TRANSFORM YOUR STUDY in a day
We’re all spending more time in our home office than ever before. When was the last time you gave it a makeover? It can be surprising how inspirational a newly renovated space can be, making it more conducive to working and studying.
Here are some easy yet stylish solutions that you can do in a day.
ADD SOME ON-TREND COLOUR
It’s amazing what a coat of new colour can do to a space. Dulux asked stylist Bree Leech to make over a home office and study nook in a heritage home using the on-trend Dulux Indulge palette. The focus was making the space a nurturing retreat from the outside world; a place to warm the soul and lift the spirits, with cocooning colours, luxurious details and comforting curves.
“The Indulge palette is warm and sophisticated, the ideal colour cure for those gloomy winter months,” says Andrea Lucena-orr, Dulux Colour and Communications Manager. “Deep burgundy, soft violet and accents of coral and mustard feel opulent and exciting, with hints of art deco and ’70s disco adding a touch of nostalgia.”
Stylist Bree says that colour has such a huge impact on the mood of a room.
“I wanted to create spaces where you would want to linger,” she says.
“Paint was the best way to achieve this – it gave the rooms a whole new look without replacing all the furniture or blowing the budget.”
• For details on the colour palette visit dulux.com.au
UPSCALE AN OLD PIECE OF FURNITURE
Here’s an easy DIY project. Whether you’ve recently picked up a vintage desk, or a tired piece within your own home has caught your attention, a furniture upcycling project is the perfect way to spend spare time at home.
British Paints gives us a guide on how to do it.
STEP 1: PREP
Before you start, make sure that you remove handles or any hardware from the desk. This will allow you to carefully paint the entire piece without missing a spot or getting paint somewhere it shouldn’t be.
Don’t go reaching for the paint just yet! Before you start painting, it’s crucial to sand your piece. Avoid using a rough sandpaper, instead try a 120 grit sandpaper first, then move
to a 240-320 grit sandpaper to finish. When you’re sanding make sure to not gouge the surface, you just want to remove any old paint or imperfections in the wood, so a light touch is best. Then give the surface a good wipe down.
STEP 2: UNDERCOAT
British Paints Prep 4in1 Water Based is the ideal product to use for preparing indoor and outdoor furniture, as it has the combined functions of sealing, priming, undercoating and stain blocking.
STEP 3: ENAMEL TOPCOAT
Once your undercoat has fully dried give the furniture a very light sand to remove any remaining imperfections.
To keep your newly refurbished piece of furniture looking fresher for longer, apply a layer of your desired colour in British Paints H2O Enamel Gloss. Not only will this bring your piece of furniture to life, it will also help to protect your latest masterpiece from unwanted chips and scratches.
When it comes to applying the enamel, opt for a small nap roller with rounded ends if you’re applying it to a large flat surface. This will allow for a flawless finish every time and leave no roller marks visible on the finished product. For those tricky corners and little details, a high-quality angled brush is the ideal tool to get in grooves for a picture-perfect finish you’lll be proud of.
Allow the first layer of enamel to dry before adding another, then once completely dry, reattach any handles and hardware to your beautifully painted piece of furniture.
Enjoy your newly renovated desk while you brainstorm the next painting task to tackle in your home.
• For more go to britishpaints. com.au