Whether you are a new or existing homeowner who wants to improve your home both inside and out with a certain design style then this is an article for you.
You may be a new homeowner that has saved a huge deposit and finally, you’ve been able to buy your first home which is a doer-upper, you may be a brand new homeowner that you have brought using the government’s Help to Buy scheme and you now need ideas and inspiration to make it feel like your own with a bit of character.
Whatever your situation we have some great design and upcycling hints and tips that will help tomake your home perfect for you.
Our House Decor Advice
Our first bit of advice is to focus on one room at a time, this will ensure your ideas and inspiration don’t get confused along the way. There’s nothing better than finishing one room before getting started on the next as you will have a place to relax and enjoy whilst the next room you decorate is in chaos.
Start by looking through interior design magazines and blogs to get an idea of the interior design styles you love and can see working in your home. There are so many different styles and eras you can choose from and integrate elements of, you will have loads of fun planning and deciding.
Design Styles
Here are a few for you to have a look at which will help you with your planning, although the list is not exhaustive:
Art Deco
Scandinavian
Bohemian
Contemporary
Hollywood Glam
Industrial
Mid Century Modern
Minimalist
Nautical/Coastal
Country
Shabby chic
Vintage
Bohemian
When looking at different design styles you will instantly know which ones you love and which ones you don’t. Don’t feel you have to have the same style running throughout every room in your home as each room can be different and often that makes it feel more quirky and unique. Think about the style and period of your home as well when you’re planning but don’t be completely guided by it.
You can mix and match and as an example have a Victorian property with modern decor and often this will make it stand out even more.
Other Considerations
Other things to think about when deciding on your design style are; how you will use your room, what is the function of the room, who will use it, colours, hues, patterns, storage and last but not least your layout.
Planning
Start to collect images that you like, either as magazine cutouts or snippets on a PowerPoint slide and keep going back to them. This will help you make your decision on the style and colours you want to go for and will help ensure you don’t make any expensive mistakes. Often you will add an idea but when it all comes together you’ll realise it doesn’t quite fit or look right when together with everything else.
Think about furniture, storage, lighting, window coverings, flooring, artwork, accessories and add images to your room’s mood board so you can start to see it all come together.
Upcycling Ideas
Whilst you’re planning keep an eye out for any second furniture you could upcycle to fit the style of your room. Become a member of local selling sites and keep checking Facebook marketplace for any bargains. Keep a lookout in your local charity shops or recycling centres and you’ll find some amazing pieces of furniture that you can upcycle to complement your design.
There are so many amazing ideas out there now when it comes to upcycling and you really don’t have to spend a fortune to create a standout piece of furniture for your room. Older furniture tends to be more sturdy and of better quality and can make your home feel really decadent and special. Whether it’s a chest of drawers or bedside cabinets in your bedroom, a side cabinet, drinks cabinet, TV stand or bookcase for your living room, once you start your upcycle journey you won’t want to stop.
Preparation
When you have your room design finalised you should prepare your room so you are starting with a blank canvass. Prepare your walls for painting or wallpapering, make sure you have the light fittings you want and the electric points in the right places for your room layout. You don’t want to make the mistake of decorating and then realising the messy preparation stage is notquite finished and you have to go back a step.
To help you choose your paint colours and wallpaper buy some tester pots and paint an area of your wall or hang a sample of the wallpapers you like. Quite often you won’t get this right the first time as the natural light will be different in your room to the shop or it will look different to how you have seen it online.
When you have finished your planning and preparation you can start your decorating and this really is the fun part as it will quickly start to fall into shape.
Upcycling Tips
Alongside your decorating, or when you’ve finished you can start your upcycling of the items you’ve collected for free or brought. There are some amazing upcycling products available now which are safe to use and make your upcycling projects easy and enjoyable.
We would always recommend that you strip back any wood products to their original surface and this will often help you decide if you want to keep it as a wood finish with wax or varnish, or maybe you decide to give it a lick of paint with some of the amazing chalk paints that are now available.
Be aware, once you’re a dab hand with your upcycling products and you’ve tried them out on some pieces of furniture you may even decide to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom. By stripping them back and giving them a lick of paint you will save yourself thousands and often keep the authenticity of a home rather than a new MDF kitchen, bathroom or cabinetry.
Upcycling furniture, kitchens, bathrooms or cabinetry will save you thousands compared to buying new, your home will be unique and you’ll feel amazingly proud of what you have achieved.
Author Bio: Martyn Lenthall works with the marketing team at Eco Solutions and helps to provide expert knowledge to past, present and future customers on a variety of DIY, upcycling and home decor projects.
Check out some of our unique and different upcycling ideas for your home and garden here. Eco Solutions range of products are safe and environmentally friendly surface preparation and cleaning products that you won’t ever want to be without once you’ve tried them. One product does all with no need to pre or after treatments and there are no harmful odours or toxins.
