With the work life and personal life boundaries shifting, it is more important than ever to seek a more balanced way of working and living. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to revamp your home office yourself.
Visualise your end goal
Before delving start into a project, it’s good to get an idea of your end goal. Colour has the power to transform the whole look and feel of any space so take care when selecting your shades. With an endless array of hues available, narrowing down your choice might seem like a daunting task. Start off by compiling a board of interior designs you like and edit these down to one colour palette.
Did you know colours can influence mood and productivity? When it comes to redecorating your workspace, choosing the right shade can help to optimise your workflow. Low-wavelength colours, like soothing blue or rejuvenating green, have been shown to improve efficiency, focus and promote well-being. Meanwhile, high-wavelength colours, such as ruby red, encourage alertness and prompt action. These high voltage colours are best used sparingly as lively accents to an otherwise neutral space.
If you want to amp up the style factor, opt for special effects paints - like marble or velvet - as an accent or a statement feature wall. The Dulux Ambiance collection offers an infinitely range of unique colour and special effect combinations to truly personalise interiors.
Here's a tip: The award-winning Dulux Visualizer app allows you to see the final result before you paint. Using augmented reality, the app gives you a realistic impression of how your room could look like instantly. Download it for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Plan before you paint
Plan out all the necessary tools and calculate how much product you’ll need to cover the desired area.
Here’s an easy guide to calculating the required paint for your project:
a. Measure the width and height of the area to be painted. Multiply these together to get your overall surface area.
b. Measure the width and height of any windows and/or doors, multiply and subtract from your overall surface area.
c. Multiply your new total surface area by the number coats you’ll need – Dulux recommends factoring in at least two coats and a bit extra for touch-ups.
d. Finally, divide this total figure by the volume your paint tin can hold (m² per litre). The result is the total litres of paint needed for your project.
Start painting
The thought of painting yourself may be overwhelming, but the task is a breeze if the steps are broken down properly:
a. Begin by clearing clutter and cleaning the space where you plan to paint. Check the condition of your walls and note any cracks or rough surfaces that may hinder a smooth and longer-lasting finish – you may need to repair them with some plaster filler.
b. Get your tools together. Besides paint brushes, rollers, and trays, good-quality masking tape is key for a clean and crisp job.
c. Start by taping a border around the area to be painted and laying a dustsheet on the floor to catch any drips.
d. With a small brush, paint a one-inch border around the edges and fill in the rest with a paint roller.
Article contributed by Akzonobel.