6 decorating rules TO REMEMBER

1 TO GET THE TRUE SCALE OF PRINTS and patterns and assess how they will look in a room, order samples or request longer lengths of wallpaper.

2 CHECK BATCH NUMBERS ON ROLLS when buying a job lot of wallpaper to ensure consistent colour.

3 PAIRING COLOURS FROM THE SAME SPECTRUM makes for the best combinations if you are painting several shades in one room.

4 SKETCH OR MEASURE OUT A DESIGN first if painting shapes such as chequerboard squares.

5 PANELLING IS LESS FLEXIBLE for displaying artwork and limits what you can put on walls.

6 ROUTED MDF IS A LESS-EXPENSIVE alternative for panelled walls. It is more stable than solid wood and allows for greater flexibility of design. Easipanel does fine sheets in several styles that even resist moisture in bathrooms.