Give every room the wow factor

Bored with your plain white walls or tired home decor? Revamp your rooms this spring by transforming your walls and ceilings with just a splash of colour or roll of wallpaper – it’s a simple way to inject new life into your home.

Have fun playing with paints, patterns and textures to create your perfect look – your walls are a blank canvas and the only limit on what you can do with them is your imagination, here are a few ideas for inspiration…

WALLPAPER

Perfect patterns
From classic damask-style prints to more abstract monochrome designs, patterned wallpaper adds instant glamour to any room. But bear in mind that busy prints are usually best confined to eye-catching feature walls, to avoid overpowering the whole room. A single surface papered in a bold pattern can have a huge impact when the rest of the space is kept neutral, with accents of the print picked out in scatter cushions, upholstery or curtains.

Fancy florals
Traditional floral designs can look fabulous and lend homes an air of nostalgia and romance – think delicate trailing prints of blossoming flowers. To keep the look fresh and up-to-the-minute, ditch the pretty pastels and play with vibrant colours and textures. And for a really contemporary finish, team classic prints with more modern graphic floral designs or geometric prints, particularly in bright, bold shades.

Statement stripes
For a timelessly sophisticated finish, you can’t go wrong with striped wallpaper. Striking and handsome, stripes are an enduring favourite in grand entrance halls but can easily overwhelm a bedroom. If you want to soften the look, opt for a muted shade such as this gorgeous duck egg blue, and team it with complementary accessories like this antique silver mirror and shelving unit. The pale fawns and creams of the rug and soft furnishings tie in with the whole look, to create a room that is effortlessly elegant without feeling imposingly grand.

PAINTS

Clever colours
Be as bold as you dare when working with paint – statement walls in vivid shades look fantastic teamed with contrasting bright soft furnishings and floor coverings. If you’re feeling really brave, throw the rule book out the window and play with clashing neon shades and citrus tones. If you prefer slightly less garish interior design but still want to inject a splash of bright colour into your home, then opt for an eye-catching feature wall or two in a bold shade and keep the rest of the decor neutral with natural-toned flooring and furniture. You can use cushions and throws in a similar shade to the walls to tie the theme together.

Daring designs

Having painted walls doesn’t mean you are limited to block colours – bold stencilled or hand-painted designs can give a really impressive one-of-a-kind finish. Plain, light walls, work well as a base – the perfect canvas for getting creative on. And whether you opt for colourful stencilled shapes or monochrome handpainted patterns, keeping it simple usually achieves the best results.

CEILINGS

When it comes to decorating your ceilings, plain white lining paper and paint is usually the best way to go. This is especially true if your ceilings are not particularly high as too much colour will make them seem even lower. If you are lucky enough to have original coving and ceiling roses in your home, then be sure to keep them in a good state of repair. But if they do need replacing or you want to add coving to a plain ceiling it is possible to buy and fit it new. These mouldings are made from either polystyerene – which will require painting after you put it up – or plaster. The latter is a much more expensive option but the finish is exceptional.

Decorating tips

• Stick to white paint for ceilings and go for wall colours that complement the space. 
• When painting windows, be sure to form a seal between the glass and the woodwork.
• If you use masking tape to protect floors and windows when painting, remove it within 24 hours or the glue will harden and it will become a nightmare to take off.
• As a general rule, use an oil-based paint for woodwork and water-based paint for walls.
• Buy the best equipment you can afford. Rollers make quick work of large expanses like a wall and a tiny one is ideal for achieving a sharp finish in awkward spots such as behind a radiator. Synthetic bristles or rollers work best with water-based paints. For oil-based products, go for a lambswool roller or natural, bristle brushes.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. But don’t always interpret literally as there is usually a degree of flexibility, especially in diluting paints.
• Complete all your preparation before you start to decorate; and try to ensure you’ve bought enough materials to complete the job.
• Clean the tools promptly once you finish. Emulsion paint is easy to clean with warm water. For oil-based paints, soak in white spirit, then wipe on newspaper several times; wash in warm water and washing-up liquid, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

Pictures: getty images