjoy cleaning on a regular basis! And a hall may look fabulous when a cream carpet is first fitted but it will not stay that way for long. Select more serviceable flooring that will keep its good looks for years.
- An inexpensive fabric can look quite sumptuous if it is interlined for curtains, this will give it extra body and drape.
- Good preparation is imperative to achieving an excellent final result.
- Prepare surfaces for painting by ensuring they are clean and that the surface is smooth. If walls are not perfect then hang lining paper prior to painting. Apply 2 or 3 coats minimum to ensure good coverage and depth of colour. Rub down wood work removing any old paint and to give it a key. Always apply the recommended undercoat before your top coats.
- Always use good quality paint with a high pigment level.
- Hang a good quality lining paper prior to wallpapering for a better finish.
- Make sure tracks and poles are securely fitted before hanging curtains.
- A large mirror hung in a small room cleverly gives the illusion of more space.
- Don’t think that a pair of curtains has to be in the same fabric! Using contrasting or complimentary plains, or a pattern and a plain can look amazing. Link the two together with matching tiebacks or a trim down the leading edge.