Sprucing up a room is fun when you know what and how you want it. More so if it doesn't plunge you in an overdraft for months on end. And even if you loathe the very sight of a paintbrush and the smell of paint makes you sick, there comes a time when there's no escaping a revamp project, for the house you live in gets tired from wear and tear, if not an outright beating.
The best point of take-off is invariably to marry your likes and dislikes with practicality. And though budget constraints are inevitable when prioritising, making a habit of going for cheap quality is ultimately expensive over and above being a damper on your spirits from Day One.
Now some people have a natural talent in redesigning a room within minutes in their heads. Build on this by getting down to writing an agenda before you start shopping around for what you need. You obviously have to do this kind of homework even if you're not a born interior designer.
It's always a good idea to keep magazine clippings that catch your eye in a file for future reference because it helps you focus on and refine your personal style. It also comes in extremely handy to create a favourite colour scheme and give you oodles of ideas.
Discuss your plans with your immediate family. Listening to each other helps to map out the difference between what's urgent and what can wait.
Besides pooling ideas, you will save a lot of resentment for you have only yourself to blame if war breaks out over the designs you've foisted on your other half and children.
Talk to relatives and friends who have recently gone through a room makeover in their house. You can't beat first-hand experience and they will recommend the services of the experts you might need plus you'll get a rough idea of how much the job will cost and take to complete.
Thinking of the basic necessities goes hand in hand with your budget, which you should draw for each room if your revamping plans go beyond one set of four walls.
Start with the area in which you spend most of your time. After all, you - and not the occasional guests - live in your house. Therefore, top of the list come indispensable stuff like tables, chairs, appliances, bedding, a sofa and armchairs which will set you off revamping the furniture you already have plus scouring furniture sales and checking special offers.
But don't go all woolly eyed. Check guarantees and all other specs. When it comes to bedding and sofas, you get what you pay for. Today's bargain mattress can become tomorrow's squishy nightmare, and you'll have to replace it sooner than you can imagine.
Tips for an instant facelift
¤ Brightening rooms - indulge in shades of white, always refreshing, restful and all furnishings look good with it.
¤ Rearranging living room furniture - pull the sofa into the centre of the room, facing a window, multi-media unit or fireplace.
¤ Masking problem areas - use tri-fold screens to hide eyesores immediately and beautifully.
¤ Filling an empty corner - place a large potted plant in the corner.
¤ Creating intriguing effects - group collectibles or framed family photos rather than having them spread all around.
¤ Refurbishing cabinets - strip and refinish old, dark wood. Add new handles or knobs. Replace doors with glass fronts or remove them completely if they're goners.
¤ Getting rid of heavy drapes - replace with matching, lightweight fabrics or blinds.
¤ Applying self-adhesive wallpaper borders or stencils - perfect to brighten up a child's room or bathroom.
¤ Covering a wall with mirror tiles or a big mirror - this is ideal for bathrooms, entries, and other small, dark rooms that lack impact.
¤ Re-evaluate use of rooms - create a personal den out of a rarely used bedroom or sizable nook.