My entire house needs decorating.

[NickiFury]

It's such a huge task I don't know where to begin. Every room needs painting except the bathroom. Both dc need updated rooms as they're not toddlers anymore!! Age 7 and 11.

Where do I start?

Ooooo! I sympathise. Whole house here needs the same.

I've started with the bedrooms - the two boxrooms first to gather my strength - , though I have also stripped everywhere. (Previous owners taste.) Have one left.

I think I will start with the kitchen. It's a galley kitchen and set slightly out of the way so I can just shut the door and not have to see it when it's all messy. It needs painting and a new blind that's all. That's doable isn't it.

Then maybe the hall, as hardly any furniture in there.

I can't even think about the living room and dc's bedrooms.

Is it just painting you need doing?

Mine too. Every room is shabby. Its going to take forever.

Yup, we've reached that stage even the rooms done in the last couple of years look shabby.

Only moved here 7 years ago and everywhere done then with a few rooms refreshed since but Id gladly chuck it all in the bin and start again. Well, I would if I could afford it.

We're similar. I cant face stripping the hall, cant afford replastering if its not good underneath so just bought new paint...

Yes, just painting fortunately. Kids bedrooms need really updating though. Ds is 11 now and his room is still the same as it was when he was five although, it has been painted in between. Thing is its not a massive flat, could easily do a room in a day but its the upheaval and the mess while its happening, really stresses me out. I know I sound pathetic I really do.

Also got tons of clutter, its not messy and doesn't look particularly cluttered but when I start it there will be tons of it iyswim?

I started with the downstairs bathroom, because it's little. Then the hallway/entryway as it's the first thing I see when I come home and the the first thing others see when they come in. Now I'm finishing up the living room, as it's the room we spend the most time in as a family. Then the dcs' bedrooms, then the kitchen and dining room, then my room last, so I can take plenty of time to decide what I want.

I try to plan well in advance, get the stuff all in and ready to go, then dedicate a day or two to specific steps in getting it done (prepping walls/painting, prepping walls/wallpapering, that kind of thing).

It's much easier to break it down in chunks. I have a notebook with short term things that I want to get done as and when, long term things that I need to budget and plan for. And each room has a page, so as I come across ideas or things I need to do, I can write it down, so I don't forget.

We're in the same position with a big house all shoddily painted magnolia. I did our ensuite first to get my eye back in and because it was vile. I can do dd's room as she wants the colour she had before but I really feel I should do ds's first as he's never had a room for him.

I have a to do list and I will prioritise based on whether we can get the whole room sorted if I paint. Rooms that need other stuff will be after that.

The first task is to declutter.

I agree starting with decluttering will help a bit but that is probably even less appealing than painting a wall.

just do one room at a time. think in advance though if you can double up on paint so say the colour in the kitchen could it be used in the spare room or something. more economical and would give up a natural order to do the rooms in.

for kids rooms could you opt for the colours, get accessories in them but the the painting could wait a bit longer? or can you rope the 11 year old in to help do their own room? I don't mean give them paint and leave them to it but they could help with preparing the room, painting some bits and so on.

Have you considered getting someone in to do it? We did that recently:not as expensive as I thought it would be and so much quicker than doing it ourselves. We had loads of woodwork to be done and the prep alone would have taken ages.

In your position, I would start with a room for me. If you're the one who'll be doing the work, you need a bit of a boost to your enthusiasm. Set the kids to work making "mood boards" in the meantime, collecting ideas for what they might like in their rooms (you can manage their expectations later!).

Don't aim to do any room in a day. With cleaning, sanding and masking, and cleaning up after, you'll need at least a weekend (Friday evening to Sunday evening). I usually get supplies the previous weekend, and clear the room during the week.

Foof. What sort of price for woodwork? I doubt we could afford it but I do hate all the faff.

oh mine too. Im part way through. I would LOVE to be able to afford to get someone in but can't.
So far have done:(since last December though!)
painted hall stairs and landing
stripped landing carpet and painted stairs
stirpped and painted bannisters (from horrible dark wood to white)
replaced curtains and lamp shade in little ones room and added accessories (hoping to get away without repainting!)
painted dd 1 and 2 bedroom
bought new curtains and accessories for dd1 and 2 in new colour scheme
bought new desks for dd1 and 2 and ds1
bought new desk chairs for all of above
painted walls in our room, bought new bedding and curtains
painted bathroom - walls and wood, got plumber in to fix taps, replaced bath panel and toilet seat, new shower curtain and pole, new accesories and shelf
painted landing wood
replaced landing and hall lights
got lounge carpet cleaned

still need to:
paint wood in our room
paint wood in lounge
paint wood in little ones room
?paint horrible bedroom furniture

....it's never ending .I too sometimes feel like we just need to move and start again!!

I hear you about the clutter on top of the decorating nicki , we have the same problem here. But I'm taking it as the opportunity to start afresh, IYSWIM. Unfortunately, redecorating will always create a mess but it is manageable. My golden rule: one room at a time

We're getting all the artex on the walls and ceilings throughout our new house removed (asbestos!) so will have to repaint the whole thing. Luckily we have a bit of a time before we move in but I don't have a clue what to do about colours. We don't live there yet so don't know what the light's like or even how we'll use the living room (it's quite big). Hate the idea of doing it all magnolia now and then redoing later but not sure what else to do. Anyone been in the same situation?

Am very jealous! I love painting! Farrow and Ball, radio on, children barred from room so complete peace AND instant results for my efforts!

Seriously though, it is hard work. Do you ever buy any interiors magazines? Might be woth investing £10 - £15 on a variety and having a good look through. 25 Beautiful Homes has a good variety of old and modern houses. Only danger is the dreaded house envy!

I'm pinning like mad from Houzz (uk and us sites) but I am thinking we probably need to wait until we live there before making decisions about bold colours, feature walls, even who has which room! So will probably go for natural calico throughout for now and be creative when it is our home. We've only viewed it once so hard to know about light, etc.

Also we have quite a few pieces of art that we've not had space to display before and light cream/white walls would be perfect for them.

I'm just about to re-carpet, re-tile and repaint the entire house as well as putting in shelving and other bits and pieces like door and cupboard handles. I'm doing some of this and getting people in for other parts. I flip between feeling daunted and excited! The items we own tend to be boldly coloured so all I have to do is choose classic back drop colours but it's still a big task!