If your spare room hasn’t seen the light of day in a while and you’re embarrassed about what’s going on behind its closed door, Interiors legend and Taubmans brand ambassador Shaynna Blaze says it’s time to tackle this neglected area – and the Easter long weekend is the perfect time to get it sorted!
“The best way to start is by decluttering and clearing out as much as you can with the aim of turning that ‘forgotten room’ from a dumping ground into a delightful space for your visitors,” she says. “Once you’ve cleared the clutter, hopefully you’ll be left with at least a bed and wardrobe – the perfect starting point for a guest bedroom”.
Check out Shaynna’s expert tips below for turning your spare room into a show stopper!
Start with a coat of paint
“There’s no simpler or more budget-friendly way to transform any room,” she says. “Pale shades of blue and green create a relaxing mood and work well in guest rooms. If you want to play it safe, a neutral colour is a great starting place as it will give you scope to inject colours in other ways, like your accessories and bed linen. To create a warmer, cosy room, use rich brown tones on the walls and pops of red and orange in your cushions and linens”.
Use Lighting to create different moods
“Bedside lamps will not only look great in a spare room but will also provide soft, ambient lighting in the evenings,” Shaynna advises. “For a smaller or darker room, add a dimmer to the light switch. This gives your guests the option of flooding the room with light when they need it or softening the glow when they want”.
Don’t forget about the finishing touches
“A colourful throw and some scatter cushions will instantly inject colour, pattern and texture into an otherwise neutral room. If your spare room is particularly small, keep the bed linen in a similar light, neutral shade as the wall colour so it extends the amount of colour throughout the space, making the room appear larger. To create interest in the room, use textured fabrics and subtle, geometric patterns or pinstripes rather than loud prints”.
To find out how to easily and cost-effectively revamp a room in your home, visit the Taubmans Endure Paint Challenge at www.taubmans.com.au for colour inspiration, painting advice and more expert tips from Shaynna. Take part by sharing your before and after photos, and enter to win a share of $150,000 in prizes*.
