The order of decorating work.

Where to start?

This is the most frequently asked question. Although every home decorating venture has its own challenges, there are some universal rules, that will help us to prioritize the work and avoid the chaos of trying to do everything at once.

From high to low and from big to small.

These words should become your mantra, when you start interior decoration. Work from ceiling to floor, from the largest to the smallest elements. This rule means, that one should start with the outer shell of the rooms – from the ceilings, walls and floors – then go into smaller details, such as placing specific items on a table.

Planning.

Although you may get impatient and want to get to work as soon as possible, remember the golden rule: measure twice, cut once. If you think everything through carefully, you will save a lot of time, money and worries. I advise you to use the following work schedule to create a more beautiful one, a more practical interior.

Phase I: Home preparation.

Throw it away, what is not needed and clean up.

Get rid of the junk – furniture, images and objects, that have become useless, that are too old or out of fashion, that they were worth saving, or which ones, simply, they don't match anything. (Don't forget about all the stuff stuffed in wardrobes and chests of drawers!).

Big ten.

Browse the list of "The Ten Most Common Mistakes in Interior Design". Set the order of work. (If you can't put something in your plan, go back to step one). Analyze errors, not to make them in the future.

Wish List.

Make a list of additional items – furniture, lamp, carpets etc. – that you will need in the future, to schedule their purchase and delivery date.

Hammer and saw.

Decide if any structural changes are needed. Now is the time to plan and install built-in appliances or make renovations. remember, that at this stage all work takes more time, than planned – regardless of deadlines, provided by the contractor.

Wires and contacts.

Plan and install new lighting cords and other electrical appliances in the walls and ceiling.

Windows and floors.

When renovating walls and floors, select and order new curtains and carpets or have old ones cleaned. You can order your new carpet now, selecting a later delivery date.

Furniture restoration.

Send the furniture back to the factory, where they will carry out the repair, renovation or alteration. Order new upholstery or new furniture and schedule delivery after major painting and renovation work is completed.

Walls and ceilings.

Make repairs, prepare, paint or wallpaper the walls and ceilings.

floors.

Fix, renew or replace with new wooden floors. Regroup, replace and clean terracotta tiles. Wash the carpets.

Phase II: Re-arranging everything.

Curtains and carpets.

Hang new or refreshed curtains, lay carpets or put new carpet on the floor.

Furniture.

Set the furniture.

Paintings and other works of art.

Make a selection of images, framed (if necessary) and hang on the walls. Hang mirrors etc. Plan rotating items.

Equipment

Select and arrange decorative items, lamps, books etc.