Romance is born

Look beyond white to bring comfort and charm to bedrooms for young and old.

When Vali and Matt were refreshing their Queensland home, they were keen on bringing in colour, and could see no reason why it should stop at the bedroom door. Interior decorator Carlene worked with the couple on a palette of bold block colours, which appear in various parts of the house, as well as in the master bedroom shown below, and in the children’s rooms, one of which is shown opposite.

Applied to character-filled wall panelling, the deep blue in Vali and Matt’s room creates a feeling of luxury and romance, but in a very affordable way. A fresh green was used in their son’s room, while the daughter’s bedroom, opposite, was treated to a pretty pink. This shade was chosen from a selection by the youngster and everyone is delighted with the result. “We are really thrilled with what could be achieved with budget-friendly panelling and well-chosen paint,” says Vali. “At all times of year, our home is a beautiful place to be.”

What you’ll need Tape measure; pencil; long ruler; mouth, eye and ear protection; two trestles; circular saw; Easycraft Easy VJ MDF panels in 2400mm and 900mm (pink wall) – these are available at hardware stores, including Bunnings; stud finder; acrylic stud adhesive; putty scraper; builder’s wedges; hammer and 40mm anti-rust nails; dado rail – this one is Easycraft primed pine; skirting board; dropsheet, paintbrush and roller.

Here are three projects you can conquer in a weekend. Panel cladding is an easy way to add character to your home and it’s also a great quick-fix solution for walls that have seen better days. The panels can be attached to any type of wall, including brick and concrete; here, they’ve been put up over existing Gyprock stud walls. They are also a snap to paint.

Need to know The panelling may have to be pre-ordered, so call your supplier before locking in a project date.

‘The rich colours make it feel like home – our home. They set our place apart from other Queenslanders and we really love that.’ VALI, HOMEOWNER