Ben Whitman's

Don’t you think it’s great when you sit back and relax in a freshly decorated space? All that time, preparing, priming, measuring, filling, tripping over the cat….but it’s worth it….isn’t it ? Ben’s useful guide to decorating has a few hints and tips for you, so hopefully you won’t get in a pickle!

Getting the basics right

You’ll enjoy the job a lot more if you get everything together sorted from the beginning. Create a work platform in the middle of the area you’ll be working in. Gather together all of your paint, brushes, rollers, hammers, screwdrivers, plastic bags, plastic wrap, rags, paint can opener, and cloths. Don’t forget the black sacks either!

Take time out to Prep the area

Don’t try to get everything done in one day because a rushed job will look rushed! Use the days before painting to gather all of your furniture into the center of the room, or out of it, if space allows. Make sure you fill the cracks, sand them down and wrap, mask, protect all areas you don’t want paint/ filler / wallpaper adhesive on!

Remove All fixtures and fittings

Take off your door knobs, and loosen the light fittings / sockets ensuring there is no power to the area you will be working in. We don’t want electric shocks and ambulances called. In 2010, 4000 deaths and 2.7 million people attended hospital as a direct result of having an accident in the home and we don’t want you to be the next statistic

Make sure you’re dressed for the job

No matter how hard you try, you’re bound to get drips (or more) of paint on whatever you’re wearing and in your hair. So, make sure that you are dressed suitably for the job in hand. Remove jewellery and precious sentimental items. Make sure you have comfortable shoes on and preferably non-slip (Think of ladders). You wouldn’t go out under-dressed to walk the dog in snow so likewise make sure that whatever you wear is suitable for painting and decorating and that you don’t mind it getting ruined in the process!