Redecorating? Make sure you're covered with home insurance

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Before you do any type of DIY to your home – even it’s just redecorating – make sure you check your home insurance policy to see if you’re covered with additional accidental damage cover. It will cost you extra, but it will help to give you peace of mind in case there is a mishap. The last thing you want is a mini disaster when you simply want to make your home a little nicer.

You can find home insurance quotes online if you’re thinking about getting a new policy or it’s time to renew. And while you’re doing that, you might even want to consider changing your buildings insurance at the same time. Then, once that’s all in order, you can get on with the fun bit – rolling up your sleeves and giving the place a lick of paint.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re painting your bedroom or the living room – the same rules apply. So here are some useful things to consider when it comes to jazzing up your home:

Getting the colours right

From muted tones to vibrant reds and oranges, finding the right colours for your room can be a challenge. So, it’s a good idea to flick through some magazines or look online for inspiration.

If you already have the right curtains, or a new piece of furniture, why not pick the main colour from them to start you off? And you can always rely on a colour wheel to help you find colours that match.

Walls and woodwork

When it comes to buying your paint, you will need two different types of paint. One for the walls and one for the woodwork. The most popular choice for walls is emulsion – and for the woodwork you can use satin or gloss. Choosing the type of paint really depends on the finish you want, matt or shiny.

Preparing the surfaces

When it comes to painting, half the job is the preparation. You want to make sure that every surface is smooth before you start to paint. That means that some areas will need sanding – and you may even need to fill a few holes. Even though this can take a lot of time, it’s really worth doing it in order to get a super slick finish.

Be safe and ventilated

Take extra precautions when you’re painting, especially when you’re up a ladder. If you are working at height, it’s worth having someone else around just in case you were to fall and hurt yourself. And always make sure the room is well ventilated, so that means opening doors and windows to let the fresh air in.

Painting in the right order

When it comes to getting started, there’s a correct order to paint the parts of your room and the woodwork. The order goes like this: walls window, windowsill, radiators, skirting – and finally the door. This is so you start in the middle of the room and you work your way out, avoiding any wet paint.

Once you’ve finished redecorating you’ll have a real sense of achievement – and will have a lovely new space to enjoy. Perhaps then you can move on to another room? But remember, whatever DIY project you take on, you should check your home insurance policy to make sure it will cover you for whatever it is you want to do. And that may mean buying additional accidental damage cover.