Where to begin?
Set yourself up with a folder, notepad, pencil, tape measure. Colour cards, swatches, and pretty pictures from magazines can wait.
First, before anything else, you must decide what type of style you want to create, and that this really should take into account every room in the house, including kitchen and bathroom, so that a total effect is achieved. See "Getting the look" .
There are those around who adhere to the idea of themes in rooms, if that is their preference no doubt, well fine. All we can say is if you wish to open the door to a room which is tartan clad with bag pipes as lamps, then go to the next containing a wild flower meadow, a bathroom based upon a seashore and a kitchen from a space ship, then there is probably little we can do to help!
Same thing of course goes for fashion trends, and new ranges, think before buying! Imagine a glass basin in a house with young children!
Planning a project is essential to ensure a satisfactory completion. Sit down with pencil and pad and start writing notes, preparing sketches (doesn’t matter if you cannot draw) simply put down your thoughts and ideas, together with colours that you have selected to use for the room, taking into account some of the points we have made in "Using colour" .
Look carefully at the room you plan to decorate, take measurements and make a detailed plan, ensuring you note the position any object which cannot be removed. Also mark radiators, power points, telephone boxes, television cables etc, remembering many of these services are hidden behind the plaster.
Should you scheme include building work, find and talk to a suitably qualified professional about the changes who plan, take on board any advice or assistance offered. Do though make sure you are not persuaded into doing something you do not want, if not sure about a point take time out to think about it.
A budget is a must, set up a detailed file and keep copies of all quotations you received, preferably obtain more than one quote, make a mental note of how thorough a person is when discussing a project. A builder, decorator, fitter, plumber, electrician or installer who makes notes and takes masses of measurements, is far more likely to achieve a better result than someone who simply talks, waves a hand in the air and comes up with a monetary figure. Use your judgement and instinct as well when you look at quotations, it is not always best to go for the cheapest! Use only electrician and gas fitter who are registered.
Likewise applies to carpets, curtains and upholstery, if you plan to have someone make these for you, are reupholster an existing piece of furniture, feel comfortable about the way they go about things before proceeding.
Think now about the actual use of the room, the number of people who will be using it, the type of furniture required. If a television is to be included, where it is to be placed, as this will determine the positioning of other pieces of furniture and in turn their size. Such things as built in book cases or display shelves should be considered at this point, so for example, alcoves either side of a fire could house cupboards, shelves etc. If these are fitted, and skirting board could be continued around the room to create a nice neat look. On the other hand modern pieces could simply stand there, this is all a matter of taste and personal preference, follow your style throughout the house.
Look now to the artificial lighting that you will require, plan where and the type of ceiling and wall fittings required, decide if any shelving or glass fronted cabinets are to have concealed lighting. Where, and on what, any table lamps are to be placed. Do not rush out and buy the fittings until the whole scheme has been planned out, although again you must have an idea of the style. Remember also spot lights can be very useful in nearly any scheme, but are not particularly hansom to look at.
Floor type is one of the most important issues. Not only is this a big area to cover, it is costly, and once down there for quite a lengthy period. Wooden floors are popular, rugs however can be a problem if there are children or people in the house who have difficulty in moving around. Ceramic tiles are fantastic for kitchen, utility and bathrooms but think carefully about their use in other areas.
Next thing to consider if the room being decorated is to house a three piece suite, it is shape, fabric and colour. Next to the floor covering, the shade of the upholstery is most important, plus its practicality should be considered. Placing a light colour leather unit in a family room might seem a good idea, but then think of the sticky fingers of the tiny tots.
Curtains, followed by wall colour and finishes are next, and finally the finishes touches, where are of course all so important and put the "decor" bit into "interior design". All these are personal and should be treated as such. Fine, you can make a great display by having a coffee table book left out because the dust cover matches your room, but what use is this if you simply do not have an interest in its contents? Same for pictures, do not use a picture unless you really enjoy admiring it.
