I'm a decor expert – these are the 8 biggest mistakes people make and why spending just £5 extra can transform a room

The Sun

23-04-2025

WITH this month's rise in stamp duty and many people continuing to work from home, we are doing more redecorating than ever.
But how clued up are you on DIY decor? Tash Bradley, of design firm Lick and author of Master The Art Of Colour, has helped celebs including Pixie Lott and Jamie Laing with home design.
She tells Sarah Morton about common mistakes people make . . . and how to get a revamp right.
DON'T COPY A CELEB
9
ONE in four people decorate 'for other people' — meaning they choose decor to impress others or follow what they have seen on Instagram or in a celebrity's house.
I've been fortunate enough to do several amazing projects and one was DJ Nick Grimshaw's home. We did this living room, where we painted the walls and ceiling in a warm off-white with contrasting woodwork in black.
It featured on Gogglebox and I had so many people wanting me to recreate it for them.
But Nick had the furniture and artwork to begin with to suit the colouring.
You have to ask yourself if it would work for you personally.
Follow your own instincts.
Kelly Hoppen shares her top design tips
BOOST YOUR SEX LIFE WITH EARTH TONES
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YOUR bedroom is the space in your house that's just for you so I tell my clients it can be anything you want.
But, as someone who studied colour psychology, certain shades can influence how you feel between the sheets.
Those wanting to make their bedroom as sexy as possible may choose a pillar-box red but to wake up to that every day would be too over-stimulating.
I would advise a client who wants that passion and excitement to choose an earthy, terracotta shade.
It's calming, it sets the mood and it's super-sexy. Rich, velvet fabrics also work wonders.
AVOID THE SPOTLIGHT
I'VE never turned on the overhead lights in my house, I prefer soft lighting from lamps.
Spotlights are my pet hate but some people love them in a kitchen or underground room to ensure maximum light.
So I would advise you to avoid blue light bulbs.
Since we live in the northern hemisphere, where it's mostly grey, we need warm lighting.
And pockets of warm light, especially from lamps, can make all the difference to a room.
GO BIG OR GO HOME
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I'VE seen many small rooms packed with the tiniest furniture which, believe it or not, only serves to make the room look even smaller.
You should actually go bigger. A bigger rug, a bigger sofa, bigger everything.
The front feet of the sofa should always be on the rug, you don't need one so small it's like an island in the middle of your floor.
You'll be amazed what you can fit in and how good it can look.
AVOID COLOUR CLASHES WITH SIMPLE RULE
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THERE are no 'wrong' combinations when it comes to paint colour despite what you may have heard.
The key is to get the tone right.
Some shades clash terribly if the tone is wrong.
You need to work out whether the undertone is warm or cool then pair your furnishings to match it.
SPEND AN EXTRA FIVER
PEOPLE often use poor-quality brushes and rollers.
By spending as little as four or five pounds more on a better brush can make a huge difference to the quality of the job and make the whole project easier.
My tip for the best tool of all time is the mini roller.
From painting walls to upcycling furniture or kitchen cabinets, it does the job and it's so easy to use.
I recommend the mini-roller from lick.com. It's £6 for the handle, £6 for the four-piece sponge set.
SIT DOWN TO PLACE YOUR TELLY
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ONE of the most common mistakes I see is easily avoidable — poor TV placement.
I've been to houses where the telly is just too high, you're straining your neck to watch it and it looks all wrong on the wall.
The reason this happens is people position the TV while they're standing, forgetting for the majority of the time they'll be watching it sitting down.
So always sit on your sofa and work out your eye level.
KEEP A LID ON COLOUR SAMPLES
YOU may come up against colour paralysis, when you have too many choices.
I've watched people at B&Q faced with 100 different shades of blue. It's no wonder they go overboard with samples.
I had one lovely lady who brought home a whopping 20 samples of paint to test on a single wall, which is way too many.
After consultation, I tend to advise on two or three colours and I see which one they're naturally drawn to.
Don't overwhelm yourself with a million options.
FAIL TO PREPARE…PREPARE TO FAIL
WHEN people don't prepare properly it can cause chaos. I'm talking about sanding and prepping your walls and making sure all your furniture is covered and protected.
One client tripped over a full pot of paint and it went all over his sofa. I died for him because no amount of stain or paint remover was going to salvage it.
It's essential everything is in order to ensure it all goes as smoothly as possible.
Renovation and redecorating is not the easiest job in the world but with a bit of preparation, it can be enjoyable and the results can be amazing.