Decorating for the Over 50s Southampton
A new room is like a new broom. It can make you feel revitalised and revived. Although it generally takes very little to bring a burst of freshness to tired décor many of us dread the thought of doing anything about it. But as this article shows, a comparatively small investment in terms of a few pots of paint and perhaps a new sofa or carpet could be as life enhancing as a luxury trip away.
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Decorating for the Over 50s
When it comes to home decorating the world definitely seems divided into two types of people: those who love it and those who loathe it.
If you love it, you probably have to stop yourself rearranging the furniture and painting the walls a new shade every week.
However if you’re like many over 50s and you just see it as a bore and a chore, then this article could be for you.
It’s easy to see why many older people dislike decorating. We’ve simply done it too often. When we were young it was exciting to decorate our own place and demonstrate our self-expression and DIY skills. However, over the years as things have needed repainting and maintaining on an all too regular basis, the shine has worn off.
Even if you don’t “do it yourself”, the thought of having to get in the decorators yet again with all the upheaval, mess and expense that it entails can definitely be an off-putting thought.
Keeping up appearances
Now is the time of life when it’s important to keep on top of things. You don’t want tired, dingy surroundings to reflect badly on you, making you appear older than you are. And you don’t want to let things deteriorate to such a degree that what might once have been a freshening up exercise eventually becomes a huge restoration project.
If you own your own home it’s even more important to keep your décor up to scratch because your house is probably your biggest financial asset. Okay, you may not be anticipating moving any time soon but it’s crucial to keep things up to the mark in anticipation of the day you may want to sell.
Top tips for action
If your décor is in distress you could do worse than following these tips to help you get started and boost your motivation:
1. De-clutter and clean. This will help you see the wood for the trees. Once you’ve cleared out some of those many items that have mysteriously accumulated over the years and have given the room a good clean, you’ll get a whole new perspective on what needs (or perhaps doesn’t need) doing.
2. Agree a style. I say “agree” because unless you live alone, there will be one or more other people who will want to have a say about what the new décor should look like. Make sure you do this at the outset and spend some time on it. There’s nothing worse than having to do it all over again because one of you didn’t agree with the other’s choice.
3. Measure and estimate. Once you’ve decided what you want or need, measure up properly – either to get accurate estimates for getting the work done, or to ensure that you buy the right amount of paint, wallpaper, etc. Again, there’s nothing sadder than finding yourself a roll of wallpaper short when there’s no more of that batch left to be had.
4. Investigate tools and techniques. Like all else in life, decorating products and techniques constantly evolve and there are undoubtedly many exciting new goods and finishes available now that you may not be aware of. Many of them are designed to go on easier and last longer – so it’s worth doing your research.
5. Think “safety first”. Don’t think that a rickety old ladder will do or take a chance on working round dodgy electrics. It will be the most expensive mistake you’ve made if it all goes wrong. So invest in the best equipment you can afford, get in the experts for specialist work - and enjoy the peace of mind.
6. Vow to keep on top of things in future. Experts recommend doing one or two rooms a year. That way you’re never faced with too much disruption or expense or find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer scale of what needs doing.
Click here for more information for the over 50s from in my prime.
If you love it, you probably have to stop yourself rearranging the furniture and painting the walls a new shade every week.
However if you’re like many over 50s and you just see it as a bore and a chore, then this article could be for you.
It’s easy to see why many older people dislike decorating. We’ve simply done it too often. When we were young it was exciting to decorate our own place and demonstrate our self-expression and DIY skills. However, over the years as things have needed repainting and maintaining on an all too regular basis, the shine has worn off.
Even if you don’t “do it yourself”, the thought of having to get in the decorators yet again with all the upheaval, mess and expense that it entails can definitely be an off-putting thought.
Keeping up appearances
Now is the time of life when it’s important to keep on top of things. You don’t want tired, dingy surroundings to reflect badly on you, making you appear older than you are. And you don’t want to let things deteriorate to such a degree that what might once have been a freshening up exercise eventually becomes a huge restoration project.
If you own your own home it’s even more important to keep your décor up to scratch because your house is probably your biggest financial asset. Okay, you may not be anticipating moving any time soon but it’s crucial to keep things up to the mark in anticipation of the day you may want to sell.
Top tips for action
If your décor is in distress you could do worse than following these tips to help you get started and boost your motivation:
1. De-clutter and clean. This will help you see the wood for the trees. Once you’ve cleared out some of those many items that have mysteriously accumulated over the years and have given the room a good clean, you’ll get a whole new perspective on what needs (or perhaps doesn’t need) doing.
2. Agree a style. I say “agree” because unless you live alone, there will be one or more other people who will want to have a say about what the new décor should look like. Make sure you do this at the outset and spend some time on it. There’s nothing worse than having to do it all over again because one of you didn’t agree with the other’s choice.
3. Measure and estimate. Once you’ve decided what you want or need, measure up properly – either to get accurate estimates for getting the work done, or to ensure that you buy the right amount of paint, wallpaper, etc. Again, there’s nothing sadder than finding yourself a roll of wallpaper short when there’s no more of that batch left to be had.
4. Investigate tools and techniques. Like all else in life, decorating products and techniques constantly evolve and there are undoubtedly many exciting new goods and finishes available now that you may not be aware of. Many of them are designed to go on easier and last longer – so it’s worth doing your research.
5. Think “safety first”. Don’t think that a rickety old ladder will do or take a chance on working round dodgy electrics. It will be the most expensive mistake you’ve made if it all goes wrong. So invest in the best equipment you can afford, get in the experts for specialist work - and enjoy the peace of mind.
6. Vow to keep on top of things in future. Experts recommend doing one or two rooms a year. That way you’re never faced with too much disruption or expense or find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer scale of what needs doing.
Click here for more information for the over 50s from in my prime.