Original article featured in Velvet magazine, April 2011. Image credits, Fired Earth, Designers Guild.

It is possible to revamp a room over a weekend, but as with all projects it is crucial to properly plan and prepare before you start. It sounds boring but drawing up a plan of action now will save you tears and wasted time later on. Here’s how.

The first thing to do is define your style. Before you charge into a redecorating project you need to identify the look that suits you. Walking into a home store and being faced with rows of fabrics and accessories in every style and colour can be totally bewildering. But an awareness of what suits you and your family will save time and confusion. Armed with this knowledge you can then avoid temptation when shopping and learn to appreciate other people’s styles without necessarily adopting them as your own. Yes that retro lamp is lovely, but will it go with your country style room scheme? If the answer is no, then leave it behind.

The next thing to consider is the room layout. If you are moving furniture in order to repaint walls or clean carpets this is the perfect time to make sure you’re getting the most out of your room. Think about how you use the space. Is that computer desk taking up more room than it needs to? Could you reposition the sofa to clear some extra floor space?

Colour can make or break a space. It’s easy to refresh a room with a quick coat of paint, but rather than sticking to the colour you used before this is an excellent opportunity to really think about how your choice of shade will affect the space. Lighting is also crucial to a successful room scheme so look at how you are using both artificial light and natural light. Adding in an extra layer of light with floor and table lamps for example can be a quick way of adding depth to a scheme.

If you’re feeling creative there are several craft projects which can be completed over the course of a weekend. Revamping your window treatments will make a big difference to the feeling of a room. A weekend is also the perfect timeframe to give a tired piece of furniture a facelift. An old chair, for example, can be smartened up with a fresh coat of paint and a newly upholstered seat pad. Similarly, a tired cupboard can be given an update by fixing on a set of new handles and papering the inside to add a shot of colour and interest.

But above all, managing your project well is the key to its success. Whatever the scale of the project it’s essential to define and control your project budget, manage the work force (whether you are employing workmen or simply persuading family members to help out!) and know how to deal with things that go wrong.

Or if this all sounds a bit daunting, why not book onto one of our Interior Design Talks to find out more. For more information about our courses and evening classes go to www.interiordesigntalks.com or call 01223 328001.