Go on, paint your room!

Many people are hesitant to tackle a home painting job due to lack of time and fear of making a mess of it. Worry not because with a bit of careful planning you can cast your fears aside and give your walls a new lease of life.

Prep 

    -Clear the room of furniture and décor.

    -Sand and patch walls.

    -Cover the floors with old sheets or drop cloths.

    -Tape around windows, doors and mouldings.

   -Remove all switch plates and outlet covers. In order to not lose them, place the screws and plates into separate plastic bags and then label the bags so you know where they came from. 

Choose Brushes & Rollers 

-For trim painting, use a smaller brush that has an angle cut to the hairs. This will allow you to get into those pesky corners.

-If your wall has lots of pours and an orange peel look to it, you want to you use a large-nap roller. A flat or smooth wall requires a low-nap roller.

Paint Station

To avoid accidents open and store your paint cans on a drop cloth in the corner of a room and refill your paint trays at that location. Remember to quickly cover your paint can between refills in order to keep the air out and your paint fresh.

Always cut the ceiling and corners first with a trim brush, then start on one side of the wall and work across, take long, broad rolls up and down with a roller, overlapping a few inches each time. Be sure to have plenty of paint on the roller after each roll.

Clean, clean and clean

Keep plenty of paper towels and damp rags handy to clear any drips or spills as you paint. So remember that paint comes off of surfaces like tile and glass when dry; just use a razor blade. 

Store Wet Paintbrushes

There is no need to wash your brush out each time you take a break; wrap your paintbrush in cling film or a plastic bag and set it aside; put it in the fridge if you will be having a long break. 

Leftover Paint

Once finished don't throw away the leftover paint. A few months later and you notice a couple of scratches on the wall and want to touch up the wall; store paint in plastic containers or small glass jars and  label the container with the colour formula label, in case you need to get more of the same colour.

 www.aguilarinteriors.com

Coffee plus!

Designers know only too well how important it is to incorporate design ideas and pieces of furniture that accommodate daily living and help keep clutter such as magazines tucked away while creating a beautiful room: a coffee table suits this purpose. 

They are practical and versatile pieces of furniture and are found in most living rooms irrespective of the décor of the house.

The design and type of coffee tables should match the rest of the interior features. If you're just decorating your house, it's best to look at all sorts of coffee tables: classic or ultra modern design? Then wood, glass or metal?

When choosing remember to have all the dimensions of the room clear; sometimes even the rest of the items of furniture are important for the matter. 

For instance, coffee tables are usually placed near sofas and armchairs. Try to buy these elements together; otherwise you'll have to consider the way they match in the eventuality of a combination. 

Material and colour are very important; beware off too daring colours! Although they look innovative and modern, it must be taken into account how well do such coffee tables match with the rest of the objects in the room?

Placing coffee tables directly on the floor or on the carpet is another element to consider. Transparent glass tables usually work great with wood polished floors as they leave an amazing impression of spatiality and for those who are dealing with smaller spaces, modern Lucite coffee tables will provide a perfect match. 

They are attractive and serviceable, and their translucent appearance doesn’t take up any room visually. 

If you are not convinced by the coffee tables offers available in shops; have a model made on special order or there are plenty of companies that design unique coffee tables according to the client's requirements.

Coffee tables became popular in the United States in the 1920s during Prohibition when a great deal of entertaining was done in the privacy of one’s home. These low tables were given the name “coffee tables,” even though at times equipped with secret compartments to hide illegal liquor bottles. After Prohibition, these became more appropriately known as cocktail tables. Although both terms are still recognized, coffee table is the name most commonly known. 

Some of the hottest looks are ottomans and benches upholstered in tufted leather which are used in place of coffee tables. I love the flexibility of these pieces that can play so many different roles; with the help of a tray for stability, they make great tables with plenty of room for cups, glasses and even snacks. They provide extra seating for a house full of guests at party time. If you choose a large and heavy then look for those that are on rollers for maximum manoeuvrability.

Large puffy ottomans upholstered in all kinds of fabrics are also popular and they make comfy spare seating and footrests, but don’t display more than books and magazines. And speaking of books, a great one to add is the new book of interviews from Katie Treggiden; it’s an absolute must for a coffee table.

There are so many choices now and something to suit everyone’s taste and situation — from the really expensive to utterly affordable. So go for it: Shop, look and listen! You’ll find just the right piece to take centre stage in your living room.

www.aguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via Casatreschic, cdlworkshop.com, Fiona Barratt and Katie