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So how often do you "makeover" your home ?

(82 Posts)
hazel93 Tue 04-May-21 11:25:55

In my case rarely !. I really dislike the concept of constantly following the latest trends re. interior decor, or is it just me ?
I have always found "what goes around comes around " with inevitable regularity.

Blondiescot Tue 04-May-21 11:27:26

Same here! We've still got the same couch we had when we got married - and we'll have been married 37 years next month! We used to have neighbours who decorated twice a year! I couldn't be bothered with the hassle.

Witzend Tue 04-May-21 11:39:01

We had new downstairs carpet, curtains, and loose covers for the sofas about 15 years ago, largely because we’d had them a long time and they were looking tired.

Since then, nothing, except some painting (now overdue again) and the carpet is definitely a bit the worse for wear (moths have been at it too) but we’ll probably wait until Gdcs are past the messy stage. Which will be some time, since the youngest is only 16 months.

The loose covers from 15 years ago are still fine - they wash very well, so easy to freshen up.

I can’t understand frequent makeovers for the sake of fashion, but each to their own I suppose. It does seem so wasteful, but OTOH one of my dds has benefited from very nice sofas among other things, at relative peanut prices in charity shops. And a very nice extending kitchen table via Gumtree, for half the original John Lewis price.

Mapleleaf Tue 04-May-21 11:42:22

Decorating tends to be on a "needs must" basis here - I'm not one for constantly changing things, I can't stand all the upheaval. As for changing furniture regularly, doing a total makeover, no, not for me. I like what we have, it's in good condition, so really don't have a desire to change it just for changings sake. Not sure how people afford to do it on a regular basis, anyway.

Admittedly, the decorating looks good once it is done, but I can't understand those who decorate twice yearly or even every year (unless you live in a very smoky environment, perhaps). All I can think is that they love doing it, which I don't. Having said that our bedroom and the bathroom are in need of freshening up, so that is this summers project.

Namsnanny Tue 04-May-21 11:52:25

Well we have nearly always had hand me downs or second hand things until now.
So they were replaced as and when.
We put our money into bricks and mortar, and travelling and ofcourse the children!
Now we're replacing things with more quality furniture, often mid century. I have an eclectic taste.
As for redecorating it's usually paint not wallpaper, and is long over due!!

tiredoldwoman Tue 04-May-21 11:58:36

I'm painting my living room just now , it was papered when I first moved in 31 years ago and I've painted over it once before as I like the texture ( still like woodchip ! ) I've used the same colour again . So I haven't changed much ! Still love my utility wardrobe and dressing table that I was given 40 years ago !

Charleygirl5 Tue 04-May-21 12:02:23

Something will be replaced when it has worn out or falls apart. I do not have the energy, inclination or the money to think- OMG I have had that cooker for over 3 years- I must have the latest model. I am fine as I am.

marymary62 Tue 04-May-21 12:09:08

Rarely. When it’s looking really awful . Although we have just done everywhere again after 12 years (total
renovation at that time ) as planning to sell. Kitchen more often . We are really boring - everything is more or less one colour ‘Snowdrop’ though it might as well be magnolia ??. I use pictures and soft furnishing etc for colour and these haven’t changed in years - re-covered the sofas once in 35 years . Would look ok except our beloved but now deceased (23 years old!) did enjoy scratching . Need new covers which is not cost effective so waiting to see if we really do move and may buy new ... I really have more things to do than ‘makeover ‘ my house ! But I do love a lovely looking interior and if that makeovers give you pleasure it’s fine . Each to their own I guess !

Emily49 Tue 04-May-21 12:58:33

Two or three times a year, I often change rugs, cushions, pictures, etc. Rarely buy new ‘big stuff’ - furniture, etc. But I like faffing with accessories, and that gives a new look to a room. No wallpaper here, so rooms sometimes get repainted. I like a modern, fresh look, but I don’t follow trends. We’re all different though and each to their own - though probably not great for the environment to throw away lots of stuff. I often buy second hand.

kissngate Tue 04-May-21 14:00:43

As I'm the only one remotely interested in decorating I used to change a wall colour (not wallpaper) every couple of years upstairs and down. No carpets or furniture were changed but I quite like replacing cushion covers or adding a new colourful throw to the settee. Also like finding a bargain picture in a charity shop which give rooms a fresh look. Our old neighbours changed the colour of their room each year and I was envious as it always looked nice and fresh.

Jaxjacky Tue 04-May-21 14:05:58

Whole house painted seven years ago, hall/stairs/landing and l. room to be done again later this year. One two seater sofa and a chair ordered, the existing are probably at least seventeen years old, the leather is crackled and rips in the chair arms. Bookcase, TV unit, cupboard and side tables delivered today. We’ve paid more for furniture this time because we can afford it, don’t have rugs or cushions, basically we’re just upgrading.

crazyH Tue 04-May-21 14:09:34

Planning to repaint this year....moving away from the obligatory magnolia to a shade of ‘taupe’....changing curtains as well...about time !!!

timetogo2016 Tue 04-May-21 14:12:51

The last time the house was decorated was around 10 years ago.
Can`t stand all the mess.

Grandmabatty Tue 04-May-21 14:15:31

I like to freshen up the paint and get rooms painted each year on a rota basis. This year will be the living room and my bedroom. But I don't buy new furniture to go with it. Most of my furniture was bought new two years ago when I moved in as my previous stuff was too big. My sofas are five years old and I have no intention of changing them til dgs is a bit older.

Alima Tue 04-May-21 14:19:41

We certainly do not follow latest trends whatever they are. We also don’t makeover the whole house at the same time. It depends what gets done, not always rationally. The h/s/l was decorated in February, gave us something to do during lockdown and it was a bit damp to work in the garden. At a similar time we changed the colour of accessories/utensils in the kitchen from red to green. Heaven knows where that urge came from but it does look clean and fresh.

Amberone Tue 04-May-21 14:20:53

Depends what is happening. We used to travel a lot, so didn't have money for travel and decorating. But I do love decorating and designing, so I'm happy to do it.

I've spent a lot of time during lock down painting and decluttering because we hope to move next year so it's all got to be spick and span ready to go on the market.

I don't follow trends though, I do what I like (or in this case, what I think will sell fastest). I don't replace lots of furniture either - I repaint/restain and re-purpose. I bought three small cupboards from charity shops before lock down, one is now a TV unit, the others are side tables but will become bedside tables. I also bought three lots of curtains in charity shops that have been made into blinds. One pair of our old curtains has been made into a big cushion for a bedroom because I still like the pattern and colours. Any furniture we no longer want will go on Gumtree /Freecycle or to charity shops.

Decorating is like everything else in life - if you are happy with the way things are, don't do it. If you like a change now and again, go for it.

M0nica Tue 04-May-21 14:21:50

I don't 'do' makeovers. Our taste in furniture has always been old, secondhand and restore, plus inherited bits so that our house just evolves so that we now have a house full of beautiful antique furniture, with a value of close to nil, because no-one buys brown furniture these days.

I rarely ever throw anything away, it goes to auction, ebay, charity shop or Freecycle and only if it has still not gone do I consider the bin or tip.

Just before lockdown started I decided things were looking a bit tired, most of the house hadn't had a repaint since 2011, and had started to redecorate and do a little tweaking; replacing wall lights in the hall and living room that were over 50 years old, several new pairs of curtain and a wall papered in a bedroom with new bedding. The job will be complete next week.

However we are having a kitchen extension being built at present and that requires a new kitchen and a furniture rebalance, a couple of pieces will go to auction and different (secondhand) furniture bought for the new space.

Kali2 Tue 04-May-21 14:22:34

We do one room/area at a time but never a full make-over. The concept of replacing everything, including kitchen and bathroom, furniture, curtains- is just so abhorrent and an ecological disaster. A fresh coat of paint from time to time, fair enough.

harold Tue 04-May-21 14:32:57

Unfortunately our slightly blue tinged green carpet has changed to a slightly khaki colour in places so I would like to change it. But it is only about 5 years old so I do not expect that we will do this for a while. Instead I move cushions and a few ornaments around at times. Our kitchen walls have recently been painted magnolia above the tiles and it does make the room seem much brighter than the former beige/fawn colour, We found an old tin of magnolia in the shed and decided to use it up, having avoided this colour in favour of more trendy colours for several years.

Amberone Tue 04-May-21 14:50:16

Reading this thread has made me think and I realised that I don't know anyone at all who makes over their house on a regular basis. And I don't know anyone who really follows trends. I know there are people like that, but the people I know tend to redecorate a room at a time, something like a nursery into a child's bedroom, or adding an extension on.

MissChateline Tue 04-May-21 14:53:50

As a forces child I was used to moving house every couple of years. Sometimes we moved every 6 months. I love changing things around, in fact I suspect that I have a psychological need to do this! It makes me feel that I am actually moving again.
I made the most of lockdown and the fact that so many people cancelled workmen coming into their homes. I found that the builder who project managed the work was able to book the best of all the local electricians, joiners etc which was fantastic. So many of them were complaining that much of their work had been cancelled.
I opted for a full kitchen renovation. Walls taken down and started again from bare walls. When it was finally finished after 4 months the decorators came in and painted half the house. Now plumbers are changing radiators and the decorators are back upstairs doing the rest of the house and should be finished by the end of the week.
I love the project managing, seeing the work progress and all of the chaos that comes with it. I just love having an ongoing project really. I guess I shall feel a bit lost when they all finally pack up their tools and depart.

Polarbear2 Tue 04-May-21 15:43:45

I’d rather decorate than clean up! ?. I probably do a room each year. I like to change things round - furniture/cushion colours/towel colours etc. My problem now is I live in my OHs house and he’s not so keen on change. I’ve started redoing my old house instead - much to my sons (mild) annoyance as he lives there! ?

Jaxjacky Tue 04-May-21 15:45:33

MissChateline I felt like that after our kitchen was gutted and redone last Autumn, my ‘baby’ was finished. I’ve moved onto the garden now.

Amberone Tue 04-May-21 15:46:20

I made the most of lockdown and the fact that so many people cancelled workmen coming into their homes.

Blimey you were lucky - everyone round here was so booked up we had to wait months to get our roof done, trees cut back, bathroom finished, light fittings changed... we were joking that after last year all the tradesmen will be retiring and we won't be able to find any again when we need them.

Grannycool52 Tue 04-May-21 16:04:08

We have a couple of rooms repainted each year in rotation around the house, then start again. So it all looks reasonably fresh as a rule. I tend to buy very good quality furniture but then I make it last. I love new things but only buy them when things start to look shabby.