old-style decorating?

[Deleted User]

That pink bedroom looks painful to the eyes !! I had white on my walls because I live in such a small house I thought that it will make it seem a bit bigger and it works as well its been white for the past 4 years everywhere and I love it,Eggshell woodwork as gloss tends to 'yellow' a bit. Plus its cheap as chips if it needs touching up

GreyQueen

On-costs for maintaining/ refreshing decor are something to be considered, as per Jackie0's point above. Wall-paper tends to date horribly, and is a pain to put up and a pain to take off again.

It's far more common to be in a small home than a big one, plus the UK has relatively greyish daylight for much of the year, which means that dark and intense hues can be dreary and depressing.

My previous flat and this flat both have poor orientation towards daylight (the other one was a sub-basement as well as being north-facing, as is this one) and, although I favour white walls, I've deliberately chosen a soft, warm yellow to warm and enliven the place.

I think there is a tendancy to over-decorate which is avidly encouraged by the decor industry. If you have furniture, and some pictures and window coverings of some kind, they combine with the movement of people, maybe even pets and your portable possessions to create plenty of visual interest in a home.

Less is definately more, imo.

culpepper

you need fixings specifically for plasterboard. They have a sprung wing that opens up inside the void and holds the weight . DIY places can advise

jackieblack

Personally, the only thing I can think of worse than white walls would be magnolia (too much green tinge), but I like colour and I like my home to look homely/ comfortable/ 'lived-in', rather than looking like a show home.
My pet hate is those houses where everything is so 'perfect' that I feel my presence makes them look messy, I have a friend with a house like that and visiting makes me feel so uncomfortable that I avoid going there.


But it'd be a boring world if we all liked the same things

Proxima_Centauri

jackieblack wrote: »

Personally, the only thing I can think of worse than white walls would be magnolia (too much green tinge), but I like colour and I like my home to look homely/ comfortable/ 'lived-in', rather than looking like a show home.
My pet hate is those houses where everything is so 'perfect' that I feel my presence makes them look messy, I have a friend with a house like that and visiting makes me feel so uncomfortable that I avoid going there.


But it'd be a boring world if we all liked the same things

For most of my adult life I rented from private landlords and was not allowed to do any decorating. This is the first flat I've lived in where you are free to decorate the place as you wish.. but of course i haven't a clue, as I've never done this before

I might take a look on YouTube, there's a video on there for just about everything :rotfl:

Lance_De_Boils

prosaver wrote: »

why dont you get some really big pictures and fancy big mirrors instead?saves getting your hands dirty:)

What a lovely picture. Where did you find it please?

patchwork_cat

Stencilling can be very on trend and is not 1980's unless you just do a dado and ragroll in peach! This is an example of modern stencilling http://www.fragmenters.com/life-style/decorating-home-walls-in-stencils/. Go on Pinterest for loads of ideas

You can get adhesive strips that will hold quite heavy items, now, but if you want to drill then use a rawlplug for plasterboard walls http://www.wilko.com/wall-plugs+fixings/rawlplug-plasterboard-fixing-7mm-pack-10/invt/0435417 or stronger fixings as here http://www.askabuilder.co.uk/how-to/fix-to-plaster-board

maman

Thanks for starting the thread OP. It makes a change to discuss decorating.


I'm one of these people who, once I've decided on something I really like, will stick to it until it wears out. I've also got fairly expensive tastes so like quality items. Plus we have an old house which suits traditional styles.


This is in sharp contrast to people who seem to change not only the d!cor but furniture and soft furnishings on a regular basis and go for complete makeovers including pictures and ornaments to fit the colour scheme.


My home is almost all shades of off white with fawnish carpets. Most of the furniture is 100% wood, pictures are genuine prints and maps from DH's collection, ornaments (trying to keep to a minimum) are gifts/family heirlooms. We're fortunate to have picture rails so I can move pictures around.


I've no real wish to change any of this just refresh when it looks a bit tired. To ring the changes, I'll buy new towels or cushions for a splash of colour and I love flowers.

MMF007

I have a love/hate relationship with wallpaper. I hate putting it up but do love it in some rooms. It is more costly than painting and much more time consuming.

When we moved into this house all rooms were painted white and i loved it! As others have said, it looks fresh and you can add 'personality' by using accessories, curtains, throws etc to really enliven any room. If you chose a bright fabric, or a sari, as a throw or as curtains you could pick one or two complimentary or contradting bright colours for cushions, cover a bean bag to match and you'd have a fab inexpensive but eye-catching look.

Stronly agree with the person who mentioned flowers, too. A lovely vase of flowers as a centre piece will boost any room instantly.

I currently have very pale yellow painted walls in a north-facing room and it is quiet but lovely, with pale moss-green curtains and grey skirtingboards. Very restful. The colour comes from bright prints in dark grey frames.
You can have fun finding a few 'statement pieces' and really put your stamp on the flat!

Let us know what you decide!

Proxima_Centauri

It's a good point about the fittings, etc. In one room I've got a boring beige bedcover and a beige lampshade, and a biscuity-colour carpet. What with that and the magnolia colour walls no wonder the room looks drab! It would be good to replace them with something more colourful once I decide what colour scheme to go with.