Making your home look incredible inside takes some planning! A redecoration is a big project that will offer very worthwhile results when done right—so take the time to make sure your passion project goes smoothly and produces the look you have dreamt of for your home.
As award-winning Auckland Master Painters, we have worked on interior projects in some of Auckland’s most beautiful million-dollar homes. We know a thing or two about managing projects for minimal stress and disruption!
Today we’d like to share with you our top hints and tips for a successful redecoration project with quality, attractive results. Let’s get planning.
Pick your colour palette
The first step in redecorating your home is to choose your new colour palette. Depending on how you feel about it, this could be a treat or a chore!
You can find inspiration in home and décor magazines, and of course on Pinterest which has a handy search feature to make your life easier. Collect images of rooms and colours you like. Your home needs to reflect who you are, not the current trends.
Dreading this aspect of the project? Not sure where to start? Consider engaging an interior designer or colour consultant. The majority of our clients who have invested in these services have found it to be well worth the cost when they see the result—and we have a network of professionals with whom we are happy to connect you.
Find the right tradespeople and service providers
Personal recommendations are a great starting point. Ask your family, friends, colleagues, and your interior designer who they would recommend. Find out why they have suggested those people, decide whether they sound right for your project, and then call for quotes. Here’s our guide to deciphering painting quotes!
The thing about good tradespeople is that they are in hot demand! Don’t put off contacting them, because they are often booked well in advance.
Having the right people on the job can save you a lot of stress. It’s worth the time spent on research to find them.
Find and book storage and accommodation
For big or extensive home redecoration projects, moving your furniture and even yourself out of the house is the best course of action. Empty rooms are much easier to work with.
This may mean that you need to rent a storage unit for the duration of your project, and perhaps a place to stay. If that’s your plan, get it organised well in advance—you don’t want to be frantically searching for a spot with the start date approaching!
Even if you intend to stay, it will pay to have any items you seldom use stored away. This can also be a good opportunity to do some spring cleaning and organising. You won’t want any clutter in your beautifully redecorated home!
Don’t forget the wallpaper removal
If your project involves removing wallpaper to apply paint, you’ll need to consider this when planning. It can take a significant amount of time to take the paper down, depending on what you find along the way.
If there are layers of wallpaper or it has been painted over, removal will mean some of the underlying wallboards may be damaged. The degree of damage will determine how much plastering needs to be done to ensure the walls are smooth prior to painting. Painting will not hide existing imperfections on the walls.
This means you may wish to replace the gib board/s and take this opportunity to enhance the insulation in your house. Your builder and painter should be able to advise on the best course of action.
Factor in those long-awaited repair and maintenance tasks
Your interior redecorating project is a great opportunity to undertake those small repairs and alterations you’ve had on your to-do list forever. Planning is essential here, as they will need to be done early on in the process.
If you are thinking of replacing any door or window fixtures, this is your opportunity! Ask the builder how long the work may take, so you can work this into your project planning. Any electrical or plumbing work should be done before the plasterer arrives, as they can patch up any holes.
Communicate consistently
Clear and consistent communication between you and your service providers is critical to the success of your project and key to reducing stress for all involved.
Delays caused by one party can impact the timelines others are working to. You need to be advised of any changes so that you can re-schedule or re-coordinate if required.
Scheduling in your various tradies can be a juggle! As an example, the plasterer should begin after the builder, electrician, or plumber have completed their work. However, this can be done room by room without them getting in each other’s way. The same methodology can apply between the plasterer and the painter.
Tradespeople and service providers are more productive when they do not need to share spaces. They can be in the house at the same time—just plan it carefully so they are working in different rooms. With constant, consistent communication, it’s achievable.
Leave the carpet until last
Replacing your carpet? Our advice is this: the new carpet should be laid after all the other work is complete. This will minimise the risk of any damage.
If the carpet is being replaced but won’t be removed prior to work starting, the carpet layer will need to cut a strip around the skirting boards so these surfaces can be thoroughly painted. If you prefer to leave this until the last minute, ask the carpet layer how much notice he requires and coordinate with your painter.
We suggest a waiting period of at least 48 hours after the painting is complete before the new carpet is laid.
Plan to remove soft furnishings
When your home decor plans involve painting windows and architraves, curtains and blinds will need to be removed. If you are replacing your curtain rods, have them taken off before any repairs are made and before the plasterer begins—as there will be holes to patch up. Your painter will only be able to fill small holes.
Privacy can be a concern with curtains and blinds removed. If you are staying in the home, discuss with your painter the sequence of rooms you would like painted. This way the family can move between rooms as the painting work progresses.
Find out about the waiting period from your curtains and blinds supplier, then coordinate the painting work accordingly. We suggest that freshly painted surfaces be allowed 48 hours to cure before any furniture, light fittings, curtains, and blinds are installed or returned.
A word on project management
If you weren’t aware before, you will be now: any interior redecoration project requires a large amount of careful planning. Scheduling, supervising, requesting quotes, making bookings, coordinating various service providers: it’s all work.
In fact, that’s our number one tip for a home redecoration project: be aware that planning and coordinating is a lot of work and can be time-consuming and stressful.
You may be happy to take it on yourself, but go in with your eyes open. And when you contact tradespeople and service providers, such as your builder, painter, or interior designer, ask how they can assist you with the project management.
To take advantage of Wall Treats FREE colour consultant offer, and benefit from our excellent workmanship and superior customer service, get in touch for a quote.
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