Decorating your own room can be a very rewarding and cost-effective experience, but to start your own DIY decoration project you will need to know how to decorate a room correctly and the different aspects that are involved. Generally speaking, when you are decorating a room there are 4 main stages - preparation, painting, wallpapering and the adding of final touches/decorations;
Preparation
Before you begin painting or wallpapering, you will need to take a few precautions - to protect both you and your home;
Clear the room of furniture and any other items that can easily be moved. Protect your flooring, light fittings and any fixtures that cannot be moved i.e. gas fires with large cloths or plastic sheeting.
Remove any mirrors, prints, photos, paintings or other wall decorations. Cover electrical sockets and other small fixings i.e. door hinges with masking tape - if possible, remove hardware such as door handles.
Gather the products that you will need for the job i.e. paint, brushes, tools. Ensure that you have the correct protective gear i.e. safety goggles and a sturdy ladder, if required.
Painting It's a good idea to get any painting tasks done first i.e. ceilings, walls, skirting boards, windowsills and doors - and allow sufficient drying time before you start with your wallpapering. If you paint after putting up new wallpaper, you risk getting drips and spills on your new walls (especially if you are painting a ceiling). Use a variety of brushes to get the task done correctly i.e. smaller brushes for skirting boards and rollers for larger areas, such as the ceiling and walls. Always start at the highest point (the ceiling) and work downwards.
Wallpapering If you are putting wallpaper on your walls, now is the time to do it. Allow sufficient time to measure and mark your walls and hang the paper correctly. Always follow any instructions provided and allow adequate time for the wallpaper adhesive to fully dry before you attempt to put up any mirrors, paintings or other wall decorations.
Final touches Now that the majority of the hard work is over - go around the room and identify any small areas that need touching up. When you are happy with your room, you can move your furniture and accessories back in. Take care when you are doing this, so as not to scratch or damage your newly painted or wallpapered walls.