Other forms: redecorated, redecorating, redecorates
To redecorate is to paper and paint a room afresh. Redecorate the bedroom, newly redecorated, we redecorated last year.
It changes the surfaces rather than the structure, which is what separates it from renovating or converting — redecorating is paint, paper and perhaps a carpet. Landlords redecorate between tenancies as a matter of routine. Note that the re- means again, and that decorate comes from the Latin for ornament.
1verbredecorateTo paper and paint a room afresh.
“We're going to redecorate the bedroom in pale green before the baby arrives.”
redecorate is a refreshing of surfaces.
Proto-Indo-European
*deḱ-
Latin
decorātus
Middle English
decorat — adorned
English
decorate
English, today
redecorate
Built from
From re- + decorate. decorate comes from Middle English decorat (“adorned”), from Latin decorātus, perfect passive participle of decorō (“to adorn, distinguish, honor”) (see -ate), from decus (“ornament, grace, dignity, honor”), akin to decor (“elegance, grace, beauty, ornament”), from decet (“adorn, befit”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA