Feature walls

Give your entrance its signature style with a bench seat, stripped down to bare wood and part-painted a sunny yellow for a modern look. Use safety gloves, goggles and a mask and, following the manufacturer’s directions, brush paint and varnish remover on bench areas you want to scrape bare.

To remove varnish from stubborn areas, such as turned legs, use abrasive stripping pads soaked in odourless mineral spirits. Vigorously sand after all stripping is complete, going from medium to fine sanding pads. Dust, then use painter’s blue tape to mask areas you don’t want painted. Apply Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in English Yellow. When dry, protect the bench with a coat of soft wax.

Drizzle paint on sheet music or a book page for a unique abstract design.