REFRESH YOUR WOODWORK

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT?

Easy

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

½in - 2in brush masking tape primer eggshell paint 120 grit sandpaper

You don’t need to paint the whole room to give it a lift. “Highlighting windows and woodwork in separate colours is a great way of adding a new element to a room or giving it a refresh with very little expenditure of either time or money,” says Ruth Mottershead, marketing director of Little Greene. “Transforming a window is easy to do on a budget: only a small amount of paint is required, and the key is meticulous preparation.”

But for a more striking design you can even take the colour out on to the walls, copying the shape of the window to create a feature. “An easy way to create a feature of a window is to give it a highlight, or indeed a lowlight – a bright accent will add a playful touch, while a bolder, darker tone will accentuate the shape of a window and provide a sophisticated contrast to a lighter wall tone,” she adds.

HOW TO DO IT:

Lightly sand and clean the surface before masking out your woodwork or shape. “Apply one coat of primer to the window frame and allow to dry before applying one coat of top coat,” says Mottershead. “Try not to lay on the paint too thickly and avoid the edges where moving parts meet. Slide windows up and down during the job to keep them from sticking shut.

“Allow to dry for four hours then lightly sand to ensure a smooth finish and wipe. Apply the second coat of eggshell and allow to dry.”

For more advice, visit littlegreene.com