Decorating advice on a very tight budget

Gigervamp

I'd recommend matt emulsion for the walls if the paper is textured.

Another alternative for your feature wall is wall stickers. You can get some great designs and all you would need to do then is paint the wall and add the stickers. Achica are currently doing some lovely ones.

With regards the chandelier. If the dining table is underneath it, then it doesn't matter too much about the height of your ceiling. We've got lowish ceilings and had a chandelier over the dining table.

ETA another thought. You say your uplighter is black. How about getting a tin of cream spray paint and painting it?

lily117

I know it's not the questions you asked but I wonder is it essential to remove your fireplace? I only ask because I know many people that have and regretted it later, you may want an open fire one day?

ally18

Gigervamp wrote: »

I'd recommend matt emulsion for the walls if the paper is textured.

Another alternative for your feature wall is wall stickers. You can get some great designs and all you would need to do then is paint the wall and add the stickers. Achica are currently doing some lovely ones.

With regards the chandelier. If the dining table is underneath it, then it doesn't matter too much about the height of your ceiling. We've got lowish ceilings and had a chandelier over the dining table.

ETA another thought. You say your uplighter is black. How about getting a tin of cream spray paint and painting it?

Ooooh hadn't thought of painting the uplighter. Wonder if I could do something with the horrid shade thing itself too?

Ref a chandelier, would it be possible for me to fit? The light I have at the mo is one fixed to the ceiling. I'm not exactly excellent at DIY btw but can change a socket etc.

Ref the feature wall, at the mo I have 3 pictures on that wall that I want to keep. They can't be reframed btw.

Thanks very much for the ideas so far

ally18

lily117 wrote: »

I know it's not the questions you asked but I wonder is it essential to remove your fireplace? I only ask because I know many people that have and regretted it later, you may want an open fire one day?

Hi,

No, I definitely won't want an open fire. I have to admit, the log burners do look fantastic but no, it wouldn't suit my room.

Plus, costs :eek:

happydays89

Try looking in local papers,Facebook,charity shops ect....for a cream rug,that would break up the terracotta carpet.Then look out for bric a brac at car boots that are cream in colour with bits of terracotta in them,this should bring the room together and make it cosy.

Gigervamp

Fitting a chandelier isn't too difficult, but you will need to turn the electric off while you're doing it as they need to be wired in. But if you can change a plug, it's not much different from that.

ally18

Gigervamp wrote: »

Fitting a chandelier isn't too difficult, but you will need to turn the electric off while you're doing it as they need to be wired in. But if you can change a plug, it's not much different from that.

Thanks, I forgot to ask are they heavy? I wondered if they needed special fixings ie to the joists above? The reason I ask is that in my lounge I have one of those whirly things (ive forgotten what they are called ) and that needed an electrician fixing it via the bedroom above.

maman

ally18 wrote: »

Ref the feature wall, at the mo I have 3 pictures on that wall that I want to keep. They can't be reframed btw.

Thanks very much for the ideas so far

I think feature walls with patterned paper are getting a bit past it now. That's only my opinion but if I were you I'd just go for a different/toning shade of paint. And I think pictures would look so much better on a plain wall.


Thanks for starting the thread. I've often thought we could do with a thread about decorating/interior design but I've never seen one.


Shame you can't do photos (but that's just me being nosey).

Dark_Star

Keep a lookout on freecycle/freegle as there are often offers for rugs/lampshades/leftover paint/odd wallpaper rolls that people give away.


Try posh decorating shops for leftover rolls as you may get an expensive roll for a fraction of the cost if only a couple left

Never give up hope...

ally18

Hi,

Thought I would give a quick update as I have done my dining room and it is really nice, well I think so anyway

I had a bit of a moment when the fire and surround came out as there was no plaster on the wall behind and I just had bricks and the old fireplace from the thirties! I could have cried as did not factor this into the costs but luckily my gas man knew a plasterer and after asking a favour, the plasterer came out the same day and completely redid the wall at a cost of £80 so I was saved.

So, I painted the existing brown wallpaper with Dulux white and a hint of cream, this took two applications. @ a cost of £19. The fire place wall has been papered with a cream, red & gold leaves paper @ a cost of £18 which I really love. The sideboard has now been placed here (over the carpet hole).

Ceiling painted with white emulsion which I already had.

So, things have been moved around and my existing pictures and mirrors have been put back up. I have decided to keep the existing ceiling light and the uplighter. I put up a new curtain rail, to match the uplighter, which I had from elsewhere and have kept the gold curtains. These were cut down in size and I have made cushion covers from the material. My beige blind has been cleaned and fixed (the hamster had chewed it)!!! and now looks newish.

Total spend has gone over my £150 budget, it was £230 but as £180 of this was the fire, surround removal and plastering, I don't think I have done too bad. It looks like a new room to me which I am very happy with, the kids just grunted so not sure what that means :rotfl:.

Living room to be done in July hopefully.