Home decor and interior design
can be baffling to some so here are some useful hints and tips as well
as some money saving ideas.

*  When buying curtains or decorating
materials take a cushion from the sofa shopping with you to ensure you get the right colour.

*  Use string covered with chalk to mark
straight lines on walls for shelves, wallpaper etc.

*  When planning a child’s room get down to
their level to see if from a childs’ perspective.  This will prevent placing hooks
etc. too high for them to reach.

*  Never get a tall person to hang pictures
for you as this will result in them being fitted too high.

*  To make fittings such as radiators less
obtrusive paint them in the same colour as the wall.

*  Create a mantle shelf
by using two
decorative brackets and a plank of wood.

*  Fabric paints can give old pieces of
furniture a new look.

*  Inexpensive plastic garden urns can be
painted and decorated for use as indoor flower planters.

*  Try using the same colour paint on walls,
woodwork, skirting and ceilings for an “all over” look.

• Terracota (orange based) colours
  = warm
   

• Pink
  based colours = vibrant and
  dramatic
   

• Yellow for dull rooms which lack
  sunlight
   

• Green = calming
   

• Blue = cool and restful

*  Mix wall paint with clear varnish to use
on woodwork.

*  Eggshell finish paint on woodwork does not
show imperfections like gloss paint does.

*  Use car spray paint to revitalise light
fittings.

*  To cut costs, use wallpaper on the top
half of the walls then a border with a bold paint colour on the bottom half of the walls.

*  When painting corridors remember dark colours will shorten.

*  Music, newspaper or brown paper make a
change to wallpaper.

*  To see how much room a piece of furniture
will take up before buying, take a piece of newspaper and a tape measure and make a
template the same size as the item in question.  Place paper on floor to give some
idea as to the amount of space needed.

*  To save on costly trimming when finishing
off a table cloth.  Cover table with a larger untrimmed cloth.  Put a
decorative trim around the edge of a smaller cloth which is then placed over the top.

*  Hang decorative baskets from hooks to
provide extra storage.

*  To liven up kitchen cupboard doors
just
change the knobs and handles.  Old cutlery can be bent and wired to the doors as
handles.

*  To get more light into a room, replace the
top of the door with glass.

*  Clever use of mirrors can give the
illusion of more space.

*  Colourful sheeting fitted to broom handles
make cheap and cheerful cafe style curtains.

*  Plain fabric trimmed
with fringing make
expensive looking curtains for doors or stairs.

*  Make an unusual and cheap shower curtain
by using bubble wrap fitted on key rings.

*  Blankets and pieces of material can be
made into attractive and unusual curtains without sewing by using special clips which can
be purchased in most good haberdashery shops.