Time for a bedroom makeover while the sun isn’t shining

This summer’s no-show and seemingly endless rain gives us the opportunity to look towards indoor activities to brighten up our lives. So, while most exciting outdoor activities are curtailed due to the awful weather, now is the ideal time to give your bedroom a makeover. A lick of paint, some new curtains, bed linens and accessories could totally transform your boudoir!

Makeovers don’t need to be expensive to be expensive; you can totally transform the look of your bedroom on less than £100. Brand-name paint costs from as little as £9 for a one litre tin. Quality light fittings and accessories can be picked up starting at a just £5 in all good DIY stores and online auction sites. And materials, cushions and other accessories that can make a huge impact on your bedroom’s look are all reasonably priced. To save even further, you can even get two looks for the price of one with reversible bed linens. So, with a bit of cash, time, application and effort you can turn your existing bedroom into a place from where you can banish the miserable UK summer.

First, decide on the look. With the amount of rain we’ve experienced recently, you might want to opt for sunnier climes and a Mediterranean feel, complete with bright colours and patterns. Or, perhaps you might want a more exotic feel with deep, dark block colours. There are plenty of places to look for inspiration with a plethora of DIY magazines on newsagents’ shelves and, of course, the online equivalent via the search engines.

The fun part of redecorating is certainly deciding on the style and colours. Don’t be afraid to contrast, you don’t have to complement all the colours and contrast can offer a more spectacular look. Once you’ve decided on your colour scheme you can choose some sample match-pots for a couple of pounds each and see how they look on the wall. When it comes to working out how much paint you need the major manufacturers have really useful online calculators, so make sure you do your sums before buying your paint! You’ll even pick up tips on what type of paint you require, such as emulsion, silk and so on.

Next, work out what bed linen and other accessories you will need, such as shelves or other furniture items. In these days of broadband and internet shopping you needn’t leave the comfort of your own home to order everything you need for your makeover. You can order paints, materials, bed linens and bedroom accessories online, and they can be delivered direct to your door - meaning that you won’t have to get wet to get a new look!

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist