Do not rush, take time to settle in and get a feel for your new home before starting any major redecoration. Consider the current layout, is it suitable for you or your families needs or is there room for improvement ? ... Is there adequate storage ?
If you need to furnish from scratch and have a limited budget then it is wise to spend your money on the items that are going to receive the most wear and tear e.g. sofas, beds and dining furniture. Choose simple practical colours for the major items so that when you get fed up with your current colour scheme it will not be too expensive to create a whole new look.
Lighting is often thought of last when in fact it should be tackled first, do not underestimate the power suitable lighting has in transforming a space..and remember you probably need to balance general task and decorative lighting.
Paint can cheaply and instantly transform a room. Think about what kind of mood you wish to create and when the room will be used ? Do you wish to create a feeling of light and space , fun and decadence or do you want somewhere warm and luxurious to relax in at the end of a busy day. Please do not confine paint to walls only, anything can be painted as long as the correct type of paint is used and the surface is suitably prepared. Have fun, be bold and experiment, if you do not like it you can easily and quickly change it. Cheap calico can be transformed with fabric paints, cottons are easily dyed a whole rainbow of colours. Consider using panels of different colours or painting one wall in a contrasting shade ( very Seventies !). You can transform smaller items or apply small panels of colour ( e.g. to highlight a coat rack - see photograph) for next to nothing with a tester pot. Add varying amounts of white to your original colour to create harmonious tones of the same colour.
Be innovative, consider different uses for everyday items e.g. create curtain poles cheaply out of bamboo or natural hazel sticks or a funky shower curtain out of bubble wrap. Texture has played a key role in interiors since the late nineties and provides interest and depth to monochrome schemes, wallpaper can add a further dimension.
If funds are limited, buy window blinds initially to provide privacy and add voile panels and curtains with time to create more interest. nowadays with the use of wundaweb and clip on curtain hooks etc., it is easy to create curtain treatments without going anywhere near a sewing machine.
Finally , consider all the accessories that make a property your home. Brilliant cushions, throws, lamps etc. can be easily sourced from your high street for a very reasonable cost. Do not spend a fortune on these as they are the items which you are most likely to dispose of as new trends evolve each season.
Having read this, if you are still unsure where to begin, whether you have inherited a DIY disaster or a blank canvas, please just give me a call and I will be happy to come and advise and provide some focus to your thoughts.
Ann Hughes works with both private clients and investors. She also provides a home-staging service advising vendors on the best way to present their property for maximum sale return.