DIY Time! TV Presenter Neville Knott Shares His Top Tips For Home Improvements

Ever looked around your living room and wished that one of those TV house-makeover gurus would come and take you under their wing?

We’re big fans of interior designer Neville Knott’s work behind the front door of so many Irish homes on various TV shows over the past few years, and now he’s sharing his know-how exclusively with Her.ie.

While there’s only so many homes he can actually get to, you can take a little Neville inspiration from his new homewares collection for Shaws Department Stores – and now you can buy home furnishings from Shaws from the comfort of your own home as the chain have launched their new online homewares store, www.shawshome.ie

To celebrate, we’ve nabbed the lovely Neville for a chat and got the man himself to give his top five tops for home decorating. Happy DIY!

 

Key Equipment For Decorating

There are two pieces of equipment that are vital to source before you get started; painter’s tape and a measuring tape. When choosing the paint you wish to use in the room, be sure to pick contrasting colours such as colours in a similar spectrum. Some people may like to play it safe and choose a lighter shade of the current colour on your walls. If you are feeling bold in your colour choices just remember there is no limit to how creative you can be.

When painting an entire room always start from the top down.  Ceilings first, followed by walls and finally doors and skirting.

 

Colour Blocking, Not Just for Clothes

Colour blocking has been such a big fashion trend this year and there’s no need to limit it to your wardrobe. Loud and proud colour combinations make for a super-chic, on trend and confident look that makes people happy and most definitely can be incorporated into your home. This year has been called the ‘year of colour’ so what an ideal time to get colour blocking in your home.

 Colour blocking refers to painting the walls in a room in a series of blocks and shapes rather than decorating the walls with artwork. Colour blocking is done by selecting zones on a wall or ceiling and painting them a different colour from the main wall colour. The fabulous thing about colour blocking is it can be done in whatever blocks size you choose and can be done with as many colours as you want.

 

Planning, Planning, Planning 

Planning is key so make sure to put the effort in before you begin painting. Choose the stripe width whether it be vertical or horizontal. Mark the stripes in intervals with pencil on all four walls or alternatively to your feature wall before applying the tape. A builder’s level is a great tool to help ensure all of your lines are straight. Take your time with the preparation and the end result will be worth it. After painting four or five stripes, carefully remove the painter's tape from the finished stripes while the paint is still wet by pulling straight away from the wall to prevent the stripe colour from getting into the opposite strips colour.

Rugs are a great way of bringing colourful stripes into a room with minimal effort. By picking up a colour from your walls and finding a floor covering with that exact colour along with some others it can give your room an instant boost.

 

Colour Therapy

The use of colour as a therapy is a truly holistic, non-invasive and powerful therapy which dates back thousands of years. It is sometimes referred to as chromotherapy, light therapy or colourology. The aim of colour therapy is to balance and enhance our body’s energy centres which are also known as our chakras by using the colours of the light spectrum which in turn helps to stimulate our body’s own healing process.

 

1. Pink is associated with physical tranquillity, survival and nurturing warmth.
2. Yellow is an energetic colour representing sunshine, vitality and happiness.
3. Green is known to be the colour of balance and is associated with harmony, rest, peace and refreshment.
4. Blue is the colour of the mind and is essentially known for its soothing ability. It is a very calming colour and inspires clarity, mental control and is also thought to promote self-empowerment.
5. Purple is associated with spiritual awareness and creativity. It is highly introversive and encourages deep contemplation or meditation.

 

Power of White 

Believe it or not, white is one of the most versatile colours available and probably the most popular one for home décor. It is an excellent starting point for any home and can help resolve a multitude of problems in a space.

For example by painting a ceiling brilliant white, a room is heightened. Painting two walls white and two walls beige will stretch a room. White is your best friend when you’re trying to make any room seem larger than it actually is. Small rooms can appear larger with white walls, so transform that box room into a light airy retreat with the simple use of white.

 

So there you have it, top tips from one of Ireland's top interior designers. And, once your rooms have had their makeover, you could always check out some of Neville's new range to furnish. We're loving these picks...

Neville Knott for Shaws Monaco Antique Gold Interlined Pencil Pleat Readymade Curtains

 

Neville Knott for Shaws Scented Candle Gardenia & White Lily

Neville Knott for Shaws Wine Goblets (Set of six) 

Neville Knott for Shaws Almut Wood Finish Lamp