ONE-TIN WONDERS
With a little paint and imagination you can transform a room in a few hours
1 Wiggle, wiggle
Create a modern dado rail by painting an undulating line in a dark colour around the room, 1m off the floor. Then paint below it in a soothing shade, such as dusty pink or sage green. Maya bed, from £499, table, £99, lamp, £89, bedding set, from £39.50, Ariana rug, from £99, cushion, £15, all M&S
2 Cosy up
Make a room with a high ceiling feel more intimate by painting a dark shade on the ceiling down to the picture rail. Keep the theme on skirting boards, and door and window frames. Ceiling and coving in Novara Green No. 81 matt emulsion paint, £41.95 for 2.5ltr, Victory Colours
3 Turn a corner
Add drama to a teen’s room with a bold feature triangle zoning the sleeping area. Use masking tape to keep lines sharp and paint down to the floor to ground the look. Maine White bed with single shelf, £349.99, Furniture and Choice
4 On the shelf
Paint the back of shelving in a bright hue for standout displays. Regal Select matt emulsion paint in White Heron OC-57 and Sunflower 2019-30, from £27 per 0.94ltr, both Benjamin Moore
5 Optical illusion
On-trend colour-block murals are a good way to use up leftover paint. For an arch, paint the main shape in a pale colour, then use a tester pot in a darker tone to create a shadow on one side. Ercol Ancona sideboard, £1,279, Orbital table lamp, £179, both Furniture Village
6 Step to it
Using a series of tester pots, create a dramatic ombré effect on stairs by painting each riser, or every three risers, in a slightly darker shade than the last.
7 Circle of life
Whether or not you have a headboard, a paint effect behind your bed can really help to make it the focal point of the room. Circles work particularly well and also bring a calm, soothing feel to the space. Simply tie a pencil to a length of string, pin it in the centre of the circle you want to make and lightly mark the circumference on the wall. Fill it in with your chosen shade. For something extra special, use a metallic or pearlescent paint. Papiers Découpés Neutrals Museum of Modern Art art print by Mambo, from £18 each, Fy!