Decorating Tips
Quick fix decorating solutions
If time is a factor, and major DIY projects are not an option, read the Topworkmen.com guide to the best quick fix solutions to get your home looking ship-shape in no time:
The Hall
First impressions stick! The hallway is the first place that
a guest sees when they step into your home. Despite this hallways
are often simply an afterthought when decorating a home. If you
feel that your hallway has become a little neglected and is under-utilised,
jazz it up with these wallet friendly tips:
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Are you expecting guests? It’s always a good idea to have extra space for hanging coats, as there is nothing worse than to be greeted by a cluttered hallway. There are a number of inexpensive options that you can choose. You could go for a traditional hat and coat parade stand, or if you are short on space then perhaps a wall mounted coat rack would do the trick.
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If you would love to finally hang all the photos and paintings that you've gathered over the years, look no further than your hall. The same applies to staircases and foyers too - with some clever forward thinking, you can make these spaces work for you.
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If you are desperate for more storage space, the area under the staircase in most homes is distinctly under-utilised. A relatively cheap solution to your storage problem would be to fit this area out with several compartments. A vacuum/cleaning product area; coat rail and shoe rack for outerwear; and shelving for magazines and other miscellaneous items. Finally, build a set of doors to close the area from sight. This gives you the best of both worlds... the storage space that you require, as well as a neat stairwell and hallway.
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Hallways often suffer from poor lighting. Make sure that your hall is sufficiently lit to give a friendly, welcoming glow. You should also ensure that your light fitting is not too tatty. Ageing fittings can be tidied up with an Artex Light Halo. These simply clip around the light cable, and can be purchased cheaply on the high street.
The Lounge
With visitors coming and going, it’s inevitable that your lounge will suffer wear and tear. However, your lounge can be revolutionised with the minimum of time and money spent:
It is easy to ignore a dirty carpet when you’ve lived with it for a while, but there is a cheap and simple way to reinvigorate it – try sprinkling salt over the floor before vacuuming. The salt will serve to loosen any dirt, making cleaning incredibly easy.
If you cannot afford a new sofa, there are
other inexpensive ways of injecting some life into your old one.
Treat yourself to some cushions in bright, vibrant colours and
instantly liven up dull seating! If your sofa is particularly
worse for wear, you could still make things look a great deal
better by investing in a nice ‘throw’ to
put over it.