Unless you’re rolling in cash it’s quite likely that you won’t have made any major moves on the property ladder in the last couple of years.  You’re probably also fed up of the same four walls every day – but redecorating or renovating is the next best option to moving house.  Even if a move is on the cards eventually, due to a growing family (or the need to downsize) freshening up your surroundings can make the wait more bearable and make your home more attractive to prospective buyers when the time comes. 

The easiest way to freshen up your home is to repaint.  Walls are obviously the place to start, but ceilings can benefit from a lick of paint every 10 to 15 years.  You might even try playing around with the effects of painting ceilings something other than white – in properties with high ceilings a smaller, cosy feeling room can benefit from the lowering effect of painting the ceiling a darker colour than the walls.

Doing the skirting boards and doorframes can also add a twist to an interior design scheme – think about painting them the same colour as the floor, or picking a vibrant colour to make each doorway seem like an invitation.  If you have archways as part of an open plan aesthetic consider painting the inside of these a contrasting colour to the walls to delineate spaces.

All of these painting jobs need a ladder and we recommend a step ladder with a platform, or a step ladder with the painter’s tray accessory.  Painting can be hard work if you’re not used to it and no-one wants to hold the paint can or roller tray all day.  That’s why the painters tray accessory helps make light work of the job, while the platform on a step ladder provides a handy place to rest a tin or roller tray.

When preparing surfaces and painting make sure you take regular breaks to rest your feet and legs.  Standing on ladder rungs can be strenuous on the muscles of your lower legs and even professional decorators aren’t up the ladder all day.  In fact, many tradespeople use a painter’s trestle or a “hop up” platform type arrangement to give them a large and stable surface on which to stand.  Some of these can be quite long, meaning you don’t need to move them as frequently as you do a stepladder.

As part of your preparations you’ll need to take down or cover curtains to protect them.  An easy way of doing this is to unhook the last fixing from the ends past the brackets and slide the whole curtain into the centre of the window.  This does mean painting around the window in stages, but avoids having to take down and rehang any curtains.  Use bin liners to cover the fabric against splashes and spots.

When you’re climbing the ladder with a paint tin, bucket or roller tray in hand it is vital that you maintain contact with the ladder with both feet and a free hand at all times.  The three points of contact rule of ladder safety is not one you should ever overlook.  If you’re using a brand new tin of paint that is quite heavy, consider decanting a small amount into a tray or bucket to lighten the load you’re carrying.

If you’re not thinking of moving then redecorating is still worth considering.  A fresh coat of paint, a new colour scheme, recovering your three-piece suite and even hanging new curtains can make your long-term family home feel like a totally new place, so why not get stuck into a bit of DIY this year?  After all, with the wonderful British weather being renowned for its rain, you may as well make the most of being stuck indoors!  Whatever ladder or trestle you need, you’re sure to find it at Midland Ladders.