ASK THE experts
Our team of experts answer your home-improvement questions
Q I love the idea of having bold wallpaper, but how do I go about choosing the right one for my space? Helen PooleyThomas, Watford
A Chelsea Clark, Head of Brand at Lust Home,
says… Your house should be as interesting as you are, so we’re all for breaking the interior design rules and going wild with prints, patterns and bold colours. Liven up a downstairs toilet, add a feature wall to a bedroom or living room, or go all out and wallpaper hallways, stairs and landings for maximum impact.
If a bold wallpaper is a new choice for you and you don’t want to decorate the whole room, try an accent wall to transform your space. This doesn’t have to mean the whole area: you can make a feature of the design by wallpapering a panel within a frame, making it into an amazing piece of artwork.
Think carefully about the design you’re choosing and where it will be placed in the home. Be realistic when it comes to selecting the size of the pattern – oversized prints can overpower a smaller room, whereas intricate designs may get lost in larger spaces. You can buy samples from our website to test this on your walls, and our usage calculator makes ordering the right amount of wallpaper easy.
Q I’m due to have more energy-efficient windows fitted next year, but what can I do to keep my room warm in the meantime? Tom Bridges, Chepstow A Leah Aspinall, Head of Creative at Blinds 2go, says… One of the things you can do to keep your home feeling cosy is layering your window dressings. Pairing a Roman, wooden or Venetian blind with curtains can help to retain the warmth in your home.
The lining you pick can also help to insulate the home – our blackout and thermal linings add extra thickness and depth to your blind.
Specific thermal blinds can really make a difference to your home and help to reduce your energy bills. These blinds have aluminium lined, honeycomb pockets that trap the air and work to create a thermal barrier between the window and your home, reducing heat loss by reflecting the heat back into the room. They’re available in a beautiful array of colours too,
I have a couple of hairline cracks on my walls, can I fix Q them myself? Sam Tanaka, Stirling A Beth Pearce, B&Q Category Manager – Construction and
Internal Building, says… Of course! Fixing hairline cracks is an essential part of ensuring your walls remain looking their best for longer. Take a look at our step-bystep guide on diy.com for best results.
Before you begin, you must ensure you’re prepared. You’ll need filler, a paint tray, dust sheets and cloth, a paint brush and mixer, paint, a sanding block, paint roller and a filling knife.
There are six key steps to follow when repairing your hairline cracks. We suggest using the corner of your filling knife to remove any loose plaster and vacuum any remaining dust in the wall. Following this, dampen the crack with water on a paintbrush – this will prevent the filler from drying too quickly. Apply your filler into the necessary areas while drawing the knife across the wall at right angles. Allow the filler to dry. Finally, sand down the area with 80 grit sandpaper until it is level with the rest of the wall and wipe dry.
Q My hallway is quite dark and doesn’t have much natural light coming in – what can I do about it? Dina Osho, Northampton
A Scott Leeder, Market Director for Great Britain and Ireland at VELUX, says…
If you’re struggling to add daylight into areas, such as dark hallways where the installation of a window isn’t possible, it’s worth considering adding a sun tunnel (a small, round window that channels light into a room) as an effective way to add natural light to areas that need a brighter, more vibrant appearance. VELUX sun tunnels can instantly bring your indoor space to life, allowing you to experience the natural dynamic that daylight brings to your indoor space. The sleek design also adds style to your home, as well as being easy to install – from start to finish it shouldn’t take longer than half a day. VELUX sun tunnels are available for both flat and pitched roofs and come complete with EdgeGlow: a ring of clear polycarbonate that diffuses and spreads the daylight throughout the room, letting you experience the changing light of day. You don’t normally need planning permission to add a sun tunnel to your home, however, it’s always best practice to check this, especially if you’re living in a listed building.
Q My partner and I can’t agree on a kitchen design – they love modern designs, while I’d like something more traditional. Can we combine them? Binita Anand, Kirby
A Darren Watts, Design Director at Wren Kitchens, says…
Absolutely! Despite the distinct style differences between a traditional and modern kitchen, there are many ways to seamlessly blend preferences to create a cosy, yet refined look. For the units, explore ranges that combine both styles, such as Wren’s Shaker Chelsea
Ermine – it’s a streamlined take on the muchloved Shaker kitchen design. Alternatively, choose a matt handleless kitchen design, but contrast with natural elements using timber or quartz worktops and brass hardware.
One of the easiest ways to achieve a traditional kitchen with a stylish twist is to add a splash of colour on feature units, such as an island, glass wall units or even a dresser.
Don’t forget to add modern appliances and smart devices, including a boiling hot water tap, self-cleaning ovens and voice-activated controls to bring up-to-the-minute tech to your space. You can blend these modern appliances with ease by choosing traditional colour alternatives, such as Quooker’s brass boiling hot water tap.
Finishing touches are key and they make all the difference to the look and feel of your overall space. Add accessories to bring personality and drama to the room with a mid-century chandelier, herringbone or parquet flooring and wicker stools.
The key is to balance the two to create a beautiful and harmonious kitchen that works for both of you.