Joolz’s choice: A FEATURE WALL
Add pattern and colour to any room of your home by wallpapering one accent wall
Feature walls are an ideal way to take a room from drab to fab without investing too much time or money. They also offer a great opportunity to embrace a bold pattern that you might otherwise avoid for fear of overpowering the decor.
Prepare your wall
Before wallpapering, remove any grease, dust or dirt with a damp sponge, and fill in any small cracks with filler. For really troublesome walls, consider applying a lining paper to create a smooth base.
Draw a plumb line
This is a vertical straight line that you’ll hang the first drop of paper parallel to. Draw it the width of the paper plus 5mm in from the left-hand corner of the wall.
Paste the wall
Apply wallpaper paste to your wall with a paint roller or wide brush. Paste over the plumb line and at least 2cm wider than the width of the paper. Use a slim brush to paste the top of the wall, around sockets and just above the skirting, to prevent the wallpaper lifting when dry.
Hang your paper
Apply the wallpaper straight from the roll, with 2-3cm extra at the top and bottom – this will allow you to wiggle the paper into place in line with the plumb line. Starting at the centre, use a clean, dry brush to smooth the paper, pushing any lumps or bubbles out at the side. Cut the excess at the top and bottom with a craft knife.
Move to the next drop
Starting at the top, match the pattern as you hang the second drop from the roll, brushing it to the wall as you go. When you get to the bottom, check that the pattern matches and there are no gaps – to fix, loosely pull it up and brush back down.
Finish the job
Repeat papering until the wall is covered. Use a damp cloth to wipe off any paste that may have oozed onto the paper.
3 SPICE UP YOUR SPACE FOR A COSY FEEL
In a family room, the mood is all about laid-back living, so a scheme that feels cheery and warm is ideal. Putting a rich earthy shade on the walls will make a den feel cocooning and cosy. Spicy red and saffron yellow cushions will set off the rich leather – just switch them up now and again to keep the look current.