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The COVID-19 pandemic saw Brits told to stay at home for large amounts of time as the country was plunged into lockdown repeatedly. To keep ourselves busy in these unprecedented times, many of us resorted to taking a long look at our homes and tidying them up with DIY projects.
And as lockdown lifted, this trend seems to show no signs of stopping – with two out of five UK households planning on carrying out some simple DIY projects, whether that be a new coat of paint, some wallpaper or even restyling some of their rooms with new accessories and furniture.In this helpful guide, La Redoute has partnered with colour specialists Dulux, guiding you through how best to style different areas of your home, from paint choices to accessories. So, pick up your paintbrush and your overalls, and let’s get stuck in.
What do I need to decorate a room?
First thing’s first, if you are looking for a simple refresh, paint is the easiest and most cost-effective way to lift your spaces. But what do you need to decorate a room?- Your chosen paint
- A roller and tray (you can get different types of roller for different walls and paints)
- Paintbrushes - pick a good quality brush and choose a few different sizes
- Decorator’s caulk (if you feel up to filling in any cracks and around edges)
- Masking tape for your edges
- Plastic sheets (for covering furniture and fixtures)
- Cloths (for dusting down walls and wiping up spillages)
- Ladders (for getting to those difficult areas)
- White spirit (for any accidental drips)
- Overalls, gloves and goggles (if you want to cover up)
Decorating preparation tips
Before you start painting, preparing for decorating is key to achieving the perfect finish. Here are some of our key decorating preparation tips to get you off on the right foot.Cover up
It’s important to cover wall sockets as well as window frames, coving, door handles and hinges, and anything else that you don’t want to paint, with masking tape. Make sure you apply it as neatly as possible as any imperfections will show up once you have finished.Dust your walls
It sounds odd to dust down your walls but it’s key to achieving a smooth finish. A quick once over with a dry, soft cloth is usually all it takes. Make sure to be extra thorough in the top corners of your room as that’s where pesky cobwebs could be hiding and ready to ruin your finish.Check if you need to sand
If your wall has been freshly plastered, make sure that it has completely dried before you start painting. You can tell it is dry when no dark patches are visible on the wall. If there are any lumps and bumps on your plaster, give them a light sand and then dust the wall as per the step above. Top tip: fresh plaster needs priming before your finishing coat of paint. Most DIY stores will stock a base coat for your lovely new walls. You can also use what’s known as a “mist-coat” which is made up of 60% paint and 40% water to create a watered-down emulsion that can penetrate the plaster.Fill imperfections
Any cracks or holes? You can use a filler to sort these out which will require light sand once dry. There are a number of different fillers on the market, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for these. You can also use a basecoat to fill smaller imperfections like hairline cracks.How to decorate a small room
You’ve followed all the tips above and are ready to get decorating. If you are tackling a smaller room, here are our top tips on getting the most from your space and creating a harmonious environment that can be enjoyed for years to come.Small living room ideas
There is nothing wrong with having a small living room – in fact, colouring and styling it in the right way can transform a space that could become cluttered relatively easily into something cosy, warm and oh so inviting.If you’re wondering how to decorate a small living room, you’ve come to the right place. First, let’s take a look at the best colour options.
It may sound crazy, but you can go dark with a smaller living space. Dark grey, forest greens and navy tones work well in highlighting ceiling height and work really well with clean lines and lighter coloured accessories.
Trick the eye with a mirror that emphasises the room’s height or width. Something like the fantastic Lenaig Industrial Mirror is big enough to add extra depth to your living space, while also making the most of the room’s height or width – depending on the way you would like to hang it.
When it comes to ornaments, stick with simple lines and lighter colours that work with your chosen dark colour palate. The Florian Plant Pot looks fabulous with its contemporary wooden feet and would work beautifully with a tall artificial (or real if you’re so inclined) plant to further emphasise the room’s height.
Small kitchen ideas
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and even the smallest of spaces can feel warm and inviting if you style them properly. For a modern small kitchen, look for lighter coloured paints, and make sure you opt for a finish that is suitable for cooking areas – a grease-resistant paint is best as these are generally more hardwearing and wipeable (perfect for any messy cooks).Top tip: try and create a visual flow between shared, small spaces. For instance, if you have a kitchen and diner together, a pale green or blue blends the two spaces together.
Styling your kitchen is one of the most exciting parts of creating an updated space. If you have lighter walls, add pops of colour with accessories and lighting, and keep those to just a few colour highlights to tie everything in together nicely.
If you have a galley kitchen or a narrow space, a colourful runner is a perfect way to emphasise your room’s length while adding a focal point to your kitchen. A nice example is the gorgeous Ourika Berber-style Runner Rug which is available in two different sizes, meaning you can find the perfect one for your room.
Other kitchen-friendly accessories? How about a range of hanging plants in corners at differing heights? The Macramaté Woven Rope Hanging Planter is perfect to brighten up your decorative flowering plants and those with colourful, cascading leaves.
Small bathroom ideas
A cosy bathroom is a place you can relax, enjoy a soak or long, hot shower and shut yourself away from the outside world, even if it’s just for 10 minutes before the kids start banging on the door. If you’re looking to make the most of your space, here are our best small bathroom ideas.Any paint you use in your bathroom should be suitable for a high-humidity area, so when you’re looking for your dream colour, be sure to select one that is moisture-resistant. Colour-wise, creating a sanctuary depends on your own personality, but dark greens and blues work wonderfully well with lots of plants and wooden furniture. To add texture to a plain floor, our Tecki Bathroom Duckboard is chic and warm, crafted from teak.
Add pops of colour with luxurious-feeling towels and other soft furnishings. Choosing the right towels for your space is really important, so be sure to check out our helpful towel buying guide for all the information you’re likely to need to make the best choice for you.
Embrace your space
A happy home is a home you love to spend time in, and it’s important to embrace your space. In this section, we’ll look at how to make the most of your four walls and any trends you should be aware of when thinking of redecorating.The dark wall treatment
Look at lots of the home influencer accounts on Instagram and you’ll see dark colours used increasingly frequently. Dark colours are sumptuous and bold, creating a dramatic look that is sure to impress guests. They also have the potential to create a cosy atmosphere that’s perfect for dark winter evenings.But there are some considerations to make sure your space doesn’t look dark and uninviting.
Contrast with lighter colours – it’s important to create balance in your spaces by contrasting darker tones with lighter accents, whether that’s painting walls in a lighter shade or by utilising soft furnishings like cushions and table lamps.
Coordinate with wooden furniture – wooden furniture turns farmhouse chic on its head by creating a modern, warm and inviting space. Oak tones add depth and when paired with a similar flooring and rug, can make your room feel extra cosy.
Colour trends
Want to be in vogue? These are the latest colour trends you should be thinking about when decorating your next room.Colour blocking – this may be a blast from the past but colour blocking is back. Creating a colour block room gives you the ability to really tap into the world of colour, by picking the boldest shades possible.
Colour drenching – this is all about being confident with colour and applying it to as many areas as you can. Forget white skirting boards and woodwork, embrace colour drenching with mid-strength tones.
Gloss is back – a prediction for 2022, an expectation that gloss paint will make a comeback. Perfect for woodwork, the gloss has come a long way from the smelly, limited colour and difficult to work with paint of years gone by.
Painted ceilings – the white ceiling is to become the fifth wall. Light blue ceilings have the ability to make the sky come indoors – and by bringing the colour down to the walls by about 30cm, you can easily enhance the airy feeling.
And there you have it, everything you need to know to decorate and style your space and make coming home from work the best feeling in the world. Don’t forget to visit our Inspiration Hub for more great ideas for your home.
