To not know how to decorate?

[poppstar35]

We’ve rented for around 15 years & finally been able to buy.

We were lucky in that it doesn’t need any work doing but it literally looks like every other rented house we’ve ever lived in. Magnolia in every room. I’m desperate to make it a home for us and the dc’s, but I just don’t know where to start in making it nice and homely.

I had thought that after we moved & lived in it for a while, I’d start thinking about colour schemes and finishing touches but I’ve got nothing. We’ve been in for over four months and it’s starting to just feel a bit cold and impersonal now.

Does anyone have any pointers as to where I could start?

Buy a few "real homes" magazines for inspiration. If you see a look/colour scheme you like you can adapt it. It's often in the colours and accessories that make a room look interesting and homely.

Pintrest can be good to get ideas about the kind of style you like

Here to help.
Tell us about what furniture and lamps you have that you are keeping, and what you are looking to buy.
Are we talking cosmetic changes to kitchen, living room and bedroom/s? Hallway and bathroom as well?
Some pointers:
Get good storage.
Wallpaper often looks better than paint.
Painting, wallpaprering and tiling yourself is fine if you are good at it but what's nice about hiering a pro is that they do all the prep and cleanup (=50% of the job).
Warm white looks better than magnolia/cream.
New carpets or posh lino makes a massive difference.
Every room should have at least 8 light sources.
Bigger looks better (ie artwork, lamps, mirrors, rugs, vases).

You can search pinterest for inspiration, ie 'living room ideas'.

There’s a book called ‘mad about the house’ which is great for figuring out your style. It really helped me.

Have you got any lamps/cushions/bedlinen that you love? If so, start there. What do you love about them? Their colour? The fact they're modern or retro? Their shape?

Which room would you like to start with? Always start painting the ceiling first. Walls next and wood work last.

I've been redecorating the entire house the last 4 months or so. It was our curtains in our bedroom that inspired me for example.

i want to start with the living room I think.

We have grey carpet & curtains. We’re probably looking at getting a new sofa at the back end of next year. The only thing I really like are a nest of distressed cream tables.

I might start looking at wallpaper. Thanks for the suggestions. I think I’ve lived in interchangeable rentals for so long I’m not sure I know what taste is anymore 😂

Go out tomorrow and buy and shed load home decor magazines. Go low and high end a mixture of both. Go through the magazine and make a note of what you like, maybe do this for a couple of months. Soon a pattern (no pun intended) emerge, dark or light colours, prints or plain, wallpaper or paint, traditional versus modern. Work out what you like first.

Start with a small room first, box room or bathroom, build your confidence. You tube has some great snippets from Kelly Hoppen and Daniel from Great Interior Design Challenge.

Good luck OP

I like grey.
Lovely with white woodwork + an accent colour like soft teal or soft pink on cushions and rugs would be lovely.
Def. go for one or two walls with a nice paper, Wallpaper Direct is your friend, you can order samples, a few are free + a reasonable cost for extra. I also like their room visualiser! Have fun:
www.wallpaperdirect.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwp6b067N3gIVT_lRCh2WLAt9EAAYASAAEgL1GvD_BwE

Internet/magazines/home shows for ideas. Go to diy store and look at getting a small tool selection eg drill, screwdriver etc, get colour charts and use your imagination. Don't rush though, live in the property and work out what really suits

Go onto Instagram and/or Pinterest and start pinning and saving stuff that you like the look of. You’ll start to see patterns forming from the things you like and that, I guess, would be your style. Look around the shops for ideas. I think you need to know what you like. For me the quickest way to transform a room is painting. It’s not difficult and can sometimes take just a few hours. You need a brush for cutting in, and a roller and you’re good to go. Cheaper than wallpaper, too. I go to illustraton and art fairs and buy very cheap original prints from sometimes as little as £5 and I love everything I buy. I think artwork and pictures really bring a place to life! eBay is amazing and so are second hand shops and auctions.

Personally, I wouldn't use wallpaper. It's a pain in the arse and can be very limiting. I prefer to bring in color and pattern through objects and pillows. Paint is easy and easy to change if you want to.

Can you post pics of your rooms?

Work around the static items that won't change, so say you have a grey carpet, what colours go with grey? Which of those do you like? That's your accent. As for patterns, furniture and style, what do you like? Distressed white wood tables says shabby chic or country style so start looking up that style on pinterest etc.