At the time of writing, there are 15 weekends left until Christmas. Chances are, there are a few rooms in your home that could do with a bit of a refresh so you’re ready to start the New Year with a refined space.

If you don’t have the time for a major renovation, I’ve written this step-by-step weekend plan so you can transform one room at a time in just a few days without feeling overwhelmed. By breaking down the process into manageable tasks, you’ll be able to see big results with minimal effort.

Friday Evening: Plan and Prepare

• Decide: Choose which room in your house you’re going to tackle first. It’s often best to choose a small one to start with, such as the guest loo. Once you’ve seen this transformation, it’ll give you the umph to move onto other rooms. Write a list of things that you want to change about the space, why it needs to change and then spend some time looking for inspirational images that represent the look you want to achieve.
• Gather Supplies: Make a quick list of the supplies you’ll need for the weekend, such as paint, brushes, light fixtures, etc. Pick these up on your way home or order them for next-day delivery.
• Declutter Your Room: Spend at least an hour decluttering, without distraction. Focus on removing items that no longer serve a purpose or bring you joy. Sort items into piles: keep, donate, and discard. Do NOT waste time trying to find space to store the items you remove in other areas of the house, just take them out of the room and make a pile.
• Refine Your Design: Check back on the images you saved as inspiration, imagine them in your space and be excited for the weekend ahead.

Saturday Morning: Big Impact Changes

• Prep: Start your morning by prepping your space. Make sure the room is clean and any furniture is covered with dust sheets for protection. Sand and sugar soap your walls, then have breakfast whilst you’re waiting for this to dry.
• The Messy Work: Vacuum the space again and now it’s time to get the paint brushes or wallpaper out! Once the first coat of paint goes on you can start to see the transformation. This step should take about 2-3 hours, including drying time and depending on the size of the room.
• Update Light Fixtures: While the paint is drying, switch out outdated light fixtures. Installing new lights can instantly modernise your space and create a more inviting atmosphere.

Saturday Afternoon: Pulling it Together

• Final Coat: Now for the second coat of paint, doing the cutting in first and then painting the walls will make the job much quicker and if you’ve prepped well this morning, the paint should just glide on.
• So Fresh, So Clean: Remove all the dust sheets and have a final clean up.

Saturday Evening: Refresh and Rearrange

• Rearrange Furniture: If required, rearrange the furniture to create a new focal point, such as orienting the sofa toward a window or fireplace. Move furniture away from walls to create more flow and openness in the room.
• Out With The Old: Look around your room and see if there is anything you need to add to it, such as additional pieces of furniture, plants, storage, artwork or lamps. Measure up for these and write yourself a shopping list.

Sunday Morning: Finishing Touches

• Time to Shop: Enjoy a coffee whilst surfing Facebook Marketplace for those items on your list that will complete your room. If you can’t find it on there, then it may be worth hitting the charity shops, or the high street stores as a last resort.
• Add Greenery: Bring in some low-maintenance houseplants, such as succulents, snake plants, or peace lilies. Place them in decorative pots and distribute them throughout your home to create a sense of calm and vitality.

Sunday Evening: Organise and Style

• Organise Key Areas: Use baskets, trays, and storage boxes to neatly arrange items. Clear countertops and surfaces of clutter to create a clean, open feel.
• Refresh Décor: Rotate your artwork or decorative items from one room to another to create a new look. Consider framing some family photos or artwork to make your home feel more personal. You could also update your frames with a new colour or finish to match your refreshed decor.
• Add Scent and Sound: End your weekend transformation by enhancing the ambiance of your home. Set up a diffuser with essential oils or light some scented candles. Add a playlist of relaxing music or nature sounds to complete the transformation and make your space feel truly welcoming.

By following this simplified step-by-step plan, you’ll have a home that feels fresh, stylish, and inviting ready for Christmas. Remember, small changes can make a big impact without taking weeks of your time.

So schedule it in now, follow the plan and transform your home! You can find more top tips in the resources section of our website www.studiojq.co.uk and find us on social media @thestudiojq

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