Do it in a day… home improvement Stylish ideas
...an afternoon or a weekend! Fast and stylish home improvement ideas to give your living space a fresh new look
CREATE A PICTURE WALL in a weekend
Add interest to your room with a mountain scene. To start, paint the entire wall with your base shade. Once dry, draw the lines in freehand to create peaks – this doesn’t need to be perfect; wobbles will add character. Paint the mountains with a roller, allowing each one to dry before going on to the next. For a final flourish, spray the mountain tops with diluted white paint and sponge softly to give the illusion of fine mist. Forgotten Paradise, Dash of Nutmeg, Hare, Soft Shadow and City Break in matt emulsion, from £14 for 2.5L, all Crown
1 REVAMP A CHAIR in a day
Update a wooden chair with a two-tone paint effect. Ensure the surface is clean and dry, then paint the entire chair in your chosen colour. Use a low-tack masking tape to create a straight line across the back of the chair. Measure one third of the leg height and mask with tape and repeat for other legs. Paint the top and bottom sections in gold. This will need two coats. Before the second coat is fully dry, remove the tape gently to avoid the paint cracking. Finally, spray the chair with a clear top coat to finish and seal. Chalky Finish furniture paint in Coral and Blue, £12.99 for 750ml; Metallic Finish furniture paint in Gold, £4.99 for 125ml; Crystal Clear in Clear, £9.49 for 400ml; all Rust-oleum at Homebase
2 FIT SHUTTERS in a day
California Shutters has a range designed for DIY installation. You’ll need a hammer, screwdriver, drill and spirit level. Visit californiashutters.co.uk for more information. Classic Poplar wood shutters, from £156 a sq metre, California Shutters
3 PAINT GLOSSY STRIPES in a day
Paint the entire wall in a matt emulsion of your choice and allow it to dry. Use a tape measure and spirit level to measure out horizontal lines, lightly marking guide dots on the wall as you go along. Run masking tape above the lines and apply a coat of matt paint over the tape to prevent the gloss creeping under, and allow to dry. Use a roller or brush to apply two coats of a quick-drying gloss paint. Once dry, remove the tape to reveal your new look. Goose White matt, £24.49 for 2.5L; Goose White gloss, £22.79 for 2.5L; both Dulux
1 TRANSFORM YOUR STAIRS in a weekend
Add impact to your hallway with painted steps. Remove old paint or varnish with an electric sander and then dust, wipe clean and dry. Paint all stairs in two coats of base colour. Once dry, work from left to right and mark out your first stripe with masking tape. Frog Tape works well as it stops colours spreading into each other. Paint over the tape with a thin layer of base colour to ensure the edge is sealed and then add your first contrasting colour. Once the first stripe has had two coats and is touch dry, work your way across the stairs applying more tape to mark out the stripes as before. Finally remove all the tape to reveal your new look. Dove Tale, Mahogany, Babouche and Arsenic floor paint, all £66 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball
2 REVIVE FURNITURE in a weekend
For a quick fix at minimal cost, revamp a chest of drawers with chalk paint and customise with smart handles. Annie Sloan paint or Grand Illusions Vintage paint both work well as they’re easy to use and rarely require sanding or priming – the first coat of paint acts like a primer. Once dry you can finish off the look with decorative knobs. Knobs, £9 each from English Romantic collection, Chocolate Creative
3 UPCYCLE DRAWERS in a day
Give a wooden unit a new look with little effort by repainting it but leaving some drawers unpainted. Remove the handles on the drawers you’re going to paint. Mask the rest or pull them out altogether and leave aside. Rub down the drawers you’re painting with sandpaper, prime them and allow to dry completely. Then using paint suitable for wood, create your mix-and-match look. Try Lemon Squash, Marble Top and Splash of Pepper, all from £20 for 2.5L, Crown Kitchen Collection
PAPER A STATEMENT WALL in a weekend
Feature walls are an easy yet dramatic way to transform a space and you may only need one roll of wallpaper. A chimney breast or a wall that features a doorway or window works best, or try the wall behind your bed. Consider whether you want a bold design for impact or a more subtle look. Visit housebeautiful.co.uk and search ‘How to wallpaper’ for more advice. Dromstigen wallpaper in Grey, from the Signatur collection, £76 a roll, Sandberg
1 REVAMP KITCHEN WALLS in an afternoon
For a bold look, create a two-tone painted wall effect. The colour split doesn’t have to be exactly half – consider the height of any shelving and furniture to determine the perfect height. Prepare the walls, removing any grease with sugar soap. Paint the paler shade first and leave to dry completely. Using masking tape, mark off the bottom section and paint with two coats. Include the skirting and use a paint suitable for wood in the same colour for a smart finish.
Restoration tableware, from £3.50 for a cereal bowl, Sainsbury’s
2 ENHANCE YOUR WINDOWS in a day
Applying window film is a quick and inexpensive way to bring extra privacy while allowing plenty of natural light to flood in. See windowfilm.co.uk for a range of designs. It’s a doddle to apply – just make sure your windows are squeaky clean before you begin. The film comes with fitting instructions, along with a plastic squeegee to help with installation. It can also be used on other glass surfaces, from shower screens to glass cupboard doors. For further information visit windowfilm.co.uk/video-instructions. Missprint, Ditto design above. Prices start at £30, The Window Film Company
3 MAKE A BESPOKE LAMPSHADE in a day
Update your scheme with a handmade lightshade. Fabric drum shades are easy to make and there are plenty of kits available. Try themakery.co.uk or etsy.co.uk. For a table lamp, a simple ceramic or glass base works well with a highly patterned design. Lampshade in Shibori Light Duck Egg/Forget-me-not; curtain in Japonica Indigo; both £49.50 a metre, Vanessa Arbuthnott
FIT A SHELF in a day
Try the Mosslanda picture ledge from Ikea (£4.50) or make your own using MDF cut to size. Paint the shelf and brackets before fixing to the wall. Apply a decent primer such as Zinsser 123 Primer and Undercoat (£19.34 a litre, B&Q). For a streamlined look, paint the shelf to match your wall colour. A 1.5inch brush should do the job as it can cover awkward corners and cope with the longer brush strokes. Be confident with brushing and keep checking for drips. For a lovely finish that you can easily dust and clean, try a suitable paint with an eggshell finish. Once dry, fit in place. The Designer sofa in Designers Guild Brera linen denim, £3,200; Petite chair in Designers Guild Perosita Indigo fabric, £1,089; both Delcor. Peg rail, from £16, Willow & Stone
‘A shelf or picture ledge above a sofa or bed is a lovely way to display your favourite pictures and collectables.’ ALICE HUMPHRYS, STYLIST