One of the most impactful ways to transform a room is by painting the walls. But, it can be hard to know what color to go for, right?

In a recent Instagram reel, Queer Eye star and interior designer Bobby Berk delved into shades that are worth trying — but the one that he said was his top pick was black. He said in the video, "If you've watched Queer Eye, you know painting a wall black is one of my favorite things. It's really chic — look how beautiful it makes everything." I've asked interior designers why it works so well and how to bring it into your own home.

If you're looking to bring the latest interior paint color trends into your home, moody hues like black are worth reaching for.

Whether you go for black as an feature wall color or throughout an entire room, the depth and contrast it creates are unparalleled.

“I've seen firsthand how black walls make furniture and decor pop while giving off an air of elegance,” says Ryan Fitzgerald, design expert and owner of Raleigh Realty. “In my experience, black works wonders in adding versatility to a space.”

He adds that it serves as the perfect neutral backdrop that enables other textures, metals, and colors to stand out.

“I also think that black walls can make a dramatic statement and help other details in a room pop,” agrees Aaron Alway, interior designer at Black Label Design Group. “However, black paint requires careful consideration of lighting, trim, and decor to avoid a dark, dreary space.”

He continues, “In my own home, I painted an accent wall in my living room black but kept the other walls light gray. The contrast creates visual interest while still allowing natural light to brighten the room.” If you like the black above, this is Lick's Black 01 Paint.

If you want to try painting your own walls black, Aaron recommends starting with an accent wall or painting black in a space with lots of windows or spotlights. “Black pairs well with gold or silver metals, jewel tones, and crisp whites,” he explains.

He also adds that keeping walls relatively empty or only using black cabinet ideas to help avoid an overburdened look.

When done right, black walls can transform a room into a moody retreat.

“But, as with any bold color choice, you must commit to it fully for the best results,” Aaron finishes by saying.

Want to learn more clever tricks from the Queer Eye star? We also love Bobby Berk’s decluttering hack and his plant watering hack.

I've seen the chalky blue trend make waves on socials and in homes everywhere, so I'm officially crowning it the color of the season.

I have quizzed interior designers about the shade, exploring why it's so popular this summer and how you can style it in your home. I've also curated gorgeous chalky blue home buys to help you channel the chic look in your home.

The color trends of the year have involved everything from moody shades to warm terracotta. Now the sun is shining and the sky is clear, chalky blue is the hottest hue to try.

Chalky blue is the hue of the season

This shade is one of my favorite summer color trends. I love how it reflects light and brightens up a room, making it ideal for smaller spaces without overwhelming it.

Where our panel of interior designers have recommended decor buys to go with the chalky blue trend, I've curated matching highly-rated picks from trusted retailers throughout, as well as putting together my must-have chalky blue shopping edit.

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.

Why chalky blue is the color of the summer

Like me, you might have spotted the nautical coastal grandmother trend has come back in a sophisticated way via coastal Hamptons inspired decor, one of the biggest summer decor trends this year.

Chalky blue plays a huge role in this, thanks to its understated elegance.

“This shade brings in freshness and coolness, which makes it a perfect choice for the summer season,” explains Dondi Szombatfalvy, interior designer at Madison Exteriors and Remodelling.

Dondi adds that chalky blue evokes feelings of tranquility and contentment, carrying the pleasing memories of water or a summer sky and connecting us with nature.  

“Unlike more vibrant blues, chalky blue possesses an understated elegance that complements a wide range of styles, from modern minimalist to rustic farmhouse,” adds Nina Lichtenstein, principal designer and founder of Nina’s Home Design.

Even though it’s a trending color now, if you bring it into your home, it’s still a shade with long-term appeal.

Nina explains, “While trends come and go, chalky blue has a timeless quality that ensures longevity in home design.” 

She says its classic charm can be refreshed season after season, making it a brilliant investment for those looking to create enduring beauty in their interiors.

How to style chalky blue in your home

When deciding on how to bring chalky blue into your home, it’s a good idea to assess the size of your space and plan the shade accordingly. 

“If you have limited space, opt for lighter tones, whereas saturated ones can be used in large rooms with more air and light,” Nina explains.

From here, use the hue strategically, whether you pair it with natural materials or with other colors, to complement your space and what you already have in it.

“Chalky blue pairs beautifully with natural materials such as wood, stone, rattan, and linen,” Nina explains. 

For example, she says that a blue dining table set against a wooden floor or a bed with chalky blue linens surrounded by wicker baskets (the Bayou Breeze Artyom Wicker General Basket from Wayfair is handwoven from corn leaf and rope) can evoke a coastal retreat vibe that’s perfect for summer.

You can also bring it in more subtly, such as with art prints or with small kitchen appliances in fun shades. I've got my eye on the Facelle Electric Stand Mixer from Amazon, which is made from stainless steel and has six speed settings.

If you want to create a more dynamic look, you can also layer different shades of blue within your space. 

“Combine chalky blue with deeper navy or lighter sky blue accents to create a rich, multi-dimensional palette,” Nina suggests.

Choose a striking centerpiece and layer around this, such as with the Vietri Ostrica Glass Centerpiece from Saks which is easy to clean and a real showstopper.

This technique adds depth and interest without straying from the calming nature of the main color.

The key is not going overboard with the color, as this can minimize its purpose of making the area calming and inviting.

Shop our chalky blue edit

Chalky blue is undoubtedly my color of the summer, thanks to its refreshing blend of serenity and sophistication.

“By incorporating chalky blue through accent walls, furniture, and accessories, you can create a beautifully inviting space that resonates with the calming essence of summer,” Nina finishes by saying.

If this shade is a little too light for you, the brown trend is also doing the rounds at the moment and is such a cozy choice.

It's useful to find out the outdated paint colors going out of style if you're getting a little tired of your current paint color and considering a change.

I've asked interior designers what shades they've been swerving this year and the colors they've been reaching for instead. Muted grays and millennial pink are officially out, and instead earthy and rich tones are in.

If you're looking for interior paint color trends for the year, knowing what to avoid is just as important as finding out what to try.

The outdated paint colors designers aren't using in 2024

Utilizing color in your home is one of the most impactful ways to bring fresh interior design trends into your space. I'm feeling so inspired to change up my place after chatting with experts, and I just know you're going to feel the same.

The designers I've spoken to have recommended color alternatives for their loathed outdated ones, which I've curated closely matching picks you can easily shop.

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article. 

1. Ditch greige and go for soft terracotta

I’ll be honest — the name of the color greige has never appealed to me, nor has the color itself. So, I’m pleased to see that it’s firmly becoming an outdated paint color  now.

"This is a color that combines the tones of both gray and beige and is pronounced as 'graysh'," explains Priyanshi Jain, interior designer and founder of Pixels & Spaces. "Due to the changes and latest trends in interior design and architecture, greige appears to be one-dimensional and flat in today’s landscape."

Instead, people are now more inclined to try colors that add depth and personality to their homes.

Priyanshi recommends using soft terracotta to add a neutral, calming, and welcoming touch while bringing in a subtle richness. This is also one of my favorite warm kitchen colors that works so well across so many spaces, big and small.

If you want to go for a touch more pigment, try an earthy green such as Lick's Green 18 (available in a handy stick on sample form).

2. Swap Ferrari red for maroon

While the unexpected red theory has been one of the biggest TikTok trends this year, using this striking a color in a big way at home has quickly become outdated.

“Truth be told, for me personally, bright primary colors often feel garish and overwhelming. I don't even like them in a daycare center!” says Gaia Guidi Filippi, interior designer and founder of Gaia G Interiors. “They are also particularly un-inventive and flat." 

Instead, Gaia advises going for colors with more depth and subtlety. "Try maroon instead of Ferrari red," she says.

Gaia also recommends trying this approach for other outdated paint colors, such as going for terracotta instead of orange (Benjamin Moore's Baked Terracotta has rosy pink undertones) and sage instead of Kelly green (Farrow and Ball's Vert De Terre responds to light beautifully).

3. Pass on millennial pink and choose mauve pink

I loved Barbiecore and all the fun Barbie Dreamhouse decor that came with it last year — but this doll-like shade is now on the shelf, much like its plastic namesake.

Gaia says, "Though I've yet to meet a pink I don't love, millennial pink has become overused and less appealing. I'm really into more sophisticated shades, like rose and dusty mauves that offer a refined and mature aesthetic."

According to Gaia, these are also amazing for creating moody rooms that are all the rage at the moment. 

4. Change cool gray for taupe

As well as the darker greige being an outdated color, cool gray has also made its way onto our interior designers’ no thank you list. Instead, they're going for the brown trend that's been making waves recently. 

“Cool grays were definitely overused in the 2010s, especially in builder-grade homes — so we tired of them and now they just feel cold and impersonal,” Gaia says. “My recommendation to replace them is to opt for softer neutrals in the brown family, such as taupe."

Gaia adds that she’s seen shades such as café au lait (Benjamin Moore's Café au Lait is rich and indulgent) and caramel (Farrow and Ball's Sand is a warm neutral with a touch of red) gain popularity for their warm and inviting feel.

5. Stop using beige and try off-white

I know — beige is always a safe bet. But, if you want to keep your place on trend, you’re going to need move away from this outdated, uninspiring paint color.

“Beige is a color that is somewhat more flat and bland than greige,” says Priyanshi. “It lacks the character and coziness that many people crave. Instead, try picking off-whites with a hint of lavender to add coolness and sophistication to your home."

You can also try off-whites with pink undertones to inject some warmth into your space. If you’re committed to keeping things beige, Priyanshi suggests using it with hints of pink and yellow to keep it subtle and inviting.

For example, in a neutral living area with beige walls, you could add pink throw pillows such as the washable and soft Deconovo Pink Pillow Covers from Walmart. 

Then, you could layer them with a blanket such as the Dakota Fields Halfeti Knitted Throw from Wayfair that is knitted and lightweight. Hey presto — a cute color scheme with minimal effort.

As well as paying attention to particular colors, it’s also smart to pay attention to the different sheen and finish applications when it comes to paint trends.

“For example, don't just think of a paint color for a bookshelf — consider doing it in high gloss to make it extra,” Gaia finishes by saying.

If you’re looking for shades specifically for apartments or rentals, it’s also worth looking at small space color trends specifically.

Outdated kitchen cabinet colors are worth remembering if you're zhuzhing up yours and want to have fresh and fabulous doors.

We've asked design experts what they've seen go out of style and which colors they're reaching for. Boring beiges and bright primary colors are just a few they've bid farewell to, and they're loving cherry reds, and more dramatic blues.

When looking for kitchen cabinet ideas, knowing what to swerve is just as important as having the right colors in mind. That being said, we have also asked our pros what you can use instead.

Outdated kitchen cabinet colors to swerve in your space

For those avoiding outdated kitchen cabinet trends, color is a crucial aspect to keep in mind.

Our experts have handily recommended colors you can go for instead, in case you're looking at your cabinets and are cringing.

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.

1. Ditch dark brown, try light

We love chocolate as much as the next person (in all forms), but when it comes to outdated kitchen cabinet colors, this rich shade is up there.

“Heavy dark browns used to be the number one option to create a snug, enveloping feeling, but now they can make a space look less inviting and too small,” explains Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight.

He continues, “The lighter wood tones are in greater demand for an open, airy feel.”

Even if you’re stuck with dark cabinets in a rental, you can still use peel-and-stick wood tiles such as these Achim Home Furnishings Store Tivoli Tiles from Amazon.

2. Ditch powdery country blue, try dramatic hues

The powdery country blue shade may seem like a go-to, but it has been overused so much in recent years that it’s become an outdated kitchen cabinet color.

“Instead, embrace more defined, distinct shades of blue that evoke a sense of calm, tranquility, and sophistication,” says Nina Lichtenstein, principal designer and founder of Nina’s Home Design.

She adds, “Whether it's a very light blue for coastal kitchen ideas or a rich navy for a touch of drama and depth, blue hues infuse your kitchen with a sense of elegance.”

For those seeking something more eye-catching, you could always go for Benjamin Moore’s playful Light Mint Paint Color.

3. Ditch Tuscan red, try richer shades

Red is the hottest shade of the year, thanks to the unexpected red theory being one of the biggest interior design trends. This is why experts are saying to swerve pared-down versions and to go just all-out instead.

Nina explains, “Say farewell to the outdated kitchen cabinet color Tuscan red, and instead, embrace richer red shades which will create an inviting room reminiscent of countryside kitchens.”

We think a few of these Merola Tile Antic Feeling Tiles from Wayfair on a cabinet would look amazing and are ideal for those looking for French kitchen ideas.

4. Ditch sunshine yellow, try yellow accents

We’re all for bringing cheerful shades into the home — that’s dopamine dressing 101. But bright yellow kitchen cabinets can be jarring.

Nina says, “Incorporate subtle accents of yellow into your kitchen counter decor through either textiles or artwork (we love this Limoncello Print from Desenio).”

If you’re dead set on the shade, you could even invest in one of the best small kitchen appliances in a bright yellow shade, such as this highly-rated Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select in Yellow Pepper on Amazon.

5. Ditch Barbie pink, try softer pastels

We have a real soft spot for Barbiecore decor, but it’s certainly now an outdated kitchen cabinet color. 

“Whether it's a blush pink for a touch of romance and femininity or lavender for a fresh, youthful vibe, choose pastel shades to add a sophisticated charm to your kitchen without overpowering the space,” Nina says.

For those who can’t let go of eye-catching pinks entirely, Benjamin Moore’s Damask Rose Paint Color is a pretty alternative.

6. Ditch tan, try neutrals

When splashed on in large quantities, tans and beiges can look seriously yawn-worthy.

“Although neutrals are classic, beige and tans that were prevalent in early 2000s kitchen designs have now been replaced with light grays and off-whites for modern kitchen ideas,” Artem says.

One of our favorite gray shades is Lick’s Warm Gray 14 Paint Color, thanks to its cozy pink undertones.

7. Ditch gold paint, try gold hardware

When making your small kitchen look brighter, you don’t need to go overboard with the metallic to create a luxurious effect.

Nina says, “Gone are the days of overwhelming gold color schemes that dominate kitchen spaces, suffocating them with their boldness.”

She adds, “Instead, I like to go for gold cabinet pulls which look lovely against neutral cabinets and allow other elements in the kitchen to shine.”

Shoppers love these Goldenwarm Light Brass Cup Pulls from Amazon, saying they look professional and are a breeze to install.

The kitchen cabinet isn’t an area you want to constantly keep refreshing as this will be time-consuming, so be sure to choose a shade you really love.

“Unleash your creativity and let your kitchen become a canvas for color exploration and aesthetic enjoyment,” Nina finishes by saying.

For more shade inspiration, these kitchen island color ideas may come in handy if you have cabinets on yours.

Color drenching has been sweeping across our interiors and no wonder, with designers and DIY enthusiasts alike using it to great effect. You too can bring this eye-catching design feature into your small space with ease.

In our guide to color drenching, our interior designers share what makes this decor trend so popular, what to paint to achieve the look including walls, architectural detailing, ceilings and even the floor, plus how to bring the rest of the room in line without losing variation.

What's great about color drenching and why it's one of our top 10 interior design trends for 2024, is its ability to visually even things out, so if you have an unsightly fixture you can't afford to upgrade right now, painting it in the same color as everything else will create a uniformed look. 

What is color drenching? 

Embrace this fabulous trend with us and you'll never look back,we promise! It takes the fuss out having to choose different colors, and no more painstaking painting of white woodwork.

Below we look into what is color drenching and how to apply it in your own home, with expert picks to help you shop the guide.

The prices in this article were correct at the time of publishing.

What is color drenching?

Color drenching is when we paint everything the same color from skirtings to ceiling and everything in-between, including doors and even floors. You can use any shade you like, though mid to dark tones do create a more dramatic result. 

"Color drenching can be the single most effective and affordable way to transform and elevate a space, says Matthew Williamson, founder and interior designer at Matthew Williamson Design. "This technique transcends traditional boundaries by immersing an entire room in a single shade."

It works in every room of your home too, and we particularly love it in kitchens.

Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens adds, "Painting your walls and cupboards in the same color is true commitment and will reward you with a cohesive and always impressive look. The all-encompassing color creates an atmosphere of calm where nothing is fighting for dominance." 

For a similar green paint to this kitchen pictured above, try Lick's Green 18 Matt

Where did color drenching come from?

It's not entirely certain where color drenching came from, though the Victorians did love to paint a lot, so it may have originated from that era and is a reaction to the maximalism look that's also popular. 

"I think its recent popularity comes as a reaction to the minimalist trend that has been so popular the past few years. Maximalism is back and people are yearning for rooms with more character and drama," says Katie McCaffrey, owner and principal of McCaffrey Design Group.

"I have been using color drenching for years because our firm has always attracted clients who love the way we play with color fearlessly. It's also a great way to minimize “static" that sometimes comes from contrasting trims and ceilings. Drenching a room in one color or one color range creates impact but it also creates a calm uniformity which can make a room feel bigger and more impactful." 

For a similar blue to the one pictured above, check out Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue.

How to color drench

The first step is to choose your color. Although most color drenched rooms you may see might be darker shades, that doesn't mean they have to be. A lovely blush, pale grey or light green would work perfectly well. 

"I personally love decorating with a blush or plaster pink as my go-to neutral for color drenching. It is kinder and more forgiving than white, more fun than beige and warmer than grey," advises Matthew.

Once you've picked your shade it's time to give your space the allover color treatment. Don't forget to remove or cover furniture to avoid paint splatter, especially if you're painting your ceiling (try the LOOBANI 10 piece waterproof 9x12 feet disposable plastic tarps on Amazon).

"From the walls and ceiling to woodwork, cornicing and even furniture and radiators, every surface becomes a canvas for expression. This approach creates a seamless and continuous look, which in turn can help to create the illusion of a bigger space," says Matthew.

This warming Coral Reef from Valspar is a near match to the cozy room pictured above.

Shop the color drenching look

If you'd love to try this exciting trend, then start by choosing your color. You can then add in accessories in the same shade for cohesion.

If you love color then this fabulous trend is really worth a try. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to pick a dark color, go for a shade that you love the most across the room.

"Furnishings, fabrics and decorative items can amplify the chosen hue and contribute to the cohesive feel of the room," says Matthew. 

Katie agrees, "Color drenching is so fun! The ticket is to not be afraid. Jump in with both feet! Select a room that you want to have an impact. Select a color that resonates with you and which feels appropriate for your house." 

For more inspiration, check out our spring home decor ideas and small space decorating ideas.

Freddie Mercury's house in London is up for sale for a colossal $38 million but eye-watering price tag aside, one color theme jumps out at the Real Homes team — opulent gold. The famous Queen frontman's signature color can work beautifully in small spaces, too.

Freddie purchased the Neo-Georgian style home in Kensington, London, in 1980, and hired interior designer Robin Moore to make it every bit as lavish as you'd expect. Our color experts explain how to best use gold in your home, no matter how little the square footage.

It just so happens that saturated jewel tones are one of the most popular 2024 small space color trends, so let's channel Freddie in our own adobes and feel like the champions we are.

Step inside Freddie Mercury's house

"Vibrant yellow shades can be intimidating because they’re not an easy color to work with due to their intensity, but I always love seeing it in homes when used right," says Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams' director of color marketing. 

Experts at Knight Frank believe Freddie Mercury's house in London captures a bit of his childhood by way of color, with the gold having perhaps reminded the singing legend of living in Zanzibar and India as a young boy.

But given that our spaces aren't on a grand scale like Freddie's, and gold has been coined one of the worst colors for small spaces if used incorrectly, it's wise to execute our ideas appropriately and with care.

"Vivid yellow shades are often used sparingly, such as on accent walls, doors, or in accessories," says Hannah Yeo, senior manager, color marketing at Benjamin Moore. "Even in small doses, they make a significant impact, particularly in kitchens, kids’ rooms, and creative spaces."

In Freddie Mercury's house, we're greeted immediately by gold, which might not necessarily be one of the best paint colors for a small entryway. 

You can, however, embrace the radiance by way of gold furniture, peel-and-stick wallpaper, and fun decor accents, like Yeo suggests. The TBTBGXQ 3-in-1 Hall Tree for Entryways on Amazon adds a bit of gold while keeping the space organized and functional. 

Pair the color with Simon's Shop Baroque Picture Frame on Amazon for an elevated, luxe look à la Freddie. 

One of the best places to use gold is in the dining room, just as the beloved frontman did. 

"A lively color is always great to use in spaces used for entertainment to bring out some personality," Sue adds. "We are also starting to see designers paint kitchen cabinets in golden yellow hues. The look is cheerful, yet unexpected and a warm update to a kitchen trend that has been focused on biophilia and natural materials. We love the boost of yellow in those applications!"

If you're weighing colorful small kitchen ideas, perhaps Freddie's designs can be your guide. And to get the sophisticated yet cozy feel, incorporate fun vintage elements into the mix as well, like frames, wall art, and home accents.

Gold paint samples to try

Freddie left his home and possessions to his best friend Mary Austin — the inspo behind Queen's iconic song, "You're My Best Friend" — when he passed away in 1991. Now, she's hoping it serves as another owner's creative muse.  

"This house has been the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth in every room," she says in the press release. "Ever since Freddie and I stepped through the fabled green door, it has been a place of peace, a true artist’s house, and now is the time to entrust that sense of peace to the next person."

All it needs now is somebody to love. As for us, we'll now be testing gold paint swatches throughout our small spaces.

Finding out the best paint colors for small bathrooms is a wise move if you're thinking of transforming your space any time soon. 

Different shades can enhance a smaller room, which is why it's important to have certain ones on your radar. Our designers reveal the 10 best paint colors for small bathrooms, and why they work so well. From breezy neutrals to nautical shades, you'll be spoilt for choice.

If you're on the lookout for small bathroom ideas, knowing what paint colors to dip  into will come in extra handy and make the most of your compact space.

Best paint colors for small bathrooms

When choosing the best colors for small bathrooms, having an idea of the right paint colors will come in useful when painting walls or even DIYing tiles.

For each color, we've also found a matching sample, so you can start on finding your favorite shade as soon as possible.

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article. 

1. Light blue

If lying in the bath and imagining your bubbles are fluffy clouds sounds like your sort of vibe, light sky blue could be the perfect paint color for your small bathroom.

“This color has a calming effect and can make a small bathroom appear bigger,” says Ricky Allen, interior designer and director of Ever Wallpaper.

We also think this is perfect for coastal small bathroom ideas and for blue small bathrooms in general.

For the dreamiest, expert-approved shade of light blue, we’ve got you covered.

“A light blue shade like Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball is perfect for a small bathroom with little natural light and is very versatile,” says Ivo Iv, design expert and founder of Decor Home Ideas.

He says this shade is ideal paired with marble-white subway tiles or any gray-blue design. 

2. Light pink

Even if you don’t want to go full-on Barbiecore, adding a pretty touch of pale pink can still add playfulness whether you're designing pink small bathrooms or not.

Ricky says, “Another soothing color, pink can add a touch of femininity to a small bathroom without being overwhelming.”

If you want to make your small bathroom look luxe, pair it with gold accents (we like these gorgeous Eudele Shower Caddies on Amazon which are easy to install with adhesive pads).

3. Dark green

Give your small bathroom a refined, art deco look by splashing it with green small bathroom ideas.

Ricky says, “Green is both refreshing and serene, and can add a pop of color without being too bold.” They're also perfect for retro small bathroom ideas.

If you’re into the shade but are worried about it looking too over the top, try just adding it as an accent wall for a dramatic statement.

4. White

You can’t go wrong with a classic color, and this one is not only timeless but will also make your small bathroom look bright and airy. This is ideal if you're decorating a small bathroom without windows.

Ivo explains, “Whites are a popular choice for many bathrooms, and their ability to make a space feel spacious makes them an excellent fit for small bathrooms. You can go for a true white color with no undertones, like Sherwin-Williams Extra White Paint, and match it with cool white marble to get a crisp, clean look,” he adds.

This combination would give your small bathroom spa vibes, making it a truly relaxing place to scrub up in. 

5. Dark blue

Moodier shades can still look beautiful as dark small bathroom ideas, which is why dark blue is also a brilliant option.

Ivo says, “You shouldn’t shy away from saturated colors even when you have limited space, and blues are probably the best choice you can make for your small bathroom.”

You could even combine this with a green for a powerful statement. Both of these are the best colors for south-facing rooms, FYI.

“Try using dark blues and greens together for a rich, sumptuous finish,” adds Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight.

Be sure to get different color samples and line them up together in your bathroom, as you may find a combo you really love.

6. Yellow

If you love having a reason to smile when heading into a room, going for a cheery shade can work especially well in spaces such as small bathrooms.

“Yellow can add a sunny feel to a small bathroom, and it also reflects light well, making it a great option if you want to brighten it up,” Ricky adds.

If you’re renting and can’t paint your whole bathroom, you could always add this color with one of the best bath mats, such as this bright UpHome Boho Bathroom Mat, which is Amazon’s Choice.

7. Gray

Neutral paints such as gray add more definition to a small bathroom and bring a classic and balanced feel to the space. 

Ivo says, “One neutral color I love seeing in small bathrooms is Sherwin-Williams Reflection Paint, as this hue is a gray with blue and green undertones, making it ideal to use with cooler or warmer tones.” 

He adds, “It’s also a very light color, making it perfect for a small bathroom without natural light, and it will work with numerous color schemes.”

Gray is always an elegant choice when it comes to choosing an elegant color you won’t regret.

8. Off-white

If plain old white walls aren’t your thing but you still want a clean look, off-white could be a better alternative.

“Off-whites are great for small bathrooms, lending the space a softer look than true whites,” says Ivo.

He continues, “A good example is Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa Paint, as this hue has greige undertones that soften it, making it look like a neutral color without being too washed out.”

Ivo adds neutral hues can be tricky to make work in a small bathroom, but the trick is to ensure the undertones in your small bathroom tile ideas, countertops, or cabinets match your wall’s neutral paint color undertones. This also will work incredibly well for farmhouse small bathrooms.

9. Light gray

For anyone who has a narrow bathroom, going for a lighter gray over a regular gray may make the space feel wider and more expansive.

Ricky says, “Soft gray is versatile and can work well in both traditional and modern bathrooms. It adds a touch of sophistication while still making the room feel larger,” he adds.

If you choose this color, go for minimalist small bathroom ideas to complement it and keep the room feeling sleek and stylish.

10. Lavender

Looking for cute and colorful small bathroom ideas? You could add a playful purple paint, such as lavender.

“This color evokes a feeling of calmness, while at the same time will help you add personality to your bathroom,” says Artem.

As well as paint, you could always add in a bunch of dried lavender, such as these Timoo Dried Lavender Bundles on Amazon, for a natural finish.

By being mindful when choosing paint colors for your small bathroom, you’re bound to create a place where you can fully unwind.

“A good bathroom color scheme should make your bathroom feel relaxed, calm, and airy,” Ivo finishes by saying.

If you can't paint your walls, you can always learn how to upcycle a furniture piece for your bathroom and add color in this way, or add removable, brilliant peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Now you’ve got this room sorted, you can move on to the best paint colors for small entryways, which are useful to know as this is the room you make a first impression in.

Proceed with caution when redecorating as there are colors you should never paint a small bedroom. In the event you don't know the red flags, color pros from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore are on hand ahead of your revamp.

Your sleep space should be a representation of you and all that you love, but if you're working with tight quarters, there are different hues that affect the overall aesthetic of the room in a negative way. Some shades can make you feel more cramped, while others have the power to completely take over.

As you toy with small bedroom ideas for the new year and take a gander at color swatches, here's what might not be fitting for your sleep sanctuary, at least on all four walls.

Colors you should never paint a small bedroom

1. Bold colors

The most calming colors for a small bedroom will give your space a light, airy, and overall refreshing feel. Subtle sages, light blues, and neutrals are a great way to decompress in your space after a long day. The opposite can be said for bold colors, however. 

"While these can be a great addition as an accent wall to make a room look more fun, it won’t achieve a calming effect," says Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams.

If there's a deep shade you simply cannot do without, consider using it for accessories throughout your room, like an accent chair, or paint one wall your bold hue of choice. 

2. Overpowering colors

Some of the happiest paint colors for a small bedroom can feel like the most overpowering. Your mind might immediately go to highlighter yellow or Barbie pink, but there are ways to let those perky hues work their magic, provided you use them strategically. 

"In order to make sure a color doesn’t overpower a room, use them as accent colors on trims, or a single accent wall," Sue adds. "This is a great way to incorporate some color into a room without painting all four walls."

3. Dark colors

While we find navy irresistible and cannot fathom making a pass on maroon, dark colors are a hindrance to a small room when they're not used sparingly. 

"Lighter colors feel like a breath of fresh air whereas darker browns and grays are cocooning," says Benjamin Moore's color marketing and development manager, Hannah Yeo. 

Dark colors have the power to suck the light out of the room, and if you're looking for ways to brighten a small bedroom, jet black and deep green might set you back. Again, think small accents for ways to incorporate those "no-no" colors.

4. Glossy sheens

Sometimes, it's not necessarily the color of the room that can make the aesthetic feel out of whack, it's the sheen. When styling a small bedroom, stay away from things that glisten like your lip gloss collection. 

"The light reflection from a high-gloss sheen is more suitable for rooms with drama and glamour," Hannah says. 

Chances are you're trying to avoid dramatics in your sleep space, so opt for matte or eggshell and keep things copacetic. 

5. Stark white

When discussing outdated small bathroom trends, designers agreed that stark white is a no-go, and we're going to make the same case for the bedroom. A glaring, bright white feels too sterile and uncomfortable. 

Considering one of the biggest trends throughout the design world is to have more functional items that you can actually use and enjoy, too much white can make you afraid to make any sudden movements. Opt for a blend of neutrals instead.

What to shop

Light, simple shades like Upward (SW 6239) by Sherwin-Williams can make things feel soothing, while those craving something more adventurous will enjoy a fun pastel such as Hawthorne Yellow (HC-4) by Benjamin Moore. 

But if dark and moody is the name of your game (guilty), pair those deep colors with a neutral like Pale Oak (OC-20) by Benjamin Moore so as not to overwhelm the room entirely.

FAQs

Looking for more ways to get a pop of color in your abode? Take note of the small space color trends design experts say will be huge in 2026. They'll help you make some revamps in no time flat.

If trying to keep your space on-trend, incorporate colors of the year without paint for an easy update. While I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for every new shade to be announced, it's difficult to use these colors when you live in a rental or just aren't up for retaining. 

While the major paint brands are some of the biggest color authorities when it comes to letting us know what's up for next year, it doesn't mean you have to whip out the paintbrush. 

From earthy tones that feel super relaxing to vivid pops of color that'll update any space, we're looking to the top color experts for small space color trends to keep our rentals fresh when painting the walls just ain't an option. Instead, I've found some super cute home accessories to shop and give your spot a nod to the trends.

How to use the colors of the year without painting

Leave the roller hiding under the utility sink and keep those paintbrushes packed up. Here are all the colors of the year that have been announced, like Benjamin Moore's color trends, and how to bring them in without a lick of lacquer.

Renew Blue, Valspar

Blue has long been a color that represents serenity, and Valspar reckons it has the answer to your Sunday Scaries with this ultra-chill shade. It describes Renew Blue as a "nourishing: color with green influences, and it genuinely looks like the water you’d find on a tropical island.

I don’t know about you, but a vacation would definitely help my zen right now. So, if this color gives me a little bit of that feeling, I’m in! When it comes to styling Renew Blue, it's all about going with the flow, baby, and finding accessories that match the calm vibe, whether you want to go all-out coastal grandmother or just add a few pops. Think organic and rounded shapes, soft lines, and nothing angular.

Bauwerk by Charlottenburg

Bauwerk’s effortlessly cool limewash paints are everywhere right now — coffee shops, hotels, and your most stylish friend’s place. If you’re wondering what the color of the moment is, the brand’s founders have picked out a newly-launched shade from the collection with an on-trend hotel chain The Hoxton. 

Charlottenburg is named after an area in Berlin known — not for its edgy aesthetic like you might think — but, actually, for the neighborhood's Art Deco buildings in pastel colors. This earthy take on shell pink is basically the perfect color because it’s flatteringly warm, has a playful twist, and still maintains a grounded vibe. It'll go with everything. As well as incorporating pink home decor and accessories, you could even paint something small, like a plinth, and position a lamp or vase on it.

Cracked Pepper, Behr

To be honest, I didn’t see this one coming. The moody, charcoal gray that Behr has crowned its colors of the year packs a punch. Those who would consider putting Cracked Pepper on their walls would have to be confident in their interior prowess. B

Behr knows that black is a hard color to do well, so it has created this particular hue with a soft finish and tons of depth to make it not only apply better but feel more versatile in the space. Nevertheless, a great way to incorporate this into your apartment or rental would be through black decor and accessories, especially if you think this dark shade could be a little much for your space.

Persimmon, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams

Earthy, terracotta hues are going to be huge in 2024, so it’s really fun to see a different twist on this color family from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams. The brand has touted this warmed-up peach as its top color recommendation for next year. 

Thanks to its warmth, this is an ideal color to use across accessories. I’m picturing modern designs that can really carry this jolt of color, like pillows, lamps, and even storage units.

Prediction: Lemon Drop, Pantone

Now, obviously, Pantone’s Color of the Year announcement is a big deal. While this news hasn’t yet escaped the color authority just yet, it has given a list of tones to watch out for in spring 2024 in accordance with New York Fashion Week, darling. 

There are several shades in the palette for early next year, but Lemon Drop is a perfect happy yellow that will make any space feel more positive. Use this bright hue as an accent in your space to give it a really fresh, fun feel.

After perusing through all of these colors, you might be excited about giving your home's palette a refresh. If you haven't figured out how to choose a color scheme for your apartment, there are plenty of pointers. And you won't need paint in these instances either!

The worst paint colors for small spaces can make a place look really cramped and uninviting. By knowing which shades to steer clear of, you can instead opt for colors that are much more inviting.

Sure, white walls are a pretty safe bet but they can be a little bit boring. Playing with different colors is a great way to bring your personality into your space. That being said, in smaller homes and apartments, you have to be careful that the shade you choose doesn’t take away from your place’s aesthetic.

Been browsing through small space decorating ideas, and want to know which paints you should avoid in your place? I’ve spoken to experts to find out what colors to keep away from in smaller homes.

Living in a small space? These are the paint colors you need to avoid

Looking to style your small space, and want to paint your walls to match? Experts say that these are the colors to avoid.

1. Dark colors

I know, I know. Dark colors look so chic — but sadly, they just don’t work when painting whole walls in smaller spaces. “Darker colors like deep navy, dark brown, or black can make a room feel more confined and smaller than it actually is,”  says interior designer Mohammad Ahmed. 

This is because darker colors absorb light rather than reflecting it. “Think twice before settling on a deep maroon or a dense forest green for a compact area,” adds Artem Kropovinsky, interior design expert and founder of Arsight.

2. Muddy colors

While muddier colors can make a larger space feel cozy, they don’t have the same effect in smaller spaces. “Colors that aren’t clear or pure can make a space feel dirty or muddied,” says Ahmed. “This can include certain shades of olive, taupe, or gray that don't have a clear undertone.” If you aren’t sure about the undertone, paint it next to a true color, like pure white or the primary colors. 

3. Bright and neon colors

I love retro and Y2K shades as much as the next person, but covering your whole wall in these bold colors isn’t a great small space idea. “Bright and neon colors reflect light and make the walls appear closer, making the room feel even smaller,” says Warner Quiroga, home improvement expert and founder of Prestige Home Buyers. 

Using such colors in a small space can be visually overpowering and tiresome for the eyes. “They can also steal attention from other elements in the room,” Kropovinsky says.

4. Colors that don’t match the natural light

This isn’t an exact color — this just depends on your room’s lighting. “If a room has very little natural light, a color that is too cool or ashy can make the room feel cold and uninviting,” says Ahmed. “On the other hand, if a room has lots of warm natural light, a color that is too warm might feel overwhelming.” Have a look at how many windows you have in each room, and work out if they’re south-facing or not. This will help you determine how much natural light your place is getting, and you can then adjust paint colors accordingly.

5. Pure white

Many rentals come with white walls, which are easy to decorate around and to maintain. “While one might think of pure white as a space enlarger, sometimes it can feel stark and cold in tinier rooms, without the right balance of textures and accents,” says Kropovinsky. If you are stuck with these, be sure to make them look warmer with cozy and colorful accents.

3 buys that will reduce the impact of these worst colors for small spaces

Stuck with any of these colors in your rental? These stylish buys can stop them looking so vivid and harsh. 

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.

FAQs

Now you know what paint colors you definitely shouldn’t use, you might be wondering which paint colors you should use instead. These are the eight paint colors that will enhance small spaces, according to experts. 

Congratulations on your humble abode! Before you go all Picasso, you might want to check out our professional-backed painting tips for renters. 

We get it, decorating white walls might dull your shine, quite literally, but if you've signed a lease to a property that you don't own, you might have to make some sacrifices in the painting department. 

That doesn't necessarily mean bold statements or dopamine decorating are out of the equation — you'll just have to plan properly. Fortunately, we have great advice to help see you through. 

The best painting tips for renters, according to the pros

Before you bust out the rollers and dabble with an emerald green or terracotta shade, plan accordingly. Keep this step-by-step guide bookmarked, folks. 

1. Talk to your landlord

If you're keen on adding a little color, you're going to have to speak to the head honcho and understand the terms of your lease. Should you have a few maintenance suggestions, always have a discussion before forging ahead with any project.   

"My biggest tip for renters would be to compromise with your landlords," says Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams' director of color marketing. "Make sure to communicate that it’s in both of your best interests to make some changes. However, be aware that landlords might not go for a huge change."

And even if you can't actually paint, we'll help you choose the perfect color scheme for your apartment, so fear not!

2. Sample different shades

Before you start using the bedroom wall as your personal easel, snag a few paint colors and test them out on a small area. Some paint brands even have peel-and-stick samples to make the process easier. Never underestimate the beauty of peel and stick!

3. Choose colors wisely

Let's say you've been given the green light to paint...but green is off-limits on the walls. Stick to neutrals, pastels, and versatile hues to give your room a fresh look. Also note that if you paint after move-in, you might be required to put in some sweaty equity upon leaving your rental. 

"Since renters may be responsible for repainting their apartment to match the original colors, it is advisable to paint with lighter, brighter colors," says Task Rabbit tasker, Jay W. "However, if you want a darker accent wall, go for it. Just keep in mind that it may take more than two coats to get the wall back to its original state."

4. Select the right spot

Location, location, location! Rather than designate the bedroom or the kitchen as the place for color, you can narrow it down to a single wall. 

"One rental-friendly way to add color to a room is by painting one feature wall," says Erika Woelfel, Behr’s vice president of color & creative services. "That way, you get the benefit of personalizing your space without a total room re-paint upon move out."

And being strategic might even trick your eye into thinking you're working with more space than you are.

"Carefully thought-out pops of colors can make the space appear larger," says Hannah Yeo, the color marketing & development manager at Benjamin Moore. "For instance, if you have a long and narrow hallway, pop the end of the hallway wall with a bold, bright accent color. You can dress the wall with your favorite artwork to serve as a focal point while having lighter colors on side walls to make the hallway look wider."

For a light, airy feel in a smaller room, she suggests working with pale colors and pastels. 

5. Think about alternatives

Who said you have to go for the walls? Painting furniture is always a solid option, and it can totally transform your space.

"Upcycle a piece of furniture or décor item with a fresh coat of paint or change out hardware pulls on a chest of drawers and spray paint them a new color," Woelfel suggests.

6. Accessorize properly

Break down what you need. Though it might seem like a simple shopping list, products can add up quickly. 

"First comes preparation tools, and once the surface preparation is completed, you’ll want to survey the project to see what needs to be covered," says Mike Mundwiller, senior manager, end user product experience at Benjamin Moore. "Next, you will need tools to apply the paint."

He recommends snagging a durable paint tray and a high-quality angle-sash paintbrush. "Synthetic bristles, like nylon or polyester, are the most practical," he adds. 

Andrea Philips of Airtasker's lifestyle editorial team insists that the often-overlooked items are the ones you'll find yourself needing. Find a can opener, masking tape, a roller extension pole, and a canvas sheet. 

"It is more durable than other materials like plastic and will absorb any paint drips and spills. This is especially important when renting as you don’t want to risk losing your deposit by getting paint on the carpet," she says.

Renting an apartment sometimes means you have to deal with design choices you don’t necessarily love. Think: funky flooring, beat-up cabinets, and the dreaded old-school bathroom. Another common dilemma in the renting world is that you may not totally love the paint color in your space. However, if it’s the perfect apartment despite these design hiccups, it's hard to turn down.

Paint color can directly impact your mood, and just designing around a shade you hate is easier said than done. If you have permission to repaint, these are the hues designers say you should skip out on using in a small space — and which colors to use instead if you're trying to create a cozier environment while still enhancing "space" in small rooms. If you can’t repaint (whether it’s not in your budget or your landlord won’t allow it), our experts share clever ways to embrace the style while making it feel more like home.

Colors to avoid in a small apartment

First things first, you’ll want to avoid repainting your walls in any of these colors.

Red

Catherine Hooper, interior designer and founder of iSpy Home Design, says red is the number one color she would discourage people from using in a small space. “It's actually proven to promote feelings of anxiety and can be very unflattering,” Hooper notes. If you like the color red, Hooper suggests moving towards a mauve or burgundy, which are both more calming and sophisticated. 

Orange

In the same color family, Hooper also tries to stay away from orange hues. “The brighter the color, the more it takes up space and detracts from everything else,” she explains. “You want colors that promote relaxation and calm, so aim for warmer hues that bring color to the space without overwhelming it.” 

Yellow

Although colors are not completely off the table when it comes to small spaces, there are certain bright colors that can overwhelm a space. “Bright, primary colors such as a vibrant yellow may be too intense for a small space and should be avoided,” says Jessica McCarthy, interior designer and founder of Jam Creative Studio. If you like the sunshiney color, try a pale yellow instead.

Chocolate brown

Royal tones, like chocolate brown or deep navy blue, can make your apartment feel heavy. “Even if you love the richness of chocolate brown, it can weigh down your smaller space,” says McCarthy. “The same goes for a regal navy blue, which is better suited for a royal mansion with high ceilings.” No fancy castle house? Try to go lighter with your color picks.

White

White may intuitively be your first choice when painting a small space, but McCarthy says that the wrong shade of white can actually make your small space feel lifeless. It can also make things feel too clinical and it can create unnecessary shadows — all major design flaws. “If you are set on white, I would recommend a warmer tone that leans more beige to create warmth and depth in your smaller space,” McCarthy adds.

Try using these paint colors instead

McCarthy believes that the key to successfully adding color to your space is to know where it can best be utilized. Even if a color doesn’t work on your walls, most colors always work in small doses. “Successful design is all about creating contrast, so if you are drawn to bright primary colors but have a small space, consider using those colors on your rug or pillows and leaving your walls more neutral,” McCarthy suggests.

Warm Off-White

Hooper echoes McCarthy’s thoughts on classic white paint feeling too clinical. However, she says warm off-white hues are a great option for renters, since landlords are more open to lighter shades that are easy to paint over.

“Benjamin Moore's White Dove is always my go-to, though if you plan to display a lot of art, Simply White is a brighter, more museum-like option,” Hooper explains. “If you want something with a little more texture, I recommend Portola's line of limewash paints that are much more forgiving to apply and provide a more antique, European look.”

Beiges and softer tones

A light beige, soft pink, muted yellow, and cool light blue are always safe bets when it comes to small spaces. “These colors will add a bit of visual interest without requiring you to take too much of a risk,” McCarthy explains.

Taupe

Similarly to off-white, Hooper says that taupe colorways are a good option if you’re looking for something timeless. Another perk is that taupe paint is easy to match furniture and decor with. 

“If you're nervous about putting taupe paint on all four walls or going with an accent wall, you could paint just the ceiling or create an archway behind your bed to mimic a headboard,” Hooper says.

How to deal with wall colors you don’t like (but that you can’t repaint)

You just moved into a new apartment and love everything about it — except the paint color. Hooper confirms that this is an all-too-common conundrum, and repainting isn’t always an option. 

“The bottom line is to figure out what design style will do it the most justice,” Hooper says. “Basically, you want to make it all look purposeful, like you planned everything to match the walls instead of trying to hide them by going overboard with contrasting colors.”

For example, if the wall color is on the dark side, Hooper says you can lean into it with a more dramatic speakeasy and maximalist-inspired aesthetic. Try bringing in velvet fabrics, lots of patterns, animal prints (like a faux cowhide rug), and lots of indoor plants. Try to have fun with it.

Try incorporating your favorite colors in smaller ways

Another tried-and-true strategy when it comes to embracing the apartment space you’re renting: incorporating the design elements and decor that you do love. Even if you’re a fan of some of the colors from the list of hues to avoid painting a small space, they can still be worked into your apartment in tiny ways.

Love orange? Set an orange vase on your bookshelf or place a set of orange coasters on your coffee table. Drawn to crisp white colors? Plant something in a white pot. While no colors are off limits, some mentioned above can be trickier to include. Stick to these tips and you’ll surely end up with a well-balanced space. These are some of our favorite pieces for a quick pop of unexpected color without using any paint.

If you do happen to be painting...

If your landlord gives you permission to paint, Hooper shares that the real trick of the trade when repainting walls in small spaces is to paint both the wall and trim the same color, instead of using a contrasting trim color like white or cream. “By painting it all the same, using a mixture of flat/eggshell on the wall and semi-gloss on the trim, you create the illusion of more space.”

Feeling a tad overwhelmed by the constant demands of busy-bee living, work mountains, and constantly being 'switched on' with tech? We hear you! All the more reason to channel some zen into your home life with the best paint colors to create a relaxing environment that puts the calm into chaos. 

Creating a calming home sanctuary is a lot to do with the color schemes you choose and layering textures. Full-on brights and busy patterns are not conducive to a quiet mind!

"We are investing in our homes as a way to treat ourselves and create a place to relax" says Ashley Banbury, senior color designer, Dutch Boy Paints. Noting how "A calming color palette perfectly balances comfort and elegance as we look to create a retreat in our home." 

Whether you're looking for the best paint colors to enhance small spaces, or simply want to tone down the maximalism look, we’ve found some chillaxed looks to inspire you and guide you to creating a calming experience at home. 

1. Switch-off with soft gray

An evergreen favorite in the interiors world, gentle shades of gray provide an effortless, neutral backdrop in modern and trad spaces alike, balancing warm and cool, whilst oozing subtle, pebbly comfort.

For a chic twist on a feminine bedroom idea, choose a soft shade with undertones of lavender like Hint of violet from Benjamin Moore, on walls, and bring to life with on-trend lilac bedlinen, and relaxed layers in gorgeously tactile textures. A few black accents provide stylish contrast between light and dark. Be bewitched as the hue evolves with gradual moodiness with the changing light from morning cuppa to twilight snoozy herbal infusion. 

2. Renew with blush 

Gey rosy and radiate your apartment living room with a flush of blush for a space-enhancing injection of warming color that doesn't overwhelm you or your space. 

This trending 'new neutral' offers a fashionable and softer alternative to traditional white or cream, pairing swoonily with natural textures like rattan and warm wood, and comfy boucle upholstery to create a gorgeously laidback interior. Airy and inviting, try continuing a centering shade across walls onto cabinetry and woodwork for a seamless aesthetic. 

"In rooms with less natural light, a soft pink paint color on the walls, such as Farrow & Ball's Setting Plaster, will add warmth and softness without overwhelming the space, " says Chloe Weller, interior designer, Topology Interiors. Noting how this hue works as a backdrop for darker wood tones and plush textiles, perfect if you want to create a calm and welcoming space.

3. Reflect with tranquil green

Nothing soothes the soul (or home palette) like a dose of nature. Banbury notes how biophilic design is all about creating that connection to nature within our own  environments and how doing so can improve general well-being, sharing that it's "a design approach that is finding its presence in our homes."

Refresh your space and bring the vitality of the outside in with versatile minty tones that revitalize and ground, creating the ultimate mindful home. 

"The need to find a connection to the outdoors and nature is getting a direct translation to the color we are bringing into our personal spaces— greens being one of them give us a connection to the outdoors," says Banbury. 

4. Take a two-tone approach to color

For added depth, adopt a two-tone approach, and combine a tranquil shade on the walls with a darker green on upcycled furniture like a tired chair or DIY upcycled coffee table.

Spanish Moss was carefully chosen by Banbury as Krylon’s color of the year. "Spanish Moss showcases the “power of green” and provokes an organic and restorative feel. At home, there's a renewed perspective on overall wellness, mindfulness, and meditation. The restful ambiance of this plant-based color provides a strong, soothing connection to the richness of nature, delivering authenticity and stability to every space."

5. Opt for coral comfort

Bring new energy to your eating, socializing, and perhaps even workspace with a modern kitchen design that features a playful yet calming coral palette. Soft sun-baked shades invoke a sense of escapism, transporting your space into a sunny haze of happiness and chilled vibes. 

As shown here in this playful kitchen design by @hotpinkpineapples, we love how coral shades across the backsplash, kitchen cabinets and rug have been perfectly partnered with scalloped patterns and details for a contemporary coastal revamp. 

Love this look? Take a splash with Benjamin Moore's Coral Buff — a pale coral hue heightened by a tinge of pink — yummy!

6. Channel a Mediterranean odyssey with terracotta

It's earthy, it's evocative, and we're here for it. Settle down for a cup of chai and let your bohemian soul radiate positivity heightened by this restorative hue that can't help but awash any space with cozy, warming energy. 

Alluring Clove Bud, from Valspar is the perfect pick for a boho living room and more free-spirited space. Combine with sumptuous textiles, natural textures, and houseplants aplenty to reveal your very own desert rose escape.

7. Unplug with natural neutrals

When you're thinking of living room paint ideas, look to nature as a plentiful inspiration board full of colors, textures, and more to play on the senses. Layering naturally warming hues like warm white, sand, stone, and subtle earthy browns lends a down-to-earth aura, that's inviting and interesting, without being too cold or bland. 

To recreate this harmonized look, begin with a warm white foundation on walls, before introducing a plethora of boucle furniture and layered relaxed textures, natural woods, woven accessories, and artisan makes — think rooted authenticity all the way.

8. Create an optimistic bolthole with sky blue

Let soothing sky shades of blue drift into your home, bringing an enlightened focus to recharge, reflect and renew your space. 

Shown above, the bold but comforting, organic yet eclectic Wistful 2023 trend palette, from Dutch Boy Paints, melds the energy of retro-bright tones with livable neutrals.

"Enjoying a life of slowing down and having contentment has created an appreciation for traditional colors in a new way," says Banbury. "We are finding comfort in nostalgic design aesthetic; the Wistful color palette celebrates a vintage inspired look in a new modern way."

A huge space with gloriously high ceilings and large windows is the ultimate dream. But if that isn't the case in your home, it's time to make paint your best friend. There are a ton of stunning paint colors for small spaces out there, and they can be transformative; giving dark and compact rooms a bright and airy finish without having to knock down walls or budget for bigger windows either.

So if you're in a position where you can upgrade those walls, rest assured that you'll be able to turn your space around ASAP. Whether you're enhancing space in a kitchen using color or looking to make your entire apartment feel bigger, choosing between hundreds of paint chips can be a little overwhelming. To help you out, we spoke with paint experts and interior designers to get the low-down on which of the best paint colors for small spaces are hot right now.

"Traditional rules of color theory state that lighter colors, like white and tinted neutrals, make a small room feel larger and more spacious," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. Noting that there are other approaches also. you can take also. 

"Another way to make a small space pop is by creating a monochromatic look. Try painting the ceiling or trim in the same color after finishing the walls to make the space a focal point in your home," adds Wadden.

1. Golden ochre

Although pale shades are often are go-to colors to lighten a space, a turmeric yellow will add a joyful feel and brighten rooms at the same time. Golden tones are destined to be a hot trend for interiors during 2023, and what better way to make a space feel better than by bringing the warmth of summer into your home? 

"Savannah Green, a rich ochre featuring a balanced undertone of green and yellow, is almost like gold leaf for your walls." Says Helen Shaw, UK Managing Director at Benjamin Moore. Noting how it's a beautiful color when used alongside white, black, or other golden hues, "this color can be anything quiet and gentle to striking and memorable."

It is a brave paint color for small rooms, and you could opt for two walls out of four to paint instead of an all-encompassing feel, though we say go for it as you won't be disappointed! 

2. Inky blue

"If your room is dark, white is not your friend here, so experiment with darker colors," says Patrick O'Donnell, color consultant and brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball, noting how it may feel counterintuitive in a small space but that it can work very well "some dark colors will recess and you will create a cozy and comforting place to dwell. You could also consider taking your wall color onto the ceiling too – this helps blur the natural height of your walls with some soft color saturation." Continues O'Donnell.

Deep hues can actually add drama that the room is lacking, so we say you should take the leap and surprise yourself. Balance deeper shades with a couch in a light color like this on-trend sage green. Wood accessories work wonders too, adding a touch of warmth. 

3. Earthy pink

A light pink is such a winner for all types of homes and when you walk into earthy pink territory, it can do great things for smaller spaces. "36 Hours in Marrakesh, a warm, earthy pink, is one of our best sellers. It looks great in all light settings and can really bring a small space to life," says Natalie Ebel, co- founder, Backdrop.  "I also love Harajuku Morning – shown above, On Tour, and Natural Habitat and these softer colors can also be paired with a dark accent to make a room feel bigger." 

This gentle, easy-on-the-eye shade has notes of peach in it and cleverly avoids being sugary sweet. It will keep a North facing room snug and modern so consider using it as an accent for woodwork. Ebel mentions how you could introduce more light colors too for more dimension, think a pastel green mirror or pale pink rug. 

4. Raspberry

Cozy yet fresh and modern, a warm raspberry shade can make a positive statement in tiny apartments. 

"When choosing what color to paint a room, it is important to consider how you can make that space feel better," says Shaw. "In a smaller space, some fear that adding a deep or bright color will make it appear claustrophobic, however, such colors cleverly absorb the light of a space, making the division between walls appear blurred and in turn, making the space appear larger." Shaw adds how Raspberry Blush makes an ideal paint pick to blur the edges of a small space, adding depth and dimension, rather than making it feel small.

"This, combined with the fact that it is the kind of color that fills the room with exuberance and delight, creates the perfect color for making a small space feel better." Continues Shaw.

5. Lavender 

We love how the paler and darker tones of lavender highlight the architectural trim detail here, enhancing the height of the room and making even more of a design feature out of the trim.

Using lavender solo or to soften up a stark white is a great way to keep an airy finish, without making a space feel cold. "As we continue to spend more time in our homes, I’m expecting interiors to move away from the recently trendy, stark all-white interior," says Gideon Mendelson, founder of Mendelson Group. "I anticipate designers and homeowners will specify colors that feel more serene and calm and colors that create moods. While the color lavender speaks to luxury, elegance, and refinement, it also represents purity, spirituality, and grace."

6. Cool blue 

A cool pale blue will lift a space whilst adding a touch of color and it's ideal for a South-facing room that might actually feel a little "warm" during the day. It also has a contemporary feel if you get the tone right. “A light blue with a dose of softness, used as a fresh neutral with uplifting qualities of a modern pastel for small spaces.” Says Sue Kim, Valspar's color managing director. 

A color like this is easy to complement with colorful accessories too as it works well with brights like coral, turmeric, and indigo blue, making it ideal for a super modern finish.

7. Stone

You can't beat a cozy neutral that works to warm up your surroundings in winter and gives cool vibes in the summer. According to Wadden, it's exactly what you want in a small space, even if it's open-plan. "A rich neutral, like Urbane Bronze SW 7048 or Redend Point SW 9081 can also make a big impact in a transitional space like a mudroom or entryway, without overwhelming your existing color palette."

8. Crisp white 

Ginger Curtis, president of Urbanology Designs took designing small spaces to the next level with her Bungalow Project. Compact to say the least, it incorporates some key clever design elements to make it feel spacious, including the use of white. 

"To create depth in this small space we used different wood tones, textures, and finishes that are all very different, but somehow they work nicely together to create depth and cohesion in this space," she says.

The use of wood adds warmth and character whilst white paint brightens the whole space. "Generally, the foundational elements of the room fall into a neutral and organic family so in order for it to not fall flat or feel overly simplified it actually works really well to mix wood tones with a neutral paint color because that is acting as your color and contrast in the space while still holding true to an organic baseline." 

White paint doesn't mean crisp white and cold, there are plenty of 'warm' whites to choose from that you can see in our round up below. 

2023 looks like it will be an interesting year in terms of trending colors for the home. Colors will be bold and fun, indicative of how homes have become more relaxed, cozy, and a reflection of the people who live in them. While there isn’t one particular color that will reign supreme, shades of pink and green will likely be popular in the coming year. 

Thinking about adding some color to your dwelling, but not quite willing to grab a paintbrush? The good news is that you don’t need one to add a healthy dose of color. Here are eight ways to incorporate 2023's trending colors without paint. 

1. Put colorful art on the walls

If you can’t paint your walls, you can at the very least decorate them. Whether you want to create a beautiful gallery wall, install one large framed piece, or something in between—art is quite simply, the easiest way to add color.

This Tyler Varsell art print from Urban Outfitters is a great example of how to subtly integrate shades similar to Vinning Ivy from Glidden Paint by PPG. The turquoise-inspired hue of the runway is a perfect pop of color for a neutral rental space.

2. Try peel-and-stick

On the other hand, if you want to go bold with next year’s colors, using wallpaper will get you there. And don’t worry, we’re not leaving renters out here. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is easy to install (even yourself—just have a bit of patience) and won’t damage your walls. Whether you wallpaper an entire room or put up a collage kit on an accent wall, it’s the best way to instantly makeover a space with color. 

This adorable peel-and-stick wallpaper from Urban Outfitters features shades of purple reminiscent of Gentle Violet which is one of Valspar’s 2023 Colors Of The Year. For a more custom look, try out a collage kit, which gives you the creative freedom to select and arrange your favorite prints.

3. Put up wall decals and decor

But if you can’t commit to wallpaper, wall decals are a fun choice especially for bedrooms, children’s rooms, and nurseries. Like peel-and-stick wallpaper, decals are applied like a giant sticker but easily come off the wall without removing the paint underneath. 

This desert-themed arch decal from Etsy would work perfectly in a bedroom or living room. It incorporates hues from Redend Point by Sherwin Williams. 

4. Swap out your current throws

Throw blankets and pillows are a great way to add some color to your favorite sofa, chair, or the foot of the bed. It’s also something that can be changed every season without spending too much money. 

The (throw) it’s a great way to bring in neutral colors like Blank Canvas by Behr.  

If you have the budget… If you have mostly neutral furniture but are looking to mix it up, adding a bright-colored sofa is a great way to add color to your living room. 

Looking to add a color that’s similar to the pink shades that will be popular next year, such as Terra Rosa by Dunn-Edwards? 

Try a velvet sofa, because this type of upholstery has so much texture to it. While you might not think of a sofa as the first place to add color, there are really no mistakes with this idea. 

5. Mix it up at the dining table

If you’re considering adding some more color to your home, but are afraid to commit to anything too over the top, why not bring it into your tablescape? Using colorful tablecloths, glassware, and napkins let you have an updated look when you throw dinner parties or have friends over.

This set of four tinted wine glasses from Macy's are a versatile pinkish-red that’s not too far off from Benjamin Moore's pick for 2023 Color Of The Year, Raspberry Blush (plus, they're available in different shapes and sizes, too).

6. Add warmth with a rug

Rugs add both color and texture to spaces that need it, making a room look elevated and complete. Whether you want to make your living room cozier, or prefer not to step on cold, hard floors when getting out of bed in the morning, rugs do it all.

One of the most interesting colors of the year was Rustic Greige from Dutch Boy. While there are many ways to use this color, opting for a rug can pull together a room that’s already colorful. The Well Woven Loop-De-Loop Beige Rug from Wayfair is a fantastic example of this. 

Painting a door may seem daunting when actually it can be easily done and it's one of the quickest ways to give your home a fresh new look. 

Learn this skill and you'll be able to copy the latest front door ideas in no time. All you need is the right paint for the job, as well as a little time and space but otherwise, it's not an overly complicated DIY and you will save a ton of cash by doing it yourself.

There's no better way to inject color and vibrancy, not to mention curb appeal into your home than with this simple home improvement job. From correctly prepping and priming the door for painting, to drying time and different effects, you can guarantee a professional finish throughout your home with our guidance. Next you'll be painting the outside of your house too..

Before painting a front door

If you are painting a front door, the process is exactly the same as for an interior door, but you have the added complication of the weather and security to contend with.

If you have a new door to paint, leave the old one in position until the new one is ready to hang. This may mean removing the old door temporarily while you size up and cut the new one.

If you are re-painting your existing front door, you could opt to remove it from the hinges but I would not recommend doing so. A safer and more manageable option for most DIYers is to use painter's tape to protect the hinges and hardware while you paint.

1. Pick the right day

When painting a front door, try to work under cover if possible, but always choose a day with no forecast of rain, strong wind or any other adverse conditions that could affect your work.

Temperature is most relevant if you're using water-based paints, but try to pick a dry day again where the temperature isn't too hot but above 10°C/50F as this will help the paint dry properly, not too quickly, or not at all.

2. Pre-painting preparation

Cover the floor immediately in front of the door, for interior doors I often use old cardboard as it slides under the door easier than dust sheets and if you are only painting the door area, you don’t need to cover a huge space on the floor. 

Examine the door for wear and tear and if you find any cracks or holes fill them with wood filler using a palette knife, allow to dry then sand until smooth.

Before you start painting an interior door, ventilate the room as much as you can even if that’s just by opening a window.

3. Key the surface 

If the door has been painted previously and the paint isn’t peeling or flaking then you’ll only need to lightly sand it to get a key for the new paint to stick to. Wear a mask when sanding and ideally use an electric sander with a dust collector. Use a high grit sandpaper (eg 180 or above) so as not to over-sand and mark the wood. The idea is not to remove all the old paint (unless it is peeling and flaking) but rather to give the surface a slight texture.

4. Clean the door

Once you have lightly sanded the door, brush all the dust off. Top tip… don’t forget to dust the very top of the door where dust often collects, as you don’t want this mixing with the paint when you do the top of the door. After dusting, spray sugar soap over the door and rub it with a sponge to ensure all dirt, grease, and remaining dust is removed. You want a really clean surface to help the paint adhere. Wipe the door with a clean, damp cloth to remove sugar soap residue, and repeat until the door is really clean. Allow time for the door to fully dry then cover the hinges and door hardware with painter's tape.

5. Paint the door

Check your paint to see if an undercoat is required. Some wood paints contain a primer and some don’t, so be sure you know which yours is. The application process is the same for both the undercoat and the top coat, make sure you allow sufficient drying time in between coats.  

Top Tip: Keep your paintbrush quite dry and don’t overload it with paint to reduce the likelihood of visible brushstrokes, especially on any decorative moldings.

Paint the door edge first, sweep upwards when you get to the top of the door to prevent paint from collecting on the top of the door and then dripping down again. Wipe the front of the door if you have any drips. 

If you have a panel door like the one shown, paint the moldings and panels next followed by the surrounding parts of the door face.

Remove the painter's tape before the paint has dried to ensure smooth, neat lines.

You'll probably need to apply at least two coats of paint for optimal coverage. Lightly sand in between coats (once dried) if any imperfections appear like drips or runs. 

Color Blocking your door

Color-blocking is a fun way to make a statement in your room and is easily reversed so doesn't require a huge amount of commitment. Use painter's tape to mask off the areas you don't want to paint. 

What kind of paint do you use on doors?

If you're painting a front door, as we do in the how-to video, you should choose an exterior paint like from Valspar’s Exterior Wood & Metal Trim range.

Generally speaking, all doors, see a lot of traffic, so you should choose a gloss or satin finish for durability as these are easier to clean. If your internal door is made from solid wood, pick up one of the best paints for wood.

Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands says, "It’s best to choose a wood and metal paint for doors and window frames. These are specially formulated to be particularly durable and can also be applied to walls for a consistent finish. If you’re not too confident with color, we always recommend painting a smaller area first such as a single door or window frame in a bold color and leaving the rest of the room off-white — it’s really easy to live with but is a fun way to introduce color. You can increase your areas as your confidence grows".

Painting uPVC doors: If you're painting composite materials like fiberglass doors or upgrading a uPVC door, you'll find lots of specialist paints on the market for the job. Some are available without the need for primer — although we'd always recommend using a primer when painting around the house — and others are water-based which will always need priming. If your uPVC door is external, look for UV and weather protection also to prolong its life, much like if you were painting uPVC windows.

Painting composite doors: Although composite doors won't be 100 per cent plastic, you should still use the same method below and paint as you would for uPVC to protect their outer layer from flaking.

Painting untreated, interior, wooden doors: If you are painting an untreated timber door for the first time, you should apply a knotting solution to any knots and then prime with an undercoat & primer to create a key for the paint to adhere to. 

All too often, radiators are forgotten and wind up being plain old white or, a little flaky and unfinished which isn't exactly inspiring! But what if we told you that painting radiators is a viable option? And one that when done well, will add an extra dimension to a room?

Not only are radiators a sound type of heating for your home but by pairing up their look and color with the rest of your interior design scheme, you can give your space a mini makeover, without a whole lot of effort (or budget). 

What's more, you can either paint a radiator on the wall, or before you fit it. The latter is definitely easier but on the wall is totally doable too.

Is it a good idea to paint radiators?

As easy as it may be to learn how to paint a radiator yourself, you need to get some key details right including: what paint to use, what paint not to use and the best working conditions for safety. 

It's a great idea decor-wise, so long as you pick the right paint for the job and that you prime your radiators properly if they need it, to protect their efficiency. Daniel Nezhad, director at UK Radiators, says 'It may sound hard to believe but painting your radiator can affect its heat output. The main relationship between painting your radiator and its efficiency is to do with the type of radiator paint rather than the colour. Some studies show that darker colours can increase your radiator’s efficiency but this is only by an extremely small amount (we’re talking around 1 percent).  The real factor to consider is the kind of radiator paint you use.'

How to paint a radiator

When it comes to actually painting radiators properly, there are quite a few steps. The key again is to not skip on prep and priming. You will need the following materials:

1. Choose the right paint for the job

Decide on the look you want and then choose the most suitable paint. 'You need to opt for a specially formulated radiator paint that will be able to withstand constant temperature changes without damaging the integrity or quality of the paint.' Says Nezhad.

Crown Paints recommend to 'Look for any paint designed for wood or metal such as gloss, satin or eggshell.' 

'It has been shown that a radiator coated with metallic paint will emit less heat, under otherwise identical conditions, than a similar radiator coated with non-metallic paint. It can affect the efficiency of your radiator to the point where using a metallic-based paint is the same as removing 1/6th of the radiator!' Continues Nezhad.

For this DIY, Rutland's, Black Rutland 1200-Degree F Brush-On Flat Stove Paint is a good option if you want a chic black finish.

2. Turn off your radiator

For safety and for better painting conditions, you need to switch off your radiator completely and ideally leave it to cool down overnight. '...if your radiator is still warm, the paint will drip and not adhere to the radiator’s surface very well.' Notes Nezhad.

3. Prepare the area

If you're a savvy DIYer you may want to take your radiator off the wall completely. Do do so:

• Turn off your heating
• Turn off the radiator valves. Firstly, turn the thermostatic valve (an example is in the photograph above) to zero or off (this will be the valve that has a knob on it that you can turn to 'off'). Then, on the other side (known as your lock shield valve, an example is in the photograph below), remove the cap and locate the small spindle inside. Turn it to clockwise using a screwdriver or a wrench until it is closed.  A good tip is to count the number of turns you make and note them down then use the same number to open it. This will help you get the radiator back up to the same pressure when you put it back on
• Place towels and a bowl beneath your radiator valves to catch any running water (be sure they are old towels you no longer care about as they may get ruined if the water is gunky)
• Gently loosen the valves and with a wrench, drain the water from the radiator
• Once the water is drained, you can disconnect the radiator by loosening the nuts and lifting it off the brackets. Once it is disconnected then tilt it to one side to drain any remaining water into your bowl or bucket

However, if this isn't an option for you, you don't need to remove the radiator and you can still paint it while it's attached to the wall. You just need to protect the wall behind it which you can do with painter's tape, some paper taped behind it or a cardboard sheet. You should lay dust sheets like this one from Heyjiong down for both methods also to protect the floor. 

4. Prepare and repair the radiator

If you're painting an old radiator with flaking paint, you may have to strip and sand it down. 'When it comes to stripping your radiator, any paint stripper is fine to use, and the aim is to remove any layers of paint that are currently on your radiator. Be careful when scraping the paint off that you don’t damage the original structure of your radiator. This step will make the application of your new paint easy and smooth.' Notes Nezhad. 'The radiator needs to be sanded down to ensure that the surface is smooth and ready to be painted on. It’s recommended to use two different grades of sandpaper like this from Arilier so that you can achieve a smooth finish that removes bumps and imperfections of any size.'

5. Clean your radiator

You'll need to wipe your radiator down completely, if your radiator isn’t in too poor of a condition, you could just use a sponge, warm water and mild detergent to get rid of dust (we know you have some!) and dirt. If it needs a little more TLC then you can use sugar soap as it is slightly abrasive and will remove any last little bits of old paint flakes. Be sure to wipe the radiator down once you have finished with the sugar soap. 

Whether you manage to strip the old radiator paint or not, the most important part is to make sure that you have a clean, dry, flake and grease-free surface to paint on. It is best to wait a little once you have cleaned it, to make sure it is properly dry. 

6. Paint the radiator

You can prime the radiator before painting, but actually, not all radiator paint requires priming so check your radiator paint before you decide.

You can paint your radiator with either a roller like this one from Foam Pro or a brush like this one from Amazon (or you can combine; brushes are useful for getting into grooves whereas rollers are useful for painting broad, flat sections). If you like, you can even use spray paint. If you leave the radiator on the wall and want to paint the back then you will need a special brush to reach those tricky areas like this one from Nge. 

To use a brush, don't overload it is the best tip! Start with the inner edges, moving onto the face of the radiator. By working in smaller sections you'll get a more precise finish. Take your time, painting the front moldings from the top, then from the bottom before pulling your paintwork together. Finish off with the front edges, working your way across the entire radiator. You can paint into and from already painted sections using sweeping actions to ensure it's even. 

You can combine your brush with a small roller on the flat parts if you like which can speed things up a little. If you use a roller then be sure not to overload it and make sure you give the roller a little roll in the tray before applying it to the radiator to remove excess paint and avoid any dripping. Allow at least an hour to ensure that your paint is fully dry before applying another coat. 

If you fancy trying your hand at spray painting a radiator instead, follow these steps:

• Make sure you put more dust sheets down than normal and make sure that the room is well ventilated;
• Shake the spray paint like this one from Rustoleum can well (for around 2 minutes)
• Hold the can 20 to 30 centimeters away from the radiator and spray in a sweeping motion, covering the whole radiator 
• Wait 30 minutes for the coat to dry and then spray again. Usually, spray paint will need three coats for full coverage.

7. Let it dry

As we mentioned above, let the radiator dry in between coats. Because you are using a special radiator paint it may look patchy after the first one but don't worry, the paint will build up nicely over two or three coats. 

When you have finished, you need to let your paint fully dry before turning the heating on. Nezhad recommends waiting at least a day for precise results, 'Once painted do not turn your radiator straight back on, you will need to leave it to dry for at least 24 hours to avoid peeling or dripping.'

What colors are best to paint a radiator?

Depending on your radiator of course, you might want to make more of a statement, and highlight yours in contrasting colors. If you take a more minimal approach to decorating, then you can alternatively paint them in a complementary shade. Either way, painting radiators has become a really popular home DIY, follow the step-by-step and you'll get a great finish.

DIY done!

Kitchen paint ideas are often the quickest and cheapest way to update your kitchen yourself. You can have a whole new look in just a few hours and all it takes is a few cans of paint and very basic DIY skills. 

To inspire you to start adding exciting new hues to your cooking space, whether you're working on a full kitchen remodel or not, we have pulled together all of the coolest colors to get on board with. 

‘Moving away from impersonal and stark bright whites, kitchen design schemes are becoming more considered, with schemes reflecting the wider interior aesthetic of a home. Richer, mood-setting colors are being used to great effect in combination across woodwork, cabinetry and walls,' says Andy Greenall, creative director of Paint & Paper Library.

1. Mix one color tones for a cohesive kitchen scheme

One bold kitchen paint color all over can lack interest, so why not try picking a few shades of the same color to use in one room? Put the darker shade on the cabinetry and the lighter on the walls for a fresh, bright finish.

This lovely fresh blue-based Mt. Rainier Gray (2129-60) on the cooker wall is a great choice for a light and airy kitchen and the deeper shade of the Normandy (2129-40) painted units perfectly complements the color scheme. The hallway wall is painted in a pretty sky blue shade called Breath of Fresh Air (806). The white gloss floor adds balance and gives the room a spacious feel. 

If you are looking to give your kitchen a refresh on a budget you can get painting kitchen cabinets yourself, just follow our guide. 

2. Take a duo approach

Struggling to choose between two colors to enhance your kitchen ideas? Then, why not have them both? The key to this two-tone kitchen paint idea is to find a feature the colors have in common – in this case, they share the same tone (in other words, light value). Putting the warmer kitchen paint color on the walls – which have a greater surface area than the cabinets, it will create a more inviting feel.

The wall paint used here is Antoinette from Annie Sloan, it works perfectly when paired with the darker, aubergine hues of the kitchen cabinets (a mix of Annie Sloane Aubusson Blue and Emperor's Silk) as it gives the pastel hue a more modern look. 

3. Follow the trend for inky shades in your kitchen

Deep, dramatic alternatives to grey-green, burgundy and blue are very popular paint colors for kitchens, creating an elegant appeal, an effect doubled if used on both cabinetry and walls. 

Kitchens with good light and high ceilings can take the darkest of paint colors, such as Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue Modern emulsion (shown here on the walls and floor); an eggshell finish in the same color has been used on the units. Keep the finish sophisticated with a smart, contrasting white – Wimborne White is the perfect choice - and add a pop of color in accessories to lift and modernize the scheme instantly. 

4. Choose a neutral kitchen paint for a Scandi feel

Although they are a hive of activity, our kitchens are increasingly becoming spaces we relax and socialize in. However you use yours, picking the right kitchen color can aid the serene atmosphere of this space.

This peaceful, barely-there grey paint color on the walls is called Brushed Buckle by Dulux. It has warming tones to make it welcoming but is light enough to create an illusion of space – ideal if your kitchen is small and on the dark side. The units trim is called Rail Cloth and adds an extra interesting element to the scheme, while the middle section is painted in Pure Brilliant White. 

5. Let the cabinets take center stage

Traditional style cabinetry suits the painted look perfectly. Shaker-style units lend themselves to a splash of color just as well as very contemporary, high-gloss cupboards, so don't be afraid to embrace a new shade.

When you invest in a Neptune kitchen you get the fabulous option of choosing from their range of 28 original paint colors. They are ecologically friendly and water-based, with a choice of matt emulsion or eggshell finishes. Shown here is their classic pared-back Suffolk kitchen that’s hand-painted in Sage – a calming green that has a fresh, timeless feel. 

We have loads more inspiring Shaker kitchen ideas in our ideas gallery if you like the vibe of this kitchen. 

6. Keep it simple with white kitchen paint

You can’t beat an all-white kitchen – bright and crisp, it acts as a blank canvas for the rest of the scheme, enabling you to add and swap out accent colors quickly with accessories. Picking a simple kitchen color scheme also means it will be far easier to update and match to new utensils, appliances or dinnerware.

In this deVOL kitchen the cabinets have been painted in Damask and the walls and shelves have been kept the same shade of white too. The choice of wooden flooring however keep the kitchen from becoming too clinical, which we fully recommend doing if you are going for an all-white everything kitchen paint idea. 

For more white kitchen ideas head to our gallery. 

7. Make a kitchen island the focal point 

Glossy, bright, apple reds are making way for a new team of more muted hues – think plum, oxblood and vermillion. Paired with sleek, contemporary units, they offer a demure, but modern kitchen paint alternative to anything high-shine or in your face.

This Linear design from Harvey Jones has a modern look with streamlined units. You can choose any paint color you like, and they will hand-paint it on for you; shown here is Fired Earth’s eggshell Dragon's Blood. One advantage of doing this is that if you get tired of the color after a few years you can give your units a new lease of life by re-painting them. 

8. Use warm tones to brighten a white kitchen

If your units are modern and white, choosing hotter kitchen paint shades for the walls will visually warm up the space. This allows you to embrace the modern look (and easy-to-clean nature) of minimalist white cabinets, without being left with a clinical feel.

On the right wall Toffee Apple adds warmth, while Spice Jar is a unifying, neutral option. 

9. Create a chalkboard wall in your kitchen

A really fun kitchen paint idea for a family kitchen is to have a wall of chalkboard paint. It might keep the kids amused under your watchful eye, or can be used to leave notes and shopping lists. Plus, chalkboard walls needn't always be black, here Benjamin Moore's Gettysburg Gray has been used as an alternative. 

You can really easily DIY a chalkboard, head over to our step-by-step to find out how. 

10. Stay with grey

We couldn't put together a kitchen paint ideas piece without including the classic grey. Literally, will our love for this color ever end? Grey does undeniably work great as part of a kitchen color scheme especially if you want to keep things neutral but want to be a tad braver than just going for white or cream. 

Try using a few different tones of grey to break up a wall of cabinetry, or choose a different color for a kitchen island. And if you want more grey kitchen ideas, we've got a feature filled with ideas you are sure to love. 

Here's another grey look, right at the other end of the spectrum. We love, love, love the contrasting painted chairs that are set off perfectly by the grey. More on how to paint furniture in our step-by-step guide.

11. Try a clashing color combo 

Olive green and salmon pink? Who knew it could look so cool? To recreate this kitchen paint idea, try Farrow & Ball's Calamine and Card Room Green. And if you want more advice on how to make these contrasting colors work go and check out how you can use a color wheel for interior design and color scheming.

12. Add some retro vibes with brighter kitchen colors

Small kitchen? It doesn't mean you can go big on the kitchen paint colors! Check out @hardcastletowers brave small kitchen. For a similarly glorious turquoise try painting your kitchen walls in Dulux's Marine Splash and use colorful kitchen accessories and appliances to add even more pops of color.

Love the retro vibe of this kitchen? Go and check out more of our retro kitchen ideas. 

13. Choose terracotta for a Mediterranean vibe 

Terracotta walls are a look and gaining popularity for their earthen finish. Slightly less out there than orange itself, or than the color that graced many a home during the '80s, it's the warmer tone that is, ironically also, a whole lot cooler for kitchen paint.

We love Dulux's Toasted Terracotta, especially when it's combined with brighter reds like Dynamite Red. 

14. Add warmth with orange hues

Give a north-facing kitchen a warm glow with an orange kitchen color scheme, yes we did just say orange paint. Not normally a four-wall color we know, but look how it works here in this slightly darker kitchen. Choose something more muted like Arancia from Graham & Brown, and pick a more neutral color for your kitchen cabinets.

15. Choose a black kitchen for a dramatic appeal

A kitchen that's stained, painted or lacquered in black makes for an astonishingly cozy and comforting space, especially if matched with beautifully grained wood for that much-needed texture and warmth. Going for this look? Ensure the room gets lots of natural daylight and that the artificial lighting is perfectly planned. 

Get more black kitchen ideas in our gallery and find out how to plan kitchen lighting in our practical guide.

16. Pair pale pink and sage 

Pink doesn't have to be a bold choice, you can almost use it as a neutral shade. In this kitchen you can barely notice the pinky hues of the walls. But how gorgeous does it look with the sage kitchen cabinets and gold highlights? 

Take our tour around the rest of this candy-colored kitchen and for more pink room ideas check out our feature. 

17. Paint your kitchen ceiling

Don't forget about your ceiling when thinking about kitchen paint ideas. Keep your walls neutral and add a pop of color with your choice of ceiling paint. The chalky finish works perfectly in this farmhouse-style kitchen but you could be bolder if you are feeling brave – dark, deep colors look amazing if you have lofty ceilings in your kitchen.   

Check out our guide to painting a ceiling. 

18. Create a retro feel by mixing greens and blues

These kinds of dusty, muted blues and greens are everywhere at the moment and we love how they look in this slightly retro kitchen. Pinch this kitchen paint idea and use two different colors on your cabinets. You could even add another color for the kickback. Keep it all quite subtle and choose colors that have similar tones. Match your kitchen colors to the one above with Valspar's Dried Basil, Aerial Pursuit and Fluffy Robe.  

19. Remember beige is back (and looks fab)

Yep, beige is no longer the color of rented rooms and bleak hotel rooms! It's cool again and looks gorgeous as part of a kitchen color scheme as demonstrated above with Farrow and Ball's Mouse's Back. Pair it with gold or black hardware for a really stylish look. 

20. Be bold with colors even in a traditional kitchen 

Think that traditional kitchens always have to be soft and filled with neutral colors? No way! Just check out that statement space. We are kind of obsessed with how this deep coral takes a very traditional space and turns it into something really quirky, almost a bit boho-like. The rugs and the matching chair covers only add to that cottagecore vibe and we can't get enough.

For a similar red try Farrow & Ball's Blazer.

21. Add a hint of yellow in a light-filled room

Yellow can be a tricky color to decorate with, but pick the right shade and the right space and it can look amazing. This is Farrow & Ball's Hay and it is a lovely warm, subtle yellow that would work well in a kitchen that gets plenty of light. Pair with some grey blues and wood accents for a modern but still quite rustic feel. 

22. Contrast ice cream shades with jet black

If your kitchen is feeling a little stark then warm it up with a couple of ice cream shades. It will soften real or faux DIY marble kitchen counters, or an island, but in a modern way. Add in some shades of green to add extra depth and your old kitchen will be transformed without breaking the bank

23. Earth tones are cozy and comforting

The ‘new’ neutrals are slightly deeper and more grounding than a pale stone shade as Andy Greenall, creative director of Paint & Paper Library explains:

‘Mink’ is a wonderfully versatile, warm, pink-based neutral that adds depth and warmth to kitchen walls. Pair with the enigmatic, deep red-brown ‘Scarlet ‘n’ Rust’ for a sophisticated, timeless scheme.’

24. Combine jet black with a glossy countertop

A monochromatic scheme with a difference. To make this work well ensure you have enough white to break up the black, and the finish is important. Here, the units are matt and are teamed with high gloss countertops that soften the black. Pop in an accent of ruby – how super cool are those barstools?

25. Or dial it back to sophisticated pale gray

Give a gray scheme extra dazzle by accessorizing it with brass and white marble. There’s nothing more glamorous than this combo but it can feel stark – that’s where the brass extras come in, they lift the scheme and add a luxury feel.

26. All white is always a winner – with chrome accents

‘I love warmer whites for kitchens as they are still bright and airy but add some depth to the space so it doesn't feel too clinical,’ says Georgia Zikas, founder and principal designer of Georgia Zikas Design.

We have mentioned whites before because they really are a perennial favorite, but there is an interior design aspect that needs to be applied to make it work successfully and that’s texture. In this beautiful kitchen you’ll see plenty of textures – the backsplash under the cooker hood plus the metro tiles above the countertops, the blind and the pale veined marble kitchen island, these all add the depth that Georgia advises above.

27. A muted green will calm the senses 

‘The sense of wellbeing that we gain from time outside in the natural world has resulted in a desire to re-create this sense of connection and positivity in our homes, driving a renewed love for greens of all hues,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene.

How you use the paint is key too, we love how this kitchen has both the walls and ceiling painted for an all-encompassing look.

28. Perk up white with walnut

Walnut is such a luxury wood and as such needs to be used with the right paint color that allows its beautiful patina to shine. White is a great option due to its versatility, and if the ceiling is low it will lift the whole space

29. Add a zing with pop of color

‘Bolder colors are definitely gaining popularity so you could try injecting some personality into an all-white kitchen with a pop of strong color in an unusual place,’ says Helen Shaw, UK director at Benjamin Moore. 

Other places to consider are the ceiling, inside shelving and other pieces like a freestanding cabinet.

30. Charcoal is a great alternative 

If you like the idea of a deeper kitchen paint color but feel black is too dark then consider charcoal. To give it balance use contrast as Ben Burbidge, managing director of Kitchen Makers explains:

‘You can bring this idea to life by opting for a tonal look combining darker and lighter shades of the same color will provide a sophisticated finish. You can use one color for cabinetry and the other for splash backs, trim or your island. Whether opting for contrasting wall and floor mounted cabinetry or choosing an island in an eye-catching hue, mixing colors and finishes is the perfect way to make a kitchen design stand out from the crowd.’

31. Give a trad kitchen a makeover with candy pink

Pink may seem to be an old choice for a kitchen, but doesn’t it look great here! It works well with the jade marble and the way the pink includes the shelf and coving gives the space a contemporary look. The white ceiling prevents it from being too all-encompassing as does the warming herringbone floor.

32. No time for neutrals? Choose a zesty green instead

If you want to make a statement rather than a kitchen that whilst beautiful, doesn't stand out, then go for a bright color like this stunning green. Note it's only used on the cabinetry which allows the white to give the space a balanced look. Bring the green through into the rest of the scheme with accessorizes like tumblers and vases. 

33. Or, go bold all over!

Wow – what can we say about this eye-catching burnt orange kitchen? It's truly stunning, and although not for the faint-hearted, it's beautiful. The white helps it visually as does the flooring, we love how the window is painted in the same shade too.

Which paint color to choose for your kitchen? 

Dark colors, including grey and black, are popular, with wall colors often contrasting to add impact. If you would rather keep your cupboards light and neutral, a pop of color on the walls will be much easier to update, should you wish. And if you're painting your kitchen cabinetry a bold color, consider limiting it to a short run of units or a kitchen island, with a more neutral shade on the other cabinets; this will be ultimately easier to live with – and change in the future if you want a new paint color.

Which paint to use for kitchen cabinets?

Looking for the best paint for kitchen cabinets? A good eggshell will be tough enough for units, while modern emulsions will work for walls, ensuring that they are still wipeable. However, there are some fabulous specialty paints for kitchens on the market which can be a good option if you have a young family. Both Crown and Dulux have good ranges if you want wipeable, grease-resistant paints. 

What are the most popular kitchen colors now?

‘I think soft grays and richer whites will never go out of style. They pair together beautifully and work well as neutrals to complement any other colors you might see come through in the backsplash or countertops,’ says Malka Helft, founder of Think Chic Interiors.

‘I think we are starting to see some injection of color here and there, but done in minimal ways like through pendant lights, backsplashes or even kitchen islands being painted an isolated, complementary color,’ says Georgia Zikas, founder and principal designer of Georgia Zikas Design.

‘Because greens are fairly neutral, (they often contain both blue and red) and come in varying undertones and depths, they are incredibly versatile, working wonderfully in any room to serve as a natural extension of the exterior, giving the impression of bringing the outside in. Green is a fantastic color for kitchens, for example, a bright and bold green will create a vibrant and energetic feel, whilst a muted and more gentle tone will create a calming environment that is well suited to open plan living,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. 

Should kitchen paint be lighter or darker?

‘I always veer toward light when possible, as I think kitchens are a truly utilitarian room and as such, should be light & bright to help them function well as a backdrop for cooking and gathering,’ adds Malka.

‘There’s no hard and fast rule for a light or dark kitchen. Just as with your fashion choices, you will have colors that you like and dislike, so that is always a good place to start.  Also think about the mood you want in a room: uplifting and energizing or calming and tranquil. Or, if you’re going the dark route, choose a color and finish that has great warmth and depth, and reflects light well, lending itself to mixing with accents of marble, brass or brushed aluminum,’ says Helen Shaw, UK director of Benjamin Moore.

Whether your home has outdated closet doors or if they no longer match the color scheme you want, learning how to paint closet doors yourself will be the simplest, and most cost-effective solution, to refresh your room asap!

When we purchased our 1970s fixer-upper, most of the interior closet doors had been painted a cream color. They were dingy and felt dirty – not what you need from your walk-in closet – so they were in desperate need of some freshening up. The rest of the closet doors were still the original brown stain and had faded over the years of use... 

It may come as a surprise how painting a door inside or out can have such a dramatic effect on a space, but it's a key design element of your home.

The closet door before painting

This easy DIY project is also affordable and painting your closet doors can be accomplished in just one to two days. 

1. Remove hardware

Start by removing the hardware. If you’re wanting to update it, now would be a great time to choose some new pulls – Wayfair has lots of nice closet door pull options. Lay down your sheet or drop cloth so you don’t accidentally get paint on your flooring. If you’re worried about getting paint on the door hinges, use painter’s tape to tape them off. I used a trim brush and carefully painted around mine without taping them off, but either option is great!

2. Prime

Once you’ve finished the prep work, you’re ready for primer. Whether your door was previously painted or still the original wood, you’ll want to prime. This will give the fresh coat of paint something to stick to. If they were painted and the paint job wasn’t done well, you may need to sand down the door first before applying a new coat of paint. I recommend a high-quality primer like Valspar’s High-Hiding primer. 

Using a 4” roller, roll on the first coat of primer evenly over each section. For the door edges and around the hinges, an angled trim brush works best. Allow the first coat of primer to completely dry. You’ll need to refer to your can of primer to see what the recommended drying times are. 

If you’re painting your closet doors a light color like white, I’ve found it works best to apply two coats of primer. This creates a beautifully even finish when you go to apply the top coat of paint. So after rolling on a second coat (if needed) of primer and using the brush for the edges and hinges, allow it to fully dry again.

3. Begin painting

Now you’re ready for the paint. For closet doors, I recommend a semi-gloss enamel made for trim and doors. Enamels harden to create a tough exterior with a lasting finish. My favorite is Valspar’s Door and Trim Enamel. I’ve used it on both my doors and trim with great results! Using your roller, apply a coat of enamel over the doors. You will probably only need one coat of paint. Use your trim brush again to go around the edges and hinges. Allow the enamel to dry overnight. 

4. Reinstall hardware

Once your doors are completely dry, you can reinstall your hardware. Our knobs were needing an update so we went back with some pretty gold pulls that tied in with the gold curtain rods on our windows.

The results:

Our closet doors look amazing after just a few coats of paint. It was easy and really affordable, costing less than $50 for primer, paint, and hardware. With just a few supplies and a little bit of time, you can have your closet doors looking new and updated!  

If you're wondering how much it costs to paint the exterior of a house then you're probably looking at dirty or dated exterior walls, right? Working out how much repainting a room will cost can be tricky enough... But with a whole-house repaint, especially if you’re planning one for the first time, it can be so much more difficult to budget correctly. 

Fortunately, we’ve got industry experts on board to help you with your house painting project costing. So, while you’re learning about how to paint the exterior of a house, make sure you work out how much you’ll need to set aside for this project, whether you’re planning on doing it yourself or hiring a professional painter-decorator. 

How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house? 

On average, having the exterior of an average house painted will cost you around £3,300 if you live in a three-bedroom home. This includes:

• Scaffolding: around £1,400
• Painting (includes paint): £1,300
• Other costs e.g. priming and cleaning: £500
• Applying for permission to erect scaffolding: £100

How much do painters charge per day in the UK? 

The day rate of hiring a painter to paint the exterior of your house will vary depending on where you live, but expect to pay in the region of £150-200 per day. If you live in London, expect to pay a day rate at the higher end of this range, with the average London day rate for a painter currently sitting at £190, according to Checkatrade. 

Some painters may charge an hourly rather than day rate - expect to pay around £25-30 per hour.

How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house yourself? 

The main thing to work out when costing an exterior paint job is how much paint you’ll need. 

Jimmy Englezos, DIY and painting pro and Senior Brand Manager at Ronseal, explains that the amount of paint you’ll need ‘will depend on whether your home is masonry, brick, stone, shiplap or cement renders.’

First, let’s take an average three-bed semi-detached house as a case study. The average size of a three-bed semi-detached house is 90 square metres. One five-litre tin of masonry paint coves 10 square metres in two coats, meaning you’d need ‘around 18 litres, or two 10-litre tubs, for a home face lift.’

A 10-litre tub of masonry tub from B&Q costs £20-£50 (the higher-end masonry paint can provide extra benefits like an ultra-smooth finish or waterproofing and UV protection). So, the total cost of masonry paint for an average three-bed home would be around £40-100.

This is assuming that your house exterior has a smooth(ish) finish to begin with. Bear in mind that ‘shiplap and other rougher materials, given their coarse nature, will halve the coverage of the paint. The cracks and crevices soak up a large amount of the paint compared to other smoother surfaces where the paint will go further.’ So, if you have a coarse render or cladding to your exterior, add an extra tub of paint.

You will have to also factor in the cost of masonry paint brushes and rollers, a safety helmet , a ladder, caulk, filler or mortar, protective sheets and masking tape. Altogether, expect to pay an extra £300-500 for all the equipment and materials. 

So altogether, a DIY exterior house painting job will cost you in the region of £350-600. 

 Is it worth painting your house exterior yourself? 

Absolutely, if you are prepared to put in the time and effort to paint your home exterior yourself. Englezos admits that “painting the exterior of your home is no easy undertaking’, nor is a masonry makeover ‘a quick job’. If you want to achieve a great-looking façade, you’ll likely spend several weeks painting - less than that if you have help from family or a friend. 

The hardest thing about painting the exterior of a house is the sheer amount of painting you’ll have to do, and the potential physical difficulty if you have tricky nooks and crannies that need painting. Shiplap or other types of cladding will be more difficult to paint than straightforward brick on concrete, so be realistic about your own abilities and how much time you have to paint your home.

You will need to think about safety and plan ahead. As a bare minimum, you will have to buy a sturdy ladder and a helmet.

Ultimately, ‘you don’t have to fork out for a professional, as long as you research and plan before getting started.’

How long does it take to paint a 3-bed house?

An average three-bedroom house should take about 3-4 days to paint by a team of two to three painters. That said, if your house is larger than average, has multiple stories, or is more unusual structurally, it may take closer to 5-7 days to do the job properly. What you don’t want is a hasty paint job that will start chipping in a matter of months; if you have to pay for a couple of more days but the house then will not need another paint job for a decade, you will save more in the long run. 

Set on DIY painting a house? Expect it to take at least a week, and typically longer than that (allow two weeks if doing it the first time), unless you are already skilled at exterior painting. 

Which will you choose? A more expensive but quicker (and probably better) professionally done facade makeover? Or are you itching to test your DIY skills? It's completely up to you, but be aware of the compromises involved with either option.. 

Learning how to paint a textured ceiling might not be high on most of our DIY to-do lists these days.

Textured ceilings may have fallen out of fashion when it comes to on-trend decorating ideas, but the need to engage professionals for sample testing and the inherent risk of asbestos exposure often deters homeowners from considering texture removal, opting instead to skim over them or freshen up by just painting the room instead.

I’m going to cut to the chase, painting ceilings is not my favorite job. The risk of raining paint splats, combined with awkward-angled neck stretching doesn’t make for a relaxing time.

Throw in a textured surface to the ceiling and you’ll see many a fair-weather decorator running for the hills, but with some preparation and the right tools and materials, it’s a job that can be accomplished in a day (or less) and one that you’ll definitely be glad that you put in the effort for. 

In fact, the only key difference to painting any other ceiling is that your roller needs a longer, denser nap to get into all of those crevices.

Textured or ‘popcorn’ ceilings were very popular from the late 1950s to the 1990s due to their improved acoustic properties and ability to hide imperfections. 

The power of a fresh coat of paint shouldn’t be underestimated, especially with textured ceilings which can start to look dated and tatty without attention. Carefully chosen paint colors can help blend a textured ceiling in with the room and when part of a cohesive and considered interior scheme, a textured ceiling definitely feels less like a hangover from the ‘80s. 

While there are ways to make a ceiling or walls smooth without plastering, time, effort and budget can mean a lick of paint is the way to go. So how do you tackle painting a textured ceiling?

Why is painting texture different to a smooth ceiling?

The first potential issue is that the texture can start to detach from the ceiling if it gets wet or in this case too saturated with paint. This can be prevented by not overloading or overworking the surface with the brush or roller and minimizing the number of passes over the same spot. 

The second challenge is that grooves and ridges in the texture make it harder to get good coverage and can result in patchiness requiring multiple coats. This issue can be reduced by going slow and steady and choosing suitable paint. 

Helen Johnson, Owner and Director of Decorating Centre Online advises, ‘The Tikkurila anti-reflex paint is fantastic for ceilings and comes highly recommended by decorators. It is high opacity so requires fewer coats, and has a non-dripping/splashing formula which should prevent any mess. It’s also good for preventing flashing so you shouldn’t see any patchiness once painted.’ 

Should I use a roller or a brush on a textured ceiling?

You actually need to use both to paint a textured ceiling. Choose a good paint brush for cutting in around the edges of the ceiling which you can't do neatly with a roller. The main body of the ceiling should be painted with a synthetic roller with a medium pile (nap) to get the best coverage of paint over the uneven surface. 

Consider using an extension pole to save climbing up and down and moving a step ladder around the room, or even a painter’s scaffolding frame if you have very high ceilings. Painting a ceiling can be an uncomfortable job and your neck and back will thank you for planning ahead and investing in the right tools.

Ok, so now you’re psyched up and ready to go, here’s a handy step-by-step guide to help you achieve professional-looking results. 

Before you start

The products, such as Artex, that were used to create textured ceilings often contained Asbestos which was added for strength. Asbestos is not harmful if undisturbed, it’s only in fine-dust form (resulting from sanding for example) that it becomes a potential threat, as the fibers can be breathed in and go on to cause life-threatening health conditions.

Asbestos was banned in 1989 in the US and 1999 in the UK and ceilings installed prior to those dates have a high risk associated with them. Therefore, unless your textured ceiling has been professionally tested, or you know for certain that it doesn’t contain asbestos you should take great care when painting not to disturb the textured surface.

You will need:

• Vacuum for duster
• Damp sponge
• Sugar soap or degreaser
• Medium pile roller and frame (I used this one)
• Paint (I chose Tikkurila Anti Reflex White Matt from the Decorating Centre)
• Paint tray
• Paint brush (we love this Hamilton cutting in brush)
• Painter's tape (ScotchBlue multisurface was the right adhesion in my case)
• Dust sheets/drop sheets

How to paint a textured ceiling: step-by-step

1. Cleaning the ceiling

Remove surface dust by vacuuming the ceiling area with a soft brush attachment if you have one. Alternatively, a microfiber duster will work and can be attached to the end of a pole if required for high ceilings. 

Once dusted, it’s a good idea to wipe over the surface with a cleaning detergent to ensure any grease or grime is removed, as this will prevent the paint from adhering well. The key is not to soak the ceiling, so spray the degreaser onto your cloth or sponge and lightly wipe the textured surface before allowing it to dry.

This should do the trick, but find out how to clean painted walls (or ceilings) for stubborn staining.

2. Protect your room

Protect the walls and floor with dust sheets. Masking tape around the perimeter of the ceiling and along adjoing walls. 

Top tip: Use masking tape to attach dust sheets to the wall to cover items that cannot be removed i.e. wall lights. You can also cover things like this with a plastic bag, held on with tape.

3. Begin painting by cutting in

Use a paint brush to ‘cut in’ around the edge of the ceiling. Apply gentle pressure and don't saturate any textured areas, as this could cause them to disintegrate. 

4. Paint with the roller

Load the roller up with a good amount of paint and apply enough pressure to cover the texture in a single sweep if possible.

Top tip: Line your paint tray with foil to make cleaning up a breeze and save washing any leftover paint down the sink. 

5. Check the results

Once the paint has been applied, carefully check the whole surface for patchiness or missed spots before you start clearing up. There is nothing more annoying than spotting a rogue patch which didn’t get properly coated with paint later down the line and the shapes and shadows of the texture can make it harder to spot than on a smooth ceiling. 

Top tip: Check the ceiling with the room lights turned on and off as the change in light can make it easier to spot missed areas. 

6. Clean up

Once you are happy with the finish you can remove the masking tape and dust sheets and pack away your tools and materials. Don't forget to clean your rollers and wash your paint brushes. Then it’s time to put your feet up and admire the results of your hard work.   

Painting a popcorn ceiling

There are all sorts of textured surfaces in older homes. Sometimes it might just be a rough plastering job with a bit of character, but in other cases, you will find textured finishes like Artex, woodchip, and – one of the most infamous – popcorn ceiling.

If you'd rather not remove a popcorn ceiling and simply paint over your textured fifth wall, you'll need to tackle it slightly differently to a smooth surface.

Anna Franklin, interior designer and founder of Stone House Collective comments 'If you have a heavily textured, popcorn ceiling, extra precautions will need to be taken when preparing to paint. Before painting, make sure you are mindful of the amount of paint on the paint roller, and practice on a test board, etc. to ensure you know how much paint you are adding to a roller before starting. These types of ceilings require a thick coat of paint, but if you use too much and soak the ceiling “popcorn,” the texture can weaken and potentially fall.'

Real Homes' blogger and DIY expert Carol J Alexander adds, 'If you opt to leave the popcorn ceiling, you can paint it or cover it with another material. Before painting, vacuum well with a brush attachment to remove dust and cobwebs. Next, choose a paint specifically designed for ceilings but purchase about 20 percent extra to cover the texture. Applying the paint is easier with a paint sprayer, but use a roller if you’ve never used a sprayer before. Benjamin Moore suggests a ¾”-1” nap for textured ceilings.' You can find a variety of ¾”-1 naps on Amazon.

What is the best paint for a textured ceiling?

You can use the same paint as your walls, but we recommend choosing a higher viscosity paint if possible. If you go for a thinner paint, you will find it flicks off the roller more easily and is more likely to create a mess of adjoining walls or the floor.

The paint finish you choose will depend on the look you want. Most people choose a matt finish as it reduces the reflection of light which can emphasize the texture of the ceiling. Anything with more sheen will bring out the texture.

In a moist environment such as a bathroom or kitchen, you will need paint that is suited to the humidity though, so this may have more of an eggshell or satin finish. 

I’ve never been a fan of white uPVC doors. I know they tick a lot of ‘sensible’ boxes as they are durable, secure, and easy to clean, but in my opinion, these practical advantages often come at the expense of aesthetic appeal and I’m allowed to say that as the (not so proud) owner of one! 

The offending door has been minding its own business in our kitchen for the last six years and for most of that time the kitchen was also white, so it blended in pretty well and I was able to ignore it. Then came the budget kitchen revamp with grayish-green cabinets, tubular peninsula texture, microcement countertops, and black accents, and suddenly the dated door stood out like a sore thumb and I just couldn’t ignore it anymore. I also couldn’t justify the cost of a new door, particularly as not only was there nothing actually wrong with this one and it was still ticking all those aforementioned boxes. There was only one thing for it… a budget makeover, which if you follow my Instagram you will know that a pocket-friendly DIY project is one of my favorite kinds... 

How to upgrade a uPVC door?

Painting a door will always make a grand difference, then for extra style points, you can add some faux crittall detailing and reeded glass film like I do here. This makeover was such a fun one and was super quick and simple to complete which is always a bonus.

As when painting uPVC window frames, there are many paint ranges specifically formulated for this job and you don't have to look far on social media to find lots of examples of completed projects, but a simple paint job wasn’t going to cut it for this particular door which had the added disadvantage of being directly opposite quite an ugly wall. 

Sadly, as the wall belongs to our neighbor, our glow-up options were limited so I decided that rather than try and change the view, I would hide it, by adding some clever and stylish (more boxes ticked) reeded effect glass film that I found from Glass Films. They make a bunch of different style privacy films, but the reeded one really caught my eye.  

Reeded glass glow-up

In the past, reeded glass doors were often unattainable on a modest-sized budget, not anymore though, thanks to the invention of this brilliant glass film which not only looks fab but also provides privacy and in our case hides the less than appealing view on the other side of the door. I recommend using the install kit as it made the application of the film, which is crucial to a good end result, a lot easier.

• DIY level: Novice
• Time: Weekend
• Budget: Low

How to paint a UPVC door and add Crittall-style detail

Painting a uPVC door that’s less than a year old is not recommended due to the resins from the manufacturing process affecting the adhesion of the paint.

If your door is an external door and exposed to the elements then you’ll need to choose weatherproof paint, check the tin for application instructions. 

1. Prep the door

Clean and dry both sides of the door from top to bottom using diluted washing-up liquid. Scrape the surface of the glass and use a squeegee to dry. Lightly sand (key) the door frame to allow for better adhesion. Apply painter's tape around the edge of the door frame, the lock, and the hinges.

2. Paint

Apply two or three coats of multi-purpose or uPVC paint, I used Rust-Oleum Universal Paint in Matt Black, allowing time in between for each layer to fully dry.

Top Tip: When painting, always peel off the painter's tape before the final coat dries. 

Don't worry if the first coat doesn’t cover well, that’s normal when painting a uPVC door, the second coat will look much better. You don’t have to paint both sides of the door, but if you leave one side white, you will need to paint the baton you apply to that side white also to match. 

3. Apply glass film

Measure and cut the desired size of glass film, allowing an extra 20mm. (I only covered one side of the door and that worked perfectly, but you could add to both sides if you prefer.) Spray installation fluid onto hands and remove the protective liner of the glass film. Spray the adhesive side of the glass film all over with the installation fluid ensuring the whole surface is covered. Spray the glass with installation fluid, again ensuring there are no dry patches. 

Place the wet, adhesive side of the film against the glass lining up with the top of the door. Spray the front of the glass film with the installation spray, so the squeegee won’t stick to it. 

Work down the center of the glass and use the squeegee to press the water out behind the film. Once the glass film is sealed against the glass, cut it down to fit using the green card squeegee and ‘snap off knife’. Once the film has been trimmed, continue to remove the remaining water up to the edges of the pane. Use a cloth to dry the edges once the water has been removed. 

4. Add strips of wood molding

Choose the formation you want for the faux Crittall effect on your door and measure the lengths of wood molding that you will need. Cut the strips and lightly sand the sawn ends. Paint the pieces of cut molding with at least two coats of the multi-surface paint you used on the door frame to ensure there is a consistent color and finish. Remember to add the wood strips to both sides of the door, as you will see the glued back of the baton through the glass if you only apply it to one side. 

Position the pieces on the door for a final check before applying glue to the back one at a time. Place each glued strip in position on the door and check with the level before applying firm pressure. Allow the glue to dry.

5. Add the final touches

After the wood molding has dried, check if you have any gaps between the door frame and the painted strips; if you do they can be filled and painted for a super slick finish. And there you have it, a totally transformed door for a fraction of the price of a new one. 

The results:

Knowing how to paint skirting boards in your home is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to update the space. For just the cost of a good primer and high-quality trim paint, you can breathe new life into your home. Whether you’re painting over outdated stains, painting newly installed skirting boards, changing to a new paint colour, or giving them a fresh coat of the same colour, painting your skirting boards is a project that will give that wow factor. And the good news is you can easily do it yourself! 

How to paint skirting boards

The correct order of painting a room like a pro, is to paint skirting boards after you've tackled the ceiling and the walls. Whether you're freshening up a dated room or, helping new skirting boards blend in with a new decor scheme,  this is how to get a professional finish.

1. Select your colour and gather tools

The colour you choose when painting skirting boards will be dependent on your taste of course, however, for a cohesive look throughout your home, try and choose a hue that's in-keeping with the colour you have on the walls. Many people will go for white for a clean finish or grey for a neutral look. Darker colours will give a room more character but if you want a space that feels brighter and larger, go for a lighter shade.

Remember to consider the different types of paint finishes available too. According to Deborah Drew of DIY SOS, when painting skirting boards, you want to 'Use high gloss on skirting boards, doors and woodwork, for more light reflection. Matt finishes are dull and light absorbing. High gloss finishes add depth and are easier to clean.'

A design trend that’s become popular in recent years is to paint walls a lighter shade like white or cream and paint moulding, skirting boards and cabinetry another shade like grey or beige. Still another trend is the monochromatic look where all the skirting boards, trim, and walls are the same colour. This look is especially popular with darker colours like green or charcoal.

Remember to consider the different types of paints for wood and finishes available also. When painting skirting boards, you'll want to use high gloss for better light reflection as they add depth and are easier to clean, unlike if you choose matte paint.

Choose a high-quality paint for trim, preferably an enamel that hardens over time for a lasting finish. Valspar’s Door and Trim Oil-Enriched Enamel available at B&Q and lots of other shops also is a great choice for moulding and skirting boards.

2. Protect your floors

If you’re painting skirting boards that butt up against carpet you have a couple of different options for protecting the carpet from paint. A very effective option is to use an edger. Place the edger down between the carpet and the skirting board at an angle so you can reach in with the paintbrush. Slide the edger down the wall painting the boards as you go. 

You can of course use painter's tape if this isn't an option. In which case you should vacuum the carpet so there’s no dust or debris on it, use wide-set masking tape and apply it along the carpet‘s edge. 

You can do the same with a dust sheet, fitting it as close to the skirting boards as you can. Alternatively, slide a thin piece of cardboard under the skirting and secure it with tape.

3. Sand down your skirting boards

Some will skip this rule when painting skirting boards but sanding before painting makes for more professional-looking results. Rub down the existing paintwork, using sandpaper along the grain of the wood, most of the time this means sanding in a horizontal direction. You'll then want to fill any holes or cracks, then allow them to dry before sanding them back so that the filler is level with the skirting board.

You may still be able to skip the sanding if your skirting boards are in good shape and you use a high-quality primer like Valspar’s High-Hiding Primer before painting. 

4. Clean your skirting boards thoroughly

Vacuum thoroughly then use a damp cloth to remove every spec of sanding dust or dirt you can, cleaning your skirting boards thoroughly. A sugar soap solution makes this easy.

5. Tape off the perimeter

Use a painting tape like Frog or Scotch blue painter’s tape to tape the wall just above the skirting boards so you don’t get paint on the walls. If you have hard flooring you’ll want to tape them off, as well. You can also use the edging tool trick mentioned earlier for this instead, if preferred.  

6. Paint on the primer

Again, some skip this step but we think it's crucial to a professional finish if you're painting skirting boards yourself. Without overloading your brush, paint the top half of the skirting board in the direction of the grain.

Start at the door and make your way around the room, then repeat this to paint the remaining bottom half of your skirting boards and the centre. Let this dry thoroughly before you move on to the next step.

7. Start painting the skirting

Paint the skirting board in the same direction you sanded it so that any paintbrush lines go in the direction of the wood grain. This will give you a neater, more professional looking finish. Allow to dry and add another coat if needed.

8. Let it dry

This might take a few hours but it's really important to keep your masking tape in place until the paint is entirely dry, to ensure clean lines when you come to remove it.

9. Remove the tape

When you have finished and the paint is completely dry, gently remove the tape from the carpet and walls. Or fold back the carpet, press down and tack it back into place.

10. Clean up

Pile dust sheets in the washer, close and store any half-empty paint tins and ensure you clean paintbrushes straight away to increase their longevity and help them last until the next time.

The results:

Perfectly painted.

Painting the baseboards in your home is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to update the space. For just the cost of a good primer and high-quality trim paint, you can breathe new life into your home. Whether you’re painting over outdated stains, painting newly installed baseboards, changing to a new paint color, or giving them a fresh coat of the same color, painting your baseboards is a project that will give that wow factor. And the good news is you can easily do it yourself! 

How to paint baseboards

The correct order of painting a room like a pro, is to paint your baseboards after you've tackled the ceiling and the walls. Whether you're freshening up a dated room or, painting new baseboards to help them blend in with your decor scheme.

1. Select your color and gather tools

The color you choose when painting baseboards will be dependent on your taste of course, however, for a cohesive look throughout your home, try and choose a hue that's in-keeping with the color you have on the walls. Many people will go for white for a clean finish or gray for a neutral look. Darker colors will give a room more character but if you want a space that feels brighter and larger, go for a lighter shade.

A design trend that’s become popular in recent years is to paint walls a lighter shade like white or cream and paint trim, baseboards and cabinetry another shade like gray or beige. Still another trend is the monochromatic look where all the baseboards, trim, and walls are the same color. This look is especially popular with darker colors like green or charcoal.

Remember to consider the different types of paints for wood and finishes available also. When painting baseboards, you'll want to use high gloss for better light reflection as they add depth and are easier to clean, unlike if you choose matte paint.

Choose a high-quality trim paint, preferably an enamel that hardens over time for a lasting finish. Valspar’s Door and Trim Oil-Enriched Enamel available at Lowe's and lots of other stores also is a great choice for trim and baseboards.

2. Protect your floors

If you’re painting baseboards that butt up against carpet you have a couple of different options for protecting the carpet from paint. A very effective option is to use an edger. Place the edger down between the carpet and the baseboard at an angle so you can reach in with the paintbrush. Slide the edger down the wall painting the baseboards as you go. 

You can of course use painter's tape if this isn't an option. In which case you should vacuum the carpet so there’s no dust or debris on it, use wide-set masking tape and apply it along the carpet‘s edge. 

You can do the same with a dust sheet, fitting it as close to the baseboard as you can. Alternatively, slide a thin piece of cardboard under the baseboard and secure it with tape.

3. Sand down your baseboards

Some will skip this rule when painting baseboards but sanding before painting makes for more professional-looking results. Rub down the existing paintwork, using sandpaper along the grain of the wood, most of the time this means sanding in a horizontal direction. You'll then want to fill any holes or cracks, then allow them to dry before sanding them back so that the filler is level with the baseboard.

You may still be able to skip the sanding if your baseboards are in good shape and you use a high-quality primer like Valspar’s High-Hiding Primer before painting. 

4. Clean your baseboards thoroughly

Vacuum thoroughly then use a damp cloth to remove every spec of sanding dust or dirt you can, cleaning your baseboards thoroughly. A sugar soap solution makes this easy.

5. Tape off the perimeter

Use a painting tape like Frog or Scotch blue painter’s tape to tape the wall just above the baseboard so you don’t get paint on the walls. If you have hard flooring you’ll want to tape them off, as well. You can also use the edging tool trick mentioned earlier for this instead, if preferred.  

6. Paint on the primer

Again, some skip this step but we think it's crucial to a professional finish if you're painting baseboards yourself. Without overloading your brush, paint the top half of the baseboard in the direction of the grain. 

Start at the door and make your way round the room, then repeat this to paint the remaining bottom half of your baseboards and the center. Let this dry thoroughly before you move on to the next step. 

7. Start painting your baseboards

Paint the baseboard in the same direction you sanded it so that any paintbrush lines go in the direction of the wood grain. This will give you a neater, more professional-looking finish. Allow to dry and add another coat if needed.

8. Let them dry

This might take a few hours but it's really important to keep your painter's tape in place until the paint is entirely dry, to ensure clean lines when you come to remove it.

9. Remove the tape

When you have finished and the paint is completely dry, gently remove the tape from the carpet and walls. Or fold back the carpet, press down and tack it back into place.

10. Tidy up

Pile dust sheets in the washer, close and store any half-empty paint tins and ensure you clean paintbrushes straight away to increase their longevity and help them last until the next time.

The results:

Perfectly painted.

Painting a bathroom may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Giving a bathroom a fresh coat of paint is a great way to update the space and make it feel clean. Armed with the right tools and preparation tips you’ll be able to paint your bathroom like a pro. 

When you're painting rooms around your home, the bathroom might be last on your list – what with damp concerns and awkward corners to get around. But we’ll walk you through everything you need to know from what kind of paint to use, tips for painting bathroom cabinets and ceilings plus different options for painting around a toilet! 

How to paint a bathroom yourself

For the most part, it's all about choosing the right paint to withstand humidity. You then need to carefully prime and prep the walls for smooth, pro results. You want to choose either one of the best bathroom paints or a high-quality regular paint with more solids for better durability. 

When painting a bathroom you want to use a semi-gloss finish. This finish repels water and keeps mold from growing, which can be a problem in a bathroom due to the humidity – useful in all homes and most especially if your home is historic.

Of course, it goes without saying that you'll also want to pick a color that will help bring your favorite bathroom ideas to life. And if you’re going with white in the bathroom like we have here, Valspar’s The Perfect White Semi-Gloss Paint is a great option! 

1. Gather tools and materials for crisp edges

For an expert finish, you need the right tools too and you won't want to skimp on quality as it could impact the finish, not giving you crisp lines and making it harder to apply paint in the first place. These are the essentials when painting a bathroom yourself:

2. Protect the floor 

Put your plastic sheeting down to protect the floors and start taping off baseboards, trim, the sink, and any cabinetry. 

Once you’ve laid your protective sheeting on the floor you need to decide if you want to remove the toilet tank so you can paint behind it. Toilets typically come in two pieces so you can remove the tank without removing the base. This will enable you to be able to get a full finish on the back wall without having to paint around the tank, which can be difficult. If you’re not wanting to remove the tank, be sure to tape it off so you don’t get paint on the tank while reaching behind with the paintbrush. 

3. Clean and prepare surfaces

Bathroom walls can become filthy over time and a buildup of soap scum is highly likely. You should clean walls as best you can by using sugar soap to remove any residue can you stop the paint from peeling in the long run. 

Now you’re ready to tape off the trim and around the shower and vanity so you don’t get paint on these surfaces. 

4. Cut in and paint the ceiling

If you’re giving the ceiling a fresh coat of paint along with the walls, you need to purchase a paint that is specifically for ceilings. It typically comes in a flat or matte finish and is made to last for years to come. A great option for ceiling paint is Behr Interior Ceiling Flat in Ultra Pure White. 

As with any painting job you'll want to cut in for even distribution. Start this when painting the ceiling of the bathroom. 'After stirring the paint thoroughly to ensure it is fully mixed, apply to the ceiling line, taking care not to leave a thick edge. It’s ok to come down onto the wall at this stage as you will be painting over this with the wall color. Using a roller, start rolling in the ceiling area evenly, overlapping by 50% as you go. Start from your strongest source of light (usually a window) and work away from it until the ceiling is coated.' 

If you're using a different color for the walls and ceiling, try to not take your roller down to the walls when painting the ceiling.

You’ll want to give your ceilings at least two coats of paint. If you’re going from a dark ceiling to a light ceiling you may need to prime first. 

5. Painting the bathroom walls

First, decide whether a coat of primer is in order. Many paints come with a built-in primer so you may be able to skip this step if the current paint color isn’t drastically different from the new color you’ve chosen. If you’re going from a dark color to a lighter color, you’ll probably need to use a primer. 

Note: If your walls are newly sheetrocked, you always need to prime first. 

To start on the bathroom walls, you’ll want to cut in around the trim, vanity, and shower using a high-quality trim brush. Once you’ve applied the first coat, move onto rolling the walls. 

Choose a roller that will work best for the texture on your walls. If your walls are flat you can go with a smaller nap, but if you have a heavy texture on your walls you’ll want to use a thicker nap to get into the details of the texture.

Give your walls a coat of paint and then move back to the trim where you cut in and give it a second coat.

Top tip: While the paint is still wet, remove the tape. This will ensure it doesn’t pull off your fresh coat of paint.

Go back and give your walls a second coat of paint with the roller. Allow the paint to dry and check for any touch-ups that need to be made.

How to paint bathroom cabinets

If you’re also wanting to paint your bathroom cabinets, you’ll need to purchase a paint specifically made for cabinets like Valspar Cabinet and Furniture Enamel. 

If your cabinets have never been painted before, you’ll want to give them a coat of high-quality primer before you paint them. Remove the doors and drawers and label them to make sure you install them back in the correct place when finished. 

Using a foam roller and trim brush for details will give you the best finish. You’ll want to give the cabinets at least two coats for a flawless finish.

The results:

How do you paint a small bathroom?

You simply need to ensure you have everything that needs protecting well taped off. Neat edges will show the difference between someone who knows how to paint a bathroom like a pro and someone who's rushed through it with not much thought and prep. Some would say a smaller bathroom makes for better-looking results as you're more likely to get the paint on the walls fast, allowing you time to take off the painter's tape before the paint dries to stop any peeling. If your bathroom is small, think about using light bathroom color ideas for a spacious feel and you could even consider painting tiles too for more character. If space is super tight, consider removing the toilet tank for better movement when DIYing.

Do I always need to prime bathroom walls before painting?

It depends on the condition of your walls. You'll need to clean them anyhow and if they are in good shape, a skim coat (very light coating of paint) should suffice. If you're fixing holes in the wall ahead of painting then you may want to consider a bathroom wall specific primer. We spoke to the experts at Farrow & Ball about how to paint a bathroom for professional looking results. 'Before painting starts, all areas should be cleaned to remove any surface contaminants and any imperfections should be sanded down, prepared, and filled at this stage. Priming the walls with one coat of our Wall and Ceiling Primer and Undercoat will create a good base for applying the topcoat and help assist the color change if the walls have been previously painted.' 

And, admire your work!

Painting a garage door is very straightforward and is an excellent project for a beginner to tackle. As usual, the key to success is in the prep, and spending a bit of extra time getting the surface smooth and clean will pay dividends. 

Whatever type of garage door you have – metal, steel, fiberglass or wood – paint will refresh its appearance but also help maintain the door's condition. What's more, it will work wonders to up your home's curb appeal all while avoiding the costs of replacing a garage door altogether...

A garage door is sizeable enough to make a major impact on the exterior design of a home. And while the interior might be used for your vehicles, as a workshop, for storage or, in some garage conversions, simply be left as part of the facade, because of its dimensions, sprucing up the door by painting it is worth spending a little time and money on.

How to paint a garage door

When it comes to what paint to use, my top tip is to use Rustoleum All-surface paint as it is suitable for wood & metal doors & is a paint and primer in one which saves money and time. Rustoleum also offers a wide variety of colors which is a win as I find standard garage door paint often comes in a limited range of shades. It’s also easy to apply with a roller or a brush and doesn’t drip.

1. Clean the doors

Begin by cleaning the doors off. A diluted sugar soap solution or simply warm soapy water will do the job – ensure any product is well rinsed off before the doors are left to thoroughly dry.

Top tip: If your garage door has grooves like this one, then a stiff tile grout scrubbing brush like this Addis one from Amazon is great for cleaning out the grooves.

2. Remove door furniture

Either remove the garage door handles, hinges and brackets or use masking tape to cover them up.

3. Sand and prep

Sand the doors down. In the case of flaking metal garage doors, you might need a wire brush. For timber doors, a fine or medium grade sandpaper will do the job. Ensure there is no loose material left on the doors and wipe down again.

Top Tip: If the paint is peeling badly, a putty knife is a handy tool to scrape the paint from the door quickly.

4. Prime the doors

Unless you are using a product that doubles up as a primer, begin by priming the doors. A large paintbrush (between 3in and 5in) is a good choice for this job – it is hard to get in between panels using a roller. Let dry completely having first checked for any paint runs.

5. Paint the doors

Paint the garage doors using a large brush, using a smaller model for the edges of the doors. It should not be necessary to remove the doors for painting, even in the case of ‘up and over’ designs. Paint from top to bottom in the case of vertical panel doors, or from the top then side-to-side with horizontal panels. Two coats will usually be required – allow to dry thoroughly between coats.

Top tip:  A 4-inch roller makes light work of painting the flat panels and as long as it is not overloaded with paint, it will create a smoother finish than a brush.

6. Leave the paint to dry

Leave the doors to dry for at least 12 hours before using – or for the time stated on the paint you have chosen.

7. Clean up

Clean brushes using a solvent such as white spirit.

Top tip: To save washing the roller tray out (and pouring chemicals down the drain) cover the tray with a bag. Once you've finished painting, allow the residue paint to dry on the bag and place it in the bin. You might even be able to feel the dried paint off the bag and reuse it and there are lots more safe and eco-friendly ways to dispose of paint also.

How to paint a garage door to look like wood

If you want to paint your garage door so that it looks as if it’s made from wood, you will need to work with two different paint colors to create the faux finish. You might want to do a test run on a piece of board before you get started on the garage door to perfect your technique.

Prepare and prime the door as above, then use a matt base paint with a warm mid brown tone. Allow to dry thoroughly. 

Working in a small area of the door first, apply a dark brown paint. Then, take a clean, lint-free cloth and use it to wipe the darker paint, revealing the lighter paint color below until you get a wood effect you like. 

Repeat the process over subsequent sections of the door to create a consistent color from one to another.

Allow the paint to dry thoroughly. You can add a matt clear finish above for extra durability if desired.

Prefer an all-in-one kit that will allow you to give a garage door a faux wood finish? Check out the Giani Wood Look Garage Door Paint Kit.

How to paint glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and fiberglass garage doors

Fiberglass doors can be painted, but they are not structurally as strong as the alternatives, so before deciding to go to the effort of repainting, do check that their condition has not deteriorated beyond repair.

When sanding GRP or fiberglass, wear a mask and go gently – a brillo pad, wire wool or very soft sandpaper will be enough.

Fiberglass can be resistant to paint, so use a good bonding primer and a paint recommended for fiberglass.

Do I need to prime a garage door before painting?

Generally, you will need to prime a garage door before painting. It’s part of the preparation work for the project and helps ensure you get good and lasting results.

A primer will prepare the surface of the door for the topcoat, preventing peeling and flaking of the new paint, and getting it ready for a color change. Using primer is particularly important if you are going to be using a much darker shade than before. It can also be vital for galvanized steel doors, which are difficult for paints to adhere to. 

The exception to the priming rule is where you are using a paint that is designed to be used as primer and topcoat in one (see above). So if you use my recommended paint (Rustoleum All-surface), there is no need to use a separate primer. However, with most standard garage door paints you will need to apply a primer first. 

What kind of paint do you use on a garage door?

Which paint you should use to paint a garage door depends on what the door is made from. Using a primer first will often be necessary (see below), although some paints do not require this. Check the tin for details.

You could use an acrylic paint that is specifically for garage doors. Alternatively, select a paint made for external wood, metal, steel or fiberglass as appropriate depending on what your garage door is made from. 

Bear in mind that in the case of galvanized steel garage doors it is particularly important to check that the paint you are using is suitable as not all metal paints last well on a galvanized surface.

There are specific garage door paints out there:

• Paint for wood and metal garages: Hammerite’s Garage Door Paint and Dulux Weathershield.
• Paint for galvanized garage doors: Bedec Barn Paint – plus it comes in a range of finishes such as matt, satin and semi-gloss. 
• Satin finish paint for garage doors: Zinsser Allcoat Exterior Satin – another product we like for painting garage doors.
• Two-in-one primer and paint: Hammerite Direct to Galvanised Metal Paint. 

Is it better to paint a garage door with a brush or roller?

This depends on the design and surface structure of your door. If you have lots of grooves or detailing, you will definitely need a brush for those areas, but generally, my advice is to use a roller where you can.

How much does it cost to paint a garage door?

Paint the garage door yourself and a little time and expenditure can deliver great results. Expect to pay from around $15 a quart (£14 per liter) for the paint you‘ll need for the door. You might want to go for a specialist kit to give your garage door a wood look as an alternative. Take this option and you can expect to pay around $70 (£50).  

If you decide to call in the professionals to paint your garage door, the job should take no longer than a day, depending on the condition of the door and weather allowing. Therefore you’ll likely pay from around $150 to $550 and upwards, depending on the size of the door (£120 to £200 plus, not including paint in the UK). Some companies offer a garage door spraying service too.

Learning how to dispose of paint correctly is essential for anyone who is DIY painting their home, renovating, or even just painting furniture or a deck during the summer. The trouble with paint is that it’s often left unfinished in the can. Before long, you have a garage full of unfinished cans of paint and don’t really know what to do with it. Do you chuck it in your household trash? Do you need to take it to some kind of a special recycling center? 

So, whether you have a whole collection of the best paints for furniture, or you’ve repainted all of your walls and still have some leftover, here’s how to dispose of paint the right way, according to a painting professional.  

How to dispose of paint

1. Transfer leftover paint into mason jars 

Mason jar DIY ideas have been around for a while now, but did you know that you can store your leftover paint in them? Transferring your paint into a mason jar means that you’ll be able to dispose of the paint can by recycling it, but you can reuse your paint at a future point and store it in a much nicer container. Paige NeJame is the owner of Certa Pro Painters, a large painting company near Boston and recommends saving any paint you have left over ‘for touch-ups’ - we like mason jars because they’re easy to store, pretty and simple to pull out of a cabinet if you have a scratch or ding you need to paint.’ 

Walls and furniture do get scratched, so it’s always a good idea to have some of the same paint you’ve used ready for small repairs, rather than having to buy a whole new can you won’t finish. Storing your paint in mason jars will also mean you can keep them in your utility room, displayed neatly on a shelf. 

 2. Try to only buy the paint you need 

This leads us to the next point. It’s much easier to dispose of an empty can of paint, so buying as close to the exact amount you’ll need as possible is always the best course of action. NeJame advises that ‘you will need about 1 gallon of paint for about 350 square feet per coat of paint. If you need 2 coats, you’ll need double that.’ Doing the math on how much paint you’ll need ‘upfront ensures that you have very little paint left over.’ 

Top tip: if you're painting your whole house, go for the largest can you can get, usually a five-gallon. That way, you'll have one can to recycle afterward. 

 3. Consider donating your paint 

As with most things, the paint you’re about to throw away may be useful to someone else, and many people will happily buy a half-used can of paint for their own DIY needs at a reduced price. NeJame’s top tip for disposing of paint this way is to donate it to Habitat for Humanity stores -  ‘the stores are called “ReStore’’’ - they ‘will take your old paint and resell it to people to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.’

If you’re in the UK, you can donate your leftover paint to a charity called Community RePaint. Householders can drop off their paint at participating household waste and recycling centres, where their paint will be picked up by a nearby Community RePaint scheme for reuse in the community. The Community RePaint website has a useful recycling centre finder, too. 

Finally, you can arrange for someone who needs the paint to pick it up from you via Freecycle.

4. Harden the paint before taking it to your local recycling center 

If you can’t find a suitable new home for your unused paint and want to dispose of it, do not put your paint in the trash or pour it down the drain. Instead, you will need to either take your paint to a recycling center or arrange for a special collection of your paint (you’ll need to check with your local authority if they do those and how to arrange for one). 

Recycling facilities do not accept liquid waste, so you will need to pour the paint out of the can (which can then be recycled) and harden it. Ne Jame advises that ‘ If you need to dry it out, mix some kitty litter, wood shavings or shredded paper in the bucket, The paint will solidify/dry out in about 10 minutes.’

Top tip: ‘To recycle a metal paint can it can have a little bit of dried paint (about ½”), and you can put it in with the metal recycling.’

Some paint retailers will also accept your leftover paint for recycling. Check Lowes in the US and B&Q in the UK. 

 Is paint classed as hazardous waste? 

Yes. Paint is classed as hazardous waste for two reasons. The first is that the VOCs and heavy metals contained in paint are hazardous to the environment. For this reason, paint must never come into direct contact with soil or water sources. The second is that oil-based paint is flammable and poses a fire risk at landfills. 

Can I be fined for dumping paint in the trash? 

Yes. In both the US and UK, illegal dumping/illegal waste disposal are offenses subject to fines and, in extreme cases with repeat offending, even subject to felony charges. You have to dispose of paint correctly to avoid these unpleasant consequences. Fortunately, as we’ve seen, there are quite a few options for disposing of leftover paint safely and correctly – the fact that you can help charities with your paint donations is even better. 

A good paint tray makes it easy to decorate or redecorate your living quarters. You will want a paint tray that lasts a long time so that you can reuse it in between DIY projects. A good paint tray will also be durable to protect against leaks, and flexible for different kinds of home painting projects.

We surveyed several kinds of paint trays to see which ones are best for you. Our top pick is the Hynec paint tray due to the number of tools included for different painting needs. But the other picks in this list will help you out around the house, too, so do be sure to check them out.

Bottom line

Our top pick is the Hynec paint tray because it has tools available for virtually any household painting job. Between the high-quality rollers and the reusable sleeves, you will have a set that you can keep in storage and roll out again and again in different rooms. The wealth of tools in the set let you cover everything from large walls to tight corners, providing maximum flexibility for your dollar.

The other paint trays are also worthy of your consideration. The ProDec paint tray is built for reusability, including acrylic refills and a compact kit size for tight painting jobs. The Maxim paint tray has strength in simplicity, with a minimalist, durable painting set designed to hit a budget price point.

Why trust us?

At Real Homes, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Leaning how to paint furniture properly will help you breathe new life into old wooden pieces around the home. Whether you want a chalk, matt or gloss finish, there are endless possibilities and there are a ton of great paints for furniture out there right now for you to choose from – to suit the piece you're working on and complement your interior design scheme also.

Painting furniture is a pretty basic DIY project that can be fun to do plus, it means that you can salvage and upgrade pieces that may otherwise have ended up in landfill.

Whether you want to paint wood, laminate or metal furniture, are working on a dated family heirloom or sprucing up a recent gem you found on eBAY, Facebook Marketplace or a vintage store, get clued up on how to prime and paint your piece properly for professional looking results. 

What kind of paint do you use on furniture?

There are so many different products and techniques you can use to treat paint old furniture. When it comes to paint, Rustoleum has a great line of spray paint made for furniture with a built-in primer for better coverage and less coats. You can use it on metal and laminate furniture, too, with great results. 

Valspar which you can find at Home Depot also has paint that’s made specifically for cabinets and furniture and does a beautiful job. Then you have several different lines of chalk paint to consider, as well as milk paint and even mud paint! 

Chalk paint is another great type of paint for furniture because you typically don’t have to prime and it’s easy to work with. It dries fast and you usually only need two coats. You can mix colors together to create new shades or create a two-tone effect by using one color on the base and another color on the drawers/doors.

For this DIY, we used Lazy Linen country chic chalk style paint which you can find on Amazon.

How to paint furniture step-by-step

We're painting a tired old wooden buffet for this DIY, but you can apply the same method when tackling console tables, hutches, chairs and more – be they metal, laminate or another material.

1. Prepare for painting

You will need a damp cloth, sugar soap, fine grade sandpaper and, if your piece is very old and is in need of more comprehensive cleaning, white vinegar. When it comes to sanding, there are two main options: sanding by hand or with a power sander. Coarse sandpaper (about 120 grit) is more efficient than fine sandpaper; however, if you are working on your first paint job, you may want to consider using finer sandpaper. It will take you longer, but there is less chance of overdoing it and gouging the surface. Always work in the same direction as the grain of the wood. 

Start by removing any old handles using a screwdriver, and taking any drawers out of the frame to make them easier to paint.

To remove stubborn stains, use a solution of vinegar (two tablespoons per 250ml); test a small area of your furniture first.

If you want handles that are a different shape or size to the old ones, used wood filler to fill the old holes. Make sure you do both sides and let the filler dry thoroughly.

Then, move on to sanding – you can use fine grade sandpaper by hand or with a power sander. Sand down any wood filler until smooth and lightly sand all surfaces that will be painted.

Finally, wipe down the surfaces you’re painting with sugar soap, this helps the paint to stick.

2. Prime your furniture

If you have a piece of furniture that has a dark stain finish you will want to prime first, especially if painting it white. Otherwise the stain will bleed through the finish. The primer will block the stain and allow you to create a beautiful finish with any paint you choose to use.

It can be tempting to skip priming, especially with all the high-quality paints around. If you are painting a piece a much lighter color than the original, like this buffet, or are working with deep, red wood tones, such as cherry wood or mahogany, priming is a must. Without a primer, you may find that the original color bleeds into your fresh coat of paint. Previously untreated, new wood may also need to be treated with a knotting solution.  

The only exception to this rule is if you're using indoor-outdoor paint, in which case you can skip the primer.

3. Choose your brush or roller

For flat surfaces and finishing off, always use a small foam roller, which will give you a flatter, brush mark-free finish. 

Choosing the best brush will give you the best possible finish. The general rule is that natural bristle paintbrushes work best for oil-based paints, while synthetic ones are the better choice for water-based paints (natural fibres will absorb the water in the paint and go limp, making the work more difficult). 

4. Mask off areas you're not painting

Use masking tape to protect handles and knobs, or areas, such as the inside of drawers, that aren't to be painted. It can also be used for creating a contrasting frame effect on the outside surfaces of your piece.

Remember to remove the tape in a single sweep while the paint is still wet to avoid peeling. 

5. Apply two light coats of your paint

It can be tempting to do all of your painting in a single coat. Resist that: one coat will not give you the best finish. Instead, apply your top coat in several – or at least two – thin layers. 

Wait for each coat to dry thoroughly, then sand gently before applying your final coat. This will give you the smoothest, longest-lasting finish possible.

Top tip: If your furniture has legs, gently tap nails into the bottom of each of the feet before you paint. This will lift your furniture off the ground and allow you to get a better finish than if it's standing on the floor.

Which paint finish to choose for furniture?

Chalk paint gives a cool, modern look that slots easily into almost any interior style. A type of water-based paint, with a high mineral content, it creates a chic, matt wash of color when applied in a thin coat. Plus, it tends not to make as much of a mess as solvent-based paint; all you need to clean up afterwards is a bit of water, including for your brushes. A bonus point: chalk paint, along with other water-based paints, is a healthier, environmentally friendlier option than solvent-based paints. 

We like Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint  and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Alternative water-based options include Farrow & Ball's Estate eggshell emulsion, which will give you a silk finish, with some sheen.

A traditional oil-based paint, properly applied, will give you a tough, long-lasting finish. Choose a soft, satin sheen rather than a gloss for a look that's on-trend. 

If you want a real durable finish and depth of color, opt for an indoor-outdoor paint. We rate Frenchic's Al Fresco range, which comes in loads of brilliant colous.

To wax or not to wax?

You can leave the matte finish or choose to use a clear or dark wax to protect the finish and add some depth. To apply the wax use a lint-free cloth or wax brush and rub the wax into the painted finish. Continue until the entire piece has been covered. Wipe off any excess wax. Depending on the wax you’re using, you may want to use a buffer after the wax has been applied to give it a nice finish.

It's advisable to use a wax if you are using chalk paint but be aware that once you have applied the wax, there is almost no way to repaint the piece again, as the wax, once adhered, will prevent any new paint from coating your furniture properly. 

If you're using a gloss or satin finish paint, no waxing is necessary. Our pick of the bunch for finishing waxes are Annie Sloan’s Clear Chalk Paint Wax and Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax. 

How to paint metal and laminate

When painting and reviving metal furniture, two things are key: priming with an oil-based primer and using acrylic paint. Other types of paint simply will not last very long on metal and chip off. 

The same rules apply to painting laminate furniture, with one important difference: you will get better results if you sand laminate, both at the prepping stage and after priming. Laminate is very prone to peeling when painted, so two coats are a must, as is a drying period of at least a couple of days. Resist the temptation to re-attach knobs and handles too soon. 

What happens if you don't prep and prime furniture before painting?

Prepping your furniture before painting is one of the most important – in fact, probably the most important – step in the process. If a furniture paint job has not turned out well, it is almost certainly because the piece had not been prepped properly. 

While many furniture paints claim that you do not need any prepping, we think it is always best to over-prepare. There are cases where you may choose to skip the sanding and priming, with decent results. If your piece is quite new, for example, with hardly a chip in sight. If in doubt, however, always opt for proper prepping. 

While painting trim and moldings in your home might not feel like it will have a dramatic effect on a room, it can help create a more polished finish plus, enhancing any decorative architrave you have on display will instantly smarten up your interiors – especially if you have a more historic home.

How you approach the job of painting moldings around your ceiling, walls, windows and doors will very much depend on whether you are working with bare timber, or wood that has been previously painted. But, the overall finish you can achieve is totally worth it. A key part of painting a room, go down the DIY route for a more budget-friendly but super satisfying home improvement.

Do you paint trim first or last?

Some recommend painting moldings before painting walls as it's easier to tape and protect than the wall however, this could actually be more hassle (and mess) than it's worth and we'd recommend painting trim after your walls and ceiling are painted. Kaitlin Madden, Global Editor-in-Chief of Real Homes and savvy DIYer always paints baseboards and other room trim last. 'I always do them after because I feel like it's easier not to get trim paint on walls than it is not to get wall paint on trim, since the wall paint can drip down on the trim.'

What kind of paint do you use on molding?

Before you begin, consider the finish you want to achieve as different paint types will result in different looks, the best paints for wood molding include:

• Gloss paint: As the name suggests this is a high gloss paint for a shiny finish. It has fallen out of favor recently, with many preferring matt finishes as gloss can highlight brushstrokes and imperfections. It wipes down well making it practical for kitchens or bathrooms, but can take a long time to dry when you paint.
• Satin paint: Somewhere between gloss and a matt finish, satin paint tends to be more hardwearing and easier to wipe down than matt finishes. It offers a soft sheen finish.
• Eggshell: Eggshell is nearly matt in finish, but more durable than a flat matt emulsion. It works well on cupboards and doors as it is easy to work with and keep clean.

How to paint trim step-by-step

1. Prepare the area

You will first need to remove or cover furniture that is near or around the woodwork, and also your floors — a dustsheet or old bed sheet is the easiest way to do this. It is also wise to use masking/frog tape between the trim to be painted and the walls and floor it runs up to. 

DIY-er Dori Turner shares a top tip, 'Another alternative to taping off the trim is to use a high-quality trim brush like Wooster and a steady hand to carefully paint the trim.'

2. Treat softwood moldings with knotting pale

Begin by applying a knotting solution to softwood moldings. This prevents sap from leaking out and into your paint finish. 

3. Sand down the trim

You could be tempted to skip this part but, sanding will help the primer and paint absorb well into the grain for a smooth and neat trim finish. At this point, the wood can then be sanded using whichever level grit sandpaper is best for the job: if the woodwork is already pretty smooth use 120-grit and if it's coarse choose 80-grit to start with. Clean it up smooth and blended with a cloth.

4. Fill any cracks and dents

Any screw holes and dents should be filled with wood filler like Pro brand or Gorilla, before the cracks between the wall and the woodwork are filled with caulk and allowed to dry. 

5. Sand again

To smooth the surface again, give moldings a light once over again with 120-grit sandpaper.

6. Prime moldings

Primer is the key to a neat and professional-looking finish when painting trim. Use a wood primer, applying it using a high-quality paintbrush of a thickness that suits the wood you are painting. Depending on the product you use, you may not need to apply a separate undercoat.

Turner adds 'This is a crucial step, especially if you’re painting over dark trim. Using a primer like Valspar’s High Hiding Primer will ensure that the topcoat has a good surface to adhere to and will make your trim look clean and crisp. If your trim is really dark you may want to do two coats of primer before moving onto the topcoat.'

7. Start on the final topcoat

With the primer/undercoats fully dry you can move on to the final topcoat. Work with the grain of the wood and avoid the temptation to overload your brush. Depending on how many coats of primer you used and whether or not you used an undercoat, you may only need to apply one coat.

Turner advises how 'Using a paint specifically made for trim will help create a lasting finish. An oil-based enriched semi-gloss enamel will harden and create a durable finish that’s easy to clean and maintain for years to come.'

The results:

Can I paint over painted trim?

If you're repainting trim then start by assessing the condition of the existing paint. If it is peeling very badly you might need to use a paint stripper and solution or heat gun to remove what remains. 

Turner says, 'Painting over existing painted trim is definitely an option. Unless the trim was painted in a dark color, you can skip priming. If there are any places where the old paint is chipping off you can carefully sand them down and then apply a new topcoat. '

Care should be taken with both methods in terms of protecting surrounding furniture and floors, as well as your skin. You will need to wear gloves and a mask and if there is a chance that the paint might be lead-based you should seek the advice of a professional. Otherwise, there should be no need to remove all of the existing paint, and a light sanding will be all that is required to provide a good key for the new paint. 

1. Clean the surface with sugar soap.
2. When dry apply an undercoat/primer — one application should be enough.
3. Finally, finish with your chosen paint, priming beforehand and following the same method as for bare wood. 

How do you paint trim neatly? 

Turner's top tip for a precise finish is: 'Using a paintbrush that is specifically made for trim will help ensure a neat finish.'

Here are our top tips to get a crisp finish when painting trim and molding, without a brushstroke or drip in sight:

• Cut in edges: Cut in with paint as you would on walls for more precision.
• Don't overload your brush: Use the slap technique when filling up your brush to remove excess paint, rather than wiping as this just pushes the paint to the center of the brush leading to drips. 
• Never overlap: Avoid uneven marks by not working in the paint too much and by not starting to paint, over an already painted area.
• Brush off the surface: With each stroke, start in an unpainted area but work in towards painted sections, ensuring you brush off with each stroke to lay off the paint neatly.
• Watch your edges: Never brush across an edge as drips will be likely. Paint towards or along edges to avoid buildup.
• Rollers vs. brushes when painting trim: Use a small high-density foam paint roller if you want to make this a quick job however, you will most certainly still need a paint brush for touch ups so be aware of that!

Knowing how to clean paint rollers is a must for any DIY decorator. While cleaning paint rollers may not be your top priority while completing a project, there are several (obvious) reasons you may choose to clean your rollers rather than chucking them in the trash can when you're done painting. 

First of all, some of the best paint rollers are actually quite expensive. Some feature extendable handles and high-tech materials, so you won't want to discard them after just one paint job. Throwing away paint rollers is also super bad for the environment as they can't be recycled. We hate waste, so here we explain how to clean them ready for reuse.

How to clean paint rollers

Fortunately, cleaning paint rollers 'isn’t hard', according to Laurence Mann, the Managing Director & product expert at Wood Finishes Direct. However, it does take time and you need a few basic things to get started.

If you don't overload your roller, you should be able to finish your painting job with as little as possible left on it. Otherwise, roll off any excess paint on an old piece of carboard before you start to clean.

You will need:

• A large bucket filled with warm water and a little bit of soap
• A metal tool with a curved edge or something that allows you to get into small spaces (a scraper can be bought on Amazon)

1. Scrape off as much paint as you can

Once the roller has dried a bit, use the sharp metal object to scrape off as much of the paint as you can. Be gentle (don’t ruin the roller) but firm enough to get rid of everything you can.

2. Rinse 

Thoroughly rinse the paint roller in the bucket filled with warm water and soap. Run it through as much as you can to soften the paint; try to get into every crevice. Be patient here: paint rollers have lots of fibers, so there will be more rinsing than you expected. 

3. Scrape some more

Try to scrape off any paint you haven’t been able to get rid of. Rollers are absorbent so you're unlikely to be able to get off all of the paint in one go.

4. Rinse again

Rinse the roller in just warm water, no soap now. This step is important as you want to get back to the original texture of your roller to be able to use it again in the future. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. This can take some time and might need aiding with a bit more scraping and squeezing.

5. Let air dry

Now, let the roller dry out completely. Ideally, it should be standing upright as it dries. After this, it should be clean and ready to go for the next time you need it. Mann promises that 'if you soak, scrape, and clean it correctly, it should be almost like a new roller!'

What is the easiest way to clean paint rollers?

If all of this sounds a bit time-consuming, there is another, quicker way, recommended to us by James Chapman, Director for Bella Bathrooms. According to Chapman, 'to remove paint from the roller, you can use a solvent or paint thinner. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then scrape off with a 5-in-1 tool.' 

This is a great method if you already have solvent or paint thinner in the house, though it may not be worth buying solvent just for this purpose. If you're keen on DIY, though, there are many other uses for paint thinner; especially if you're undertaking a house renovation or refinishing a wood floor, you'll find it useful to have some handy. It can be used to clean paint brushes, too.

Just remember solvents like this can be hazardous so dispose of them responsibly,

Is it worth cleaning paint rollers?

Still not convinced whether it's worth cleaning your paint rollers? In Mann's view, it really is worth it: 'Supplies are expensive and, if you are painting regularly, you don’t want to buy a new roller every time. Take the time to clean them and re-use them a few times as needed!'

However, Chapman points out that 'if you're going to be using more than a few in a project, you should buy new ones—especially if you have some other task that would be more valuable to the time spent.' Always have a couple of spares in rotation while you clean and dry them.

Cleaning paint rollers is also not worthwhile 'if they are heavily soiled with paint.' Finally, 'it can be challenging to remove all of the paint, which means they may not perform as well as they did previously.'

All around, it is the best thing for the environment, so give it a go! 

These painting mistakes are so common that every DIYer will have committed at least one at some point. That is nothing to be ashamed of. In most cases, it is because none of us are ever really taught how to paint a room and just make it up as we go along. Or sometimes, doing it the right way seems to take so much longer.

The latter probably sounds familiar. But not taking time to do your paint job properly means not only do you risk not having the best results – it could in fact mean having to redo parts. It will also be harder and less enjoyable in the process.

We canvased the team and asked some decorating experts what it is most people do wrong when painting. From inadequate prep, to not having the correct tools, all of the mistakes people make while painting are easily avoided if you know how.

1. Missing prep work

Fail to prepare and prepare to fail. This is so true for painting. It doesn't matter how much paint you slap on, if you're not starting with a good base then you are letting yourself in for a whole world of flaking, crazing, and peeling. 

So how should you prep your room for painting? Always start by removing any old wall coverings such as wallpaper or flaky paint. You then need to fill any small holes, but if the wall is particularly defective, it may need skimming in advance.

Once your walls are filled, sand them down and give them a good clean to remove dust and grime. The whole room will need cleaning to prevent dust or hairs sticking to your tools and wet paint.

The same steps apply for not only walls, but should be tackled if you are painting furniture or any other woodwork. Fill, sand and clean before you paint.

2. Skipping primer

Skipping the primer stage is a false economy when it comes to time and resources. You might think you can get away with it and save a few hours of painting and drying time, but if you don't prime your surfaces first you will likely end up needing to add an extra coat of paint. That negates any time saved not priming. 

Primer is that essential coat that does what it says – primes the surface, disguising obvious blemishes that will show through the final layer.

Helen Shaw, UK Director at Benjamin Moore says, 'Skipping primer may result in uneven or blotchy paint. While many of Benjamin Moore's paints are self-priming, we recommend a dedicated coat of a high-quality primer. Primer is the best way to achieve a smooth finish.'

3. Not buying enough paint

It isn't just annoying to run out of paint, it can impact the result. If you don't accurately estimate how much paint you need when painting the ceiling for example,, you will be cursing yourself on the trip to buy more, and beyond. 

Paint is made in batches, so the color might be very slightly different if you don't buy the same batch. The best way to avoid this is to work out the area of each space you are painting (multiply the length by the width) then multiply by two to allow for two coats. You might be tempted to subtract any windows and doors from the equation, but we leave them in to allow for a little wastage. Paint cans tell you what area they cover so divide your total area by this to get the number of cans you need.

If a different batch is unavoidable, just try to use it on the same coat or area so that any color discrepancies are not obvious.

4. Forgetting to protect sufaces

You might think you can work carefully, but accidents happen and a spilled can of paint will ruin a floor, adding cleaning or replacement fees to your budget. Cover all furniture that can't be moved from the area with old sheets and use a drop cloth to protect the floor. And don't skimp on the quality either, as our editor Punteha van Terheyden discovered with things she wish she'd known before painting her ceilings.

Then use painter's tape between surfaces to section off what needs painting. Again you might trust your steady hand, but it is much quicker to cover anything you don't want painting than having to clean or paint over later on.

5. Using the wrong painter's tape (or none at all)

All hail those people on TikTok videos who can cut in neater than I can with painter's tape. For the rest of us, the time spent meticulously taping everything off is better than correction time or super slow painting with a too-small brush to avoid mistakes.

These tapes come in different colours so have different uses. The cream one is a cheap all rounder that is either not sticky enough, or too sticky and rips all your existing paint off, so it is best avoided. Yellow or purple tape is low tack and the one many of us will use the most. It can be used on recently painted surfaces without removing the paint (as long as it has cured for the recommended drying time). 

Medium-tack blue tape is for things where you want good adhesion but want to avoid sticky residue – tile, glass, window frames, flooring, cabinetry, plastic and metal are all examples. Green and orange are high tack and extra high tack. These are for surfaces that haven't been painted in the last three days and untreated wood, metal, stone and glass. If you want to mask off a rough surface like carpet, use orange tape.

6. Not using the right rollers or brushes

There is a lot of choice when it comes to painting tools and the price differences vary wildly. The temptation to get a cheap pack of rollers and brushes might shave a bit off your decorating budget, but aim for mid-range or the best you can afford or your job will be plighted by piling rollers and loose brush hairs. The best paint rollers and best paintbrushes are even more important if you have splashed out on fancy paint.

Next, make sure you have the right type of roller or brush. For rollers, the thicker the pile the more textured the surface it can handy. The lowest pile foam rollers are for satin, eggshell, and gloss finishes where you want a really smooth finish. Conversely, a shaggy roller with a thick pile is great for getting into very uneven surfaces like popcorn ceilings or roughcast render.

Brushes vary by width. More detailed work needs a narrower brush. You can also get tapered brushes for easier cutting in and window frame painting.

7. Overloading your brush or roller

A messy finish is often due to overloading your painting tool. A roller that is too full will smear rather than roll and splatter paint everywhere. A brush that is too full will leave streaks.

Make sure you roll off the excess paint in your roller tray. And if you are using a brush, stretch a rubber band around the paint can, end-to-end, giving you an edge to remove the paint. This stops drips from forming around the rim of the can which can be a nightmare as they leave marks on your hand or wherever you place the pot.

Using too much paint can also be a risk when you have made efforts to keep things tidy by taping, too. As Shaw says, 'When paint is applied too heavily, it forms a bridge along the tape border and can cause an uneven line.'

8. Starting in the wrong place

When painting a room or object, start from top to bottom. Gravity will do its thing and you can correct any drips that form if you work this way. Start with the ceiling, then walls, then move down to baseboards. Give everything a mist or primer coat first. If you are painting the ceiling a different colour to the walls, finish the ceiling before starting the top coats for the walls or you will inevitably get ceiling coat onto your first wall coat. 

If you are painting a staircase make sure you paint your way to your destination. This will usually be top to bottom too, but if you are painting up from a basement, make sure you end at the top to avoid getting trapped down there by wet paint.

9. Letting brushes and rollers dry with paint on them

Dry paint can ruin brushes and rollers, changing the texture or leaving firm bits that hinder your paintwork. Always give them a thorough wash after use and allow them to dry fully before using again or putting away.

If you are going to use them again in the next 24 hours (with the same paint), cover them in plastic food wrap to keep the paint damp. This saves wasting time waiting for them to be cleaned and dried. You can also cover your roller tray this way. Just make sure everything is air tight to prevent crusting.

10. Working in poorly lit conditions

Painting in bad light has obvious implications. You can't see what you are doing so are more likely to miss patches or not spot drips. Time your painting for when natural light is at it's best. You will have to use artificial light when the sun goes down, but check your work in daylight.

On the flipside, don't paint outside in full sun. This will dry paint too quickly making streaks more likely. Work in good light, but under shade. Michael Rolland, MD of The Paint Shed advises, 'Make sure you chase the shade, know roughly where the sun is going to be throughout the day, remember it rises in the east and sets in the west.'

11. Not taking the right measures for working at height

To cut in properly you need to be a comfortable distance from what you are working on. Stretching to reach high spaces – or something worse like standing on a wobbly chair – is dangerous and won't give you the best finish. If you need to work at height, use a secure ladder.

If you can't work safely then you will have to use rollers and brushes on extension poles. The results will have slightly less finesse, but if you can't reach, you probably won't be able to see imperfections too closely either.

12. Leaving tape on too long

If you leave your painters tape on too long it is not only more likely to remove the coat beneath, but will give you a less neat line too. Remove when the paint is still slightly tacky, but not wet.

If the tape is stuck, use the warmth of a hairdryer to soften the adhesive. This will help it ease off. 

13. Not letting the paint dry between coats

As you have probably guessed from this list, impatience is the biggest foe for the home decorator. Allow paint to dry before coats or you risk the top coat bubbling, peeling or crazing. Follow the instructions on the paint can – even if the paint feels touch dry, it might not be fully cured so wait the full time.

Helen Shaw of Benjamin Moore continues, 'Remember if part of a room is dry to the touch, that doesn't mean the whole room is so be sure to follow the can instructions on recoat time. This is typically one to two hours for most waterborne interior paint.'

14. Storing paint in the wrong conditions

Paint must be stored in a cool dry place, but not anywhere it is likely to freeze. Also, be careful not to let it overheat or face direct sunlight – this can change its composition and make it unusable. 

After opening, paint should last about two years. Placing plastic wrap over the paint surface, below the lid is a good way to keep it fresher and prevent drying. When you do use it again, be careful not to get dried chips of paint in it and give it a good stir.

If you buy more paint than you can use, consider donating to local community projects.

Learn how to clean paint brushes to make them last longer, and to keep taking on all manner of DIY and upcycling projects. Sure, cleaning paint brushes might not be the most fun task, but the results are rewarding and it will save you some cash on buying replacement tools too.

You won't want to throw away your best paint brushes after one use, after all, as they are fully intended to last and be used for multiple DIY projects – which is often reflected in the price too...  So whether you're painting a deck or the whole house, keep these essential decorating tools in good nick and you'll be able to take on anything.

Whatever your emulsion is oil or water-based, matt, eggshell, chalk or gloss, we'll show you the best ways to get every inch of gunk off your brushes. By removing all paint residue on the bristles from a previous job, you can ensure that the results in the room you're decorating are going to be spot-on. This is especially important when painting a room, as you wouldn't want dirt, debris or old paint from your last project ruining your walls.

Along with other painting mistakes, there are right and wrong methods when it comes to cleaning paint brushes. So 'brush up' on this skill before you end up breaking or damaging your brushes.

How to clean paint brushes – removing emulsion

When weighing up the costs to paint a room, you will know that doing the job yourself instead of outsourcing a professional decorator will cost far less. But if you want pro results time and time again, you've got to look after your tools.

'Not cleaning painting tools, like paintbrushes or roller covers, can make them unusable for future projects,' warns Helen Shaw, UK director of Benjamin Moore.

'The extra money spent on premium applicators is a wise investment, but only if you can get several uses out of them. Make sure you store your paint in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.' Whether you're using the best white paint or a shade or gree, Shaw continues, 'Keep in mind that opened paint typically has a shelf life of two years, and possibly longer, when stored correctly. If you’re in the middle of a project or just haven’t cleaned your tools, wrap them in clear plastic wrap to not expose the paint to air.'

You will need:

• Scrap paper
• Bucket or bowl
• Dish soap
• Water
• Clean cloth

1. Use good quality paint brushes to start with

'Buy good tools to start with.' insists Sam Bramley, lead color consultant, Lick.

'Do you know the quality of your brush affects the finish of your paint? Look for SRT, (solid round tapered) synthetic is good, and go for tipped and flagged for a beautiful lay off and clean cutting in. For extra eco points, look for FSC/carbon neutral/recycled and avoid plastic packaging.'

2. Care for them mid-project

'In the middle of a painting project and want to keep your brushes fresh overnight?' asks Marianne Shillingford, creative director, Dulux

'Simply wrap the head of your paintbrushes and roller in clingfilm or secure in an airtight plastic bag. Seal around the handle with masking tape and store in a dry place for up to two days.' This will make cleaning them far easier.

3. Scrape excess paint off

Whether you're cleaning emulsion or oil-based paint off of paint brushes, you'll want to remove as much excess paint from the bristles as possible.

So when you’ve finished painting baseboards or what have you, scrape as much paint as possible from the brushes into the tin using the edge of it. You can even work it into some scrap paper.

'Other than using water and soap, I would suggest using a putty knife to scrape excess paint from a roller to ensure none of the paint dries and hardens on it.' says James Greenwood, paint and wallpaper expert, Graham & Brown. 

4. Soak in soapy water and rinse

Get a bucket or bowl of soapy water and leave your brushes to soak for a couple of hours. Refill with soapy water and wash the brush, working the paint out of the bristles with your fingers. Shake off the water and paint into the bucket. Shaw notes to not use too much soap as any residue can affect how effective the brush bristles are.

Next, repeat and fill the bucket/bowl with water and rinse the brush in it, again working any leftover paint out with your fingers. Shake off the excess. Repeat until the brushes look clean.

Top tips: Note that the temperature of the water you use plays an important role when cleaning your paintbrushes thoroughly. 'Most products that require cleaning are water-based so the best way is the rinse the brush/roller out with cold water first, removing as much of the remaining paint as possible before using warm water with a small amount of detergent.'

'Hot water too soon tends to quickly congeal/set/dry certain paints within the brush/sleeve making cleaning more difficult,' says Kevin O'Donnell, technical demonstrator, Crown Paints.

'The brush filaments do need to be manipulated (squashed) to help remove all the paint and up-side-down under the tap to help get into the stock. Ie: the bit where the filaments are attached too.'

5. Dry thoroughly

Dry the brushes on a clean cloth. Lay them flat with the bristles smooth in one direction so that they dry that way. Shaw adds 'Once clean, dry the brush with rags and lay flat. Be sure to soak the rags in water when you’re finished to avoid a potential fire hazard.'

How to clean oil-based paint off paint brushes

You'll need:

• An old glass jar
• White spirit, easily available at Amazon
• Clean cloth
• A trash can

Method:

1. If you’ve used a gloss paint, scrape as much of the brush and back into the tin as you can. Fill an old glass jar with white spirit and put the brush in, pressing it against the sides to work the liquid into the brush.
2. Leave to soak for a couple of hours. Refresh the jar if necessary and work the brush around again (use a fresh jar of white spirit if needed) until the brush is clean.
3. Remove and rinse the brushes under the tap. Dry with a clean cloth and store.
4. DON’T pour the leftover white spirit down the sink. Leave it in the jar and allow the paint to settle in the bottom. Pour off the clear liquid into a container so it can be reused. Let the paint dry into a solid lump then dispose of it in the rubbish bin.

How to clean paint brushes using vinegar

If the thought of using white spirit makes you shudder, there are gentler, more natural ways to remove paint off of your brushes including cleaning with vinegar. If you've got pets or children in the home, you might want to use this non-toxic alternative to commercial brush cleaners.

Saying this, if you do have little ones or animals living in the home, the best washable paints tend to be low VOC and can be rinsed with water, as above.

You will need:

• Vinegar
• An old pot
• Saucepan
• Stovetop
• Tongs
• Brush comb (optional)
• Water

1. Soak the brush with hardened paint in vinegar for an hour. If the bristles don’t bend, soak for an another hour. 
2. If it needs more loosening after two hours, submerge the paint brush head in vinegar in a pot, place the pot on a stove and bring to a boil.
3. Afterwards, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool off. Remove the brush with care and use tongs and thermal gloves if needed. 
4. Once cool, comb out bristles with your fingers or a brush comb. 
5. Rinse out the loosened paint with water and repeat as necessary. 

How to clean paint brushes dipped in chalk paint

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know how to use chalk paint to transform furniture. It's the perfect way to add texture and a matt tone in upcycling projects. But if rinsing off this chalky emulsion is putting you off using it, rest assured the process is super easy.

'After painting with Chalk Paint™, squeeze out as much excess paint from your brush as you can, then wash it well with warm water to rinse out all the color,' says Annie Sloan, color and paint expert.

'Hang to dry with the bristles pointing downwards to avoid rust and glue deterioration. Harsh detergents may shorten the life of your natural bristle brushes.'

And Pam Gruhn, founder of Frenchic says: 'Frenchic is a water-based paint so cleaning your brushes is really easy. After using the brush, do not let the paint dry.'

'Instead, pop them under a warm tap with a mild detergent (washing up liquid is fine) and simply wash your paint away until you get a clear rinse. Once the paint is washed out, either lay flat or hang out to dry. This is super easy and can be done with your paint brushes and rollers!'

How to protect paint brushes after cleaning them

'For best results, return the clean, dry brush to its original packaging to maintain bristle shape,' says Shaw.

'If you don’t have the original packaging, you can protect the shape of your brush by wrapping it in a paper towel or newspaper, or placing it between two pieces of cardboard and securing it with a rubber band or tape.'

While Ruth Mottershead, creative director, Little Greene says: 'Good brushes have a hole in the handle, this is so they can be stored hanging up.'

'Don’t let them dry ‘bristles-up’ as excess water is then fed onto the ferrule and handle which reduces the brush’s longevity and performance. Ideally, protect dry brushes in their original card sleeves.'

Can you save a dried paint brush?

Thankfully, yes. So don't go throwing away pricey DIY or arts paint brushes just yet. If you've been using latex paint you shouldn't need to resort to such harsh cleaning agents as the acrylic paints will soften in warm water and dish soap.

Prepare a soapy water mixture in a clean container and suspend the brush in it, submerging the bristles. Work the bristles and then suspend again and let it soak for a half hour or so. Use a stiff brush to rub along the lines of the bristles to remove the softened paint and rinse until the water runs clear. Repeat if necessary.

For stubborn dried on paint that is water-based you may have to resort to a paint thinner (available on Amazon), followed by the warm soapy water method and it may take a couple of goes. 

Be sure to take precautionary measures when using paint cleaners as the fumes and vapor are flammable. Soak the bristles directly in a small can of thinner, keeping it out of reach of children, and covering the can as your paint brush soaks. Do this in a well-ventilated area for about 30 minutes or until you see the paint settle. 

Top tip: Keep the can of paint thinner to use on any future paint brush cleaning!

How to store paint brushes mid-DIY

You may already know how to paint a wall like a pro, but if you're doing the job on your own, you may have to do the job in stages. In some cases this may mean postponing your paint job for a couple of hours or even days. So it's important to know how to store brushes that are going to be re-used.

We've seen all sorts of tips for storing paint brushes, from wrapping them in cling film (not very eco-friendly) to submerging them in solvent (works only if you're pausing a DIY job for a couple of days). 

As Shaw mentioned, the method we swear by is simply wrapping your paint brushes in old newspaper once they are completely dry, and securing with rubber bands. Now they're ready to be stored in your shed. 

How to dispose of leftover paint

After cleaning paint brushes, you may be left with paint that you can't pour back into the tin. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)estimates that about 10 percent or 65 to 69 million gallons of house paint purchased each year in the United States is discarded. Paint can contain hazardous materials that can leak into the environment. Therefore, it is important that leftover paint is disposed of properly and not, for example, poured down the drain and into our water system.

So we spoke to Matt Kunz, president of Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company who shared his top tips on discarding paint correctly. He says:

• To dispose of latex paint, leave the paint can open to allow the remaining paint to harden. Depending on the amount of paint, this may take anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks. One the paint is hardened, set the paint can on the curb next to the recycling bin.
• For large amounts of paint, line a cardboard box with plastic lining and pour in one-inch-tall layers, allowing each layer to dry before pouring the next.
• Check with your local government; many communities offer a hazardous-waste collection or pick-up service that accepts leftover paint.
• Donate any unused paint to local programs and organizations such as community improvement initiatives, graffiti removal or Habitat for Humanity.

Other top paint cleaning tips

Cleaning paint brushes and rollers is just half of the task in some instances. If you've decanted the best paint for furniture from a tin to a rolling tray to apply emulsion with a roller, chances are you'll also need to clean this too – unless you follow this paint hack beforehand.

'Line your rolling tray with tin foil.' says O'Donnell.

'That way you save water when cleaning your tray and likely won’t be wasteful with paint.'

To get the best, long-lasting finish when you go to paint furniture yourself, you’ll want a base coat, a color coat, and a topcoat, with adequate dry/cure time between each new layer. Knowing how to prepare furniture for painting – properly – is an essential DIY skill and honestly, its importance shouldn't be undermined.

Because without filing and cleaning thoroughly first, you won’t be able to ensure the finish is perfectly smooth and chip resistant. Yep, I’m talking about manicures... but it also applies to painting pretty much anything, including how to paint furniture. 

Of course, when DIYing, the result only needs to be as perfect as you’d like it - after all, it’s your home and no one else’s. But when you want a professional finish or you want it to last and be hardwearing against scuffs, pets and kids, the prep work is what’s most important. Preparing your furniture for painting is simple, so here’s how to do it, in 3 easy steps.

Step 1 – Prepare furniture by sanding

Ignore what some paints may say on the tins, sanding is always, always, always necessary in my experience. Particularly if you are upcycling an old piece of furniture that’s got an existing varnish or gloss coating. 

To cut your effort and time in half, invest in a good orbital sander from Amazon or a hardware store for larger pieces, or a mouse/palm sander for more intricate pieces of furniture. My recommendation for sandpaper grit would be to start low, and end high. Low numbers are coarser and have less particles per area, whereas high numbers have more particles per area and therefore are much finer – great to ensure a surface is perfectly smooth. 

Start off with p100 or p120 and go up in increments to get the furniture as smooth as possible, so p160, p180, p200. Sanding not only removes the existing paint or varnish, but it will create a ‘key’ for the new paint to stick to. Use your mouse sander or sandpaper wrapped around a block to get into any tight corners but be careful not to press too hard on areas that are curved or have any detailing as you could alter the shape or remove too much of the design.

If you’re painting a piece of plastic furniture or melamine, the prep process is exactly the same, I would just finish on a p140 and not go any higher. If painting metal furniture, you may want to use an even higher grit – up into the 300s to really get a fine finish to remove any rust or raised areas.

Step 2 – Cleaning

The second most crucial stage in prepping furniture is cleaning. Removing any debris, dust from sanding, grease and grime will make sure there’s nothing on the surface that could cause the paint not to stick, bubble, or leave an imperfect finish.

A lot of people may tell you to use sugar soap to clean furniture, and absolutely you can, you can also use ordinary soapy water and a damp cloth. Just be mindful of how much water you are using as it can soak into wood, meaning you’ll need to wait longer before priming or painting, until the wood is completely dried through. For plastic or metal, water or sugar soap (even their wipes) is completely fine to use.

My preference would be to use an old rag that is ever so slightly damp – literally the tiniest bit – or a tack cloth. These cloths have a resin coating which help to pick up all sorts of dust and debris. You can buy these online at Amazon or in stores such as Toolstation or The Home Depot sells a pack of three for less than $4, and they’re perfect for prepping furniture for painting.

To remove any sticky residue or oils, my secret hack is to use WD-40 to clean it away in seconds, with zero effort. You can also use white spirit for a deeper clean, again just be mindful of what chemicals you put on wood. 

Give the whole piece of furniture a thorough clean and wipe down to remove all particles for a clean canvas to start painting. 

Step 3 – Priming

Priming your furniture before painting gives your paint a great base to stick to. Even if the paint you’re using has a built-in primer, I’d recommend you use a traditional primer as well, for the best finish possible. 

Once your surface is sanded and cleaned, use an all-surface primer such as Zinsser B-I-N on anything wooden, melamine, plastic, or metal. It is shellac based and means you can use absolutely any paint on top. It seals in stains, blocks knots as well as sap and is my absolute favorite primer, but the Difficult Surfaces Primer & Undercoat by Valspar has proven to be very effective on melamine/laminate furniture I’ve upcycled in the past.

Cut in around the edges with a synthetic bristle paintbrush (best for this type of primer) and then roller over the bulk of the piece of furniture with a foam roller for the best finish. With B-I-N, you should only need one coat, but make sure you check the tin of whatever primer you’re using for the correct coat requirements, dry time and other information about ventilation and prep.

When it comes to finally painting your piece of furniture, I love a good chalk paint, but there are loads of options out there, with lots of different finishes – matt, eggshell, satin, or gloss – and can each help you achieve a different ‘look’. For me, furniture paint experts Rustoleum and Frenchic are both my go-to’s, but when I’ve wanted a special shade mixed, to perhaps match something else in the room, I’ve gone for a Dulux wood paint color match which you can get at most hardware stores – simply take in a reference for them to scan and they’ll mix it right there and then. A foam or mohair roller will be the difference between an obvious upcycle and a professional-looking piece of custom furniture. Sand lightly between each coat of paint and you’re on your way to the cleanest of finishes!

Don’t worry if you don’t get full coverage on your first coat – they’re not designed to. After 2-3 coats, depending on what paint you use, it should go from patchy to perfect.

Finally, to seal your furniture paint and ensure it doesn’t chip, you’ll want to choose a good lacquer, wax, or varnish to seal it all in. These will also give varying finishes and require different dry/cure times so make sure you choose the right one for your needs and always read the label for individual product instructions.

The results:

Happy painting!

There are a few different reasons why you might find yourself wanting to paint over wallpaper in your home. You might have inherited an outdated wallpaper pattern and want a super quick, budget-friendly room refresh. Then you might find yourself painting over wallpaper because it's the best option, say if the original wallpaper was installed onto sheetrock and was going to cost you a ton to remove...

While most industry experts will advise you to remove wallpaper at all costs, painting over what you have is an easy DIY job that doesn't have to compromise on great results when approached in the right way. You need to prime your wall covering properly – an oil-based primer is often the best way to go – use the right tools, materials and techniques for a professional finish. To complete your 101 on how to paint over wallpaper, we’ve called in some expert decorators too for their top tips.

Guest blogger and DIY-er Dori Turner shared her experience: 'When we moved into our 1970s home it still featured the original wallpaper in most of the rooms. When we went to try to remove it, we realized it had been installed directly to the sheetrock. Any attempt to remove it would have damaged the sheetrock beyond repair. We had two options: install all new sheetrock or paint over the existing wallpaper. 

Since the wallpaper covered most of the house, all new sheetrock was going to cost quite a bit. We opted to paint over the wallpaper instead. We had done this before in a previous house with great results.'

What kind of paint do you use to paint over wallpaper?

You can use the paint you prefer to paint over wallpaper, whether it’s oil-based or water-based. However, before your topcoat goes on, you’ll need to use an oil-based primer on the walls. Never use a water-based primer because it can cause the wallpaper to become loose – which is definitely what you don’t want. 

Turner adds 'You can use an oil-based or latex primer and then use a latex interior paint for the topcoat.'

How to paint over wallpaper

As touched on, if you ask experts if painting over wallpaper is a good idea, they’ll probably advise you to strip it off the walls and start over instead. But it’s possible that you may uncover issues with the wall below you can’t know about if it wasn’t you who hung the wallpaper in the first place. 

The other complication is that what you’re looking at might only be the top layer of wallpaper with many below, and layers of wallpaper are more challenging to remove. 

The takeaway? You can remove existing wallpaper and make any necessary repairs to the wall, but if time is of the essence it’s perfectly viable to paint a wall that is wallpapered.

'You can paint directly onto wallpaper, it is recommended to prime first to give the paint a good base to adhere to and prevent the wallpaper from bubbling up underneath the paint. ' Adds Turner. 

You will need: 

• Protective eyewear
• Dust sheets, basic dust sheets from Amazon are fine
• Cloth
• Mild detergent or TSP for greasy walls
• Wallpaper adhesive, if required
• Painter’s tape
• Small angled brushes
• The best paint brushes or roller
• Oil-based primer
• Water or oil-based paint

1. Clean the walls

‘The first step in painting over wallpaper is to make sure the walls are completely clean,’ says Emily Perez, Head of Design at Kitchen Infinity. ‘It is necessary to ensure that there are no particles of dust or other dirty things. The priming process is hampered if the wall is not properly cleaned.’

To clean walls properly, use a cloth to remove any dust or grime. It should be barely damp as you don’t want to wet the walls.

If the walls are greasy, you could use a mild detergent solution but you may need to use a TSP solution instead. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure you wear safety gear. 

Allow walls to dry thoroughly. 

2. Make any wallpaper repairs

If any of the wallpaper is peeling or its seams are loose, now is the time to deal with these issues otherwise primer and paint could make the problems worse. Use wallpaper adhesive to secure them.

Turner adds,  'If the seams are pretty noticeable, you can use drywall spackling to go over the seams and smooth them out. Allow it to dry completely before lightly sanding to make it even with the wall. This way you won’t even know the seams were there.' 

Likewise with loose or peeling corners, 'Glue down any corners that may be peeling and patch any holes in the wallpaper before you start painting.' Advises Turner.

‘It is best to cut any peeling or ripples off if possible followed by sanding down and filling in the wall,’ says Chris Moorhouse, Category Director for Timber, Building, Décor and Garden at Wickes.

Got textured wallpaper? Turner advises: 'If your wallpaper has a texture that is going to show through the paint and look bad, go over your wallpaper with a texturizer like Homax Roll On Wall Texture in White from Amazon, using a pattern like knockdown or orange peel. Allow it to fully dry and then use primer and two coats of paint for a beautiful finish!'

3. Mask baseboards and trim

Use painter’s tape to mask off the baseboards, window and door trims, and molding to avoid getting any primer or paint on these surfaces.

4. Prime walls

Apply primer to the walls. ‘It’s important to use an oil-based primer for this, as a water-based one won’t work,’ says Thomas Jepsen, CEO of Passion Plans. ‘A water-based primer would simply be sucked up by the wallpaper whereas the oil-based one provides that outside layer you need to be able to paint on top of.’

Start by cutting in the corners and edges using a small angled paintbrush. After that it’s easiest to use a roller, but you can apply the primer with a paintbrush if you prefer. Make sure the room is well ventilated as you work.

Leave to dry thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

5. Apply the topcoat

When the primer is dry, you can apply the topcoat. As with the primer, use a small angled brush to cut in around doors and windows and along the baseboards. Then use a paint roller to apply the paint to the wall. 

Start in a corner and paint in horizontal bands from the top of the wall to the bottom.

Allow the paint to dry completely. Check the tin for approximate drying time but remember that weather conditions can affect how long it takes. 

6. Finish with a second coat of paint

For best results, and particularly if the wallpaper is dark in color or has a bold pattern, you’ll need to apply a second coat of paint. Allow to dry thoroughly. 

Remember to remove the painter’s tape before the paint is cured. Check manufacturer’s recommendations, but generally it should be removed when the paint is dry to the touch, about an hour after painting. Pull it off slowly and at a 45 degree angle. 

Is painting over wallpaper a good idea?

Turner notes how 'Painting over wallpaper can be a great option if the wallpaper was installed directly on the sheetrock. In this case, you would have to completely replace the sheetrock which can be costly. Painting over it instead can save time and money if done right.

Prepare wallpaper by cleaning it with a damp cloth and allowing it to dry. Prime the wallpaper and finish off with your favorite latex paint. Priming is a must to give the new coat of paint something to adhere to.' 

You shouldn’t paint over wallpaper if the risk is disappointing results. ‘Painting over wallpaper that contains glitter or is a metallic design tends to be tricky as these textures will leave you with an uneven finish,’ says Jason Hines, Trading Director for Decorative, Homebase.

‘If you’re not sure whether your wallpaper can be painted over, but you’re sure you want a change, I’d always test a small, hidden patch first before committing to a whole wall.’

Bear in mind, too, that in one scenario painting over wallpaper won’t be possible. ‘If it’s fabric-backed vinyl, you’re also not able to just paint over it,’ adds Jepsen.

Old wallpaper, meanwhile, can be painted but the finish might not be great. The best strategy here again is to test in a small area making sure that the old paper doesn’t bubble up or come away from the wall.

If it’s going on smoothly, use emulsion paint – but always full strength – as a first coat and apply with a brush, or roller.

Old wallpaper that’s not suitable for painting or metallic wallpaper? Then you need to strip the wall.

Get your brushes out! Why not try one of the best Farrow & Ball paints?

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. This saying is most true in the case when painting walls and decorating. Not preparing your surface adequately can mean peeling paint, uneven finish, cracks, or holes showing through, wasted paint, or a very patchy wall. Prepping a wall includes knowing how to clean walls, and then filling, sanding, cleaning, taping, and priming – in that order. Each step is vital to ensure you get a long-lasting, smooth, professional finish.

Step 1 – Filling

If you’ve got any holes, dents, or cracks in your wall or around the edges, your first point of call is to fill them. To do this, you’ll need some hole and crack filler, or caulk/silicone.

Any gaps where there’s woodwork, for example, between the baseboards and wall, you’ll need something a bit longer-lasting like expanding foam and wood filler, rather than something flexible like caulk that can crack. If you’re in a new build and have settlement cracks along the plasterboard seams, standard filler will do the job. For loose or lifting seals around windows, you’ll need to remove the existing peeling mastic with a Stanley knife and reapply it with a sealant gun and window sealant. For slight gaps between architrave or molding, caulk’s the one to go for.

For simple nail or screw holes or something slightly bigger, you’ll need some filler and a filler knife. Layer it on thick so that when you sand it smooth, the hole will be nowhere in sight.

Step 2 – Sanding

Next up, making sure the wall is completely smooth and free of bumps, rough patches, any paint samples you’ve painted, and any recently filled holes.

Grab a sanding block or 120 grit sandpaper wrapped around a bit of wood and use one hand to feel the wall and the other to sand. Run your hand over the wall starting from top to bottom. Make sure you protect any nearby furniture with a drop cloth, open a window to ensure there is adequate ventilation, and wear a mask. Sand the whole wall lightly, focusing on areas your feel needs it until the whole wall is smooth

Step 3 – Clean Up

With this step, you’ll need some sugar soap, just basic stuff from Amazon, a bucket, a sponge, and some gloves. You can get sugar soap wipes, but for more bang for your buck, the concentrated solutions are much more economical. Simply mix with water as per the instructions on the bottle and start wiping down the wall. Ensure you wring out the sponge so that it’s not dripping wet. Wipe from top to bottom to ensure it is clean and free from dust and dirt, grime, grease, or any smoke deposits. Give it a real good once over, concentrating on anywhere that collects dust, like skirting boards and anywhere you sanded down.

Step 4 – Taping

Painter’s tape is another crucial step in getting you a professional finish. If you don’t trust your steady hand and a good cutting-in brush, tape will be a great tool to get clean lines along your ceilings and baseboards when creating a design.

For your sockets, however, turn your mains power off and remove the face plates. Sand behind them and leave them pulled away from the wall. This gives you a more professional finish later over taping.

Which tape do you need to use? Easily mixed up, the colored painters tape all do a different job, so here’s a quick breakdown.

Cream – Basic masking tape. It is usually either such low tack it doesn’t stick down, or high tack and leaves reside on any surface or it doesn’t lift cleanly, tearing into strips. I tend to avoid this tape.

Yellow/Purple – Low Tack, designed for delicate surfaces, for example, new build walls, recently painted (within 3 days) surfaces, wallpapered walls, and other fragile surfaces.

Blue – Medium Tack, designed for surfaces such as glass, window frames, plastic, wood, metal, tile, flooring, and kitchen cabinetry.

Green – High Tack, designed for surfaces that haven’t been painted in the last three days, untreated wood, metal, glass, carpet, and stone.

Orange – Extra High Tack, designed for cured surfaces that haven’t been painted in the last 3 days, gloss work and satin painted surfaces, untreated wood, metal, glass, masonry, rough surfaces, and carpet.

To use it, ensure the surfaces are clean and dry. Apply in 30-60cm strips, overlapping slightly for easy removal and neat application. Use a slightly damp cloth or credit card over the edge you’re painting to really stick it down and trim any corners neatly with a Stanley knife. 

For block painting or super crisp lines, paint across the line with the original wall color first and allow to dry completely before going in with the new color paint. Once you’ve painted both coats, peel the tape off while the last coat is still wet, pulling away from the line diagonally.

Step 5 – Prime Time

The most important step! You wouldn’t apply foundation without first applying a primer right? So why would you skip it when painting and decorating? Especially when you want a long-lasting, flawless finish, particularly in the case of new builds, where the walls usually only have a mist coat on top of the plaster. Rushed final stage painting and decorating in their construction also means there can be lots of rouge gloss paint on walls near gloss work too.

A good primer will prepare different surfaces for paint, so you get the smoothest, most even, cleanest finish possible. It not only can block out any bold color that was previously on the wall, but it can also eradicate evidence of water damage, cover cooking, smoking or candle stains and any marks from kids or pets...

It also neutralises any old paint finishes, for example if you plan on painting with matt paint over a previous satin finish. Without primer, the sheen would show through. This is certainly the case if you’ve put a few tester swatches on the wall. If you don’t sand them down and prime, they may show through. And if for example, you’ve installed wall paneling, a primer will allow you to paint both the wood and the wall with emulsion. 

My favorite brand of primers to use are by Zinsser that is actually available on Amazon. It is acrylic based, so can go on any surface and be painted over with any type of paint. Apply this the same way you would normally paint and do 1-2 coats.

Once you’ve gone through all these steps, you can go ahead and paint in your chosen color and finish. Cut in with paint around the edges and sockets with a paintbrush and mini roller to eradicate brush lines and fill in the wall with a matching larger roller. Wait the full recommended dry time as on the paint can and go in with your second coat. Remember to peel off your tape while it’s still wet too!

Refrigerators usually appear on TikTok during cleaning and de-cluttering videos. However, the latest DIY trend has seen fridges become the canvas for stunning transformations.

When creating a kitchen, budget restrictions often mean forgoing the best fridges for aesthetic appeal and opting for a more affordable white version. However, rather than limiting your design options, TikToks are faking their way to a better-looking fridge with paint. 

Jess Maple who owns the Tiktok channel @jessmapes has the décor inspired motto: "If you can’t afford it create it."

After giving her dated dark wood kitchen cabinets a pale makeover with KLilz Chalk paint in ‘Platinum Ring’. Jess moved onto her fridge. Instead of investing in a new matching fridge, she saved money without sacrificing her decor style by painting it black too.

As searches for black kitchen ideas are on the up with many people moving toward the trend for moodier colors, this DIY refrigerator hack is a cost-effective update.

First Jess primed the fridge with Rust-Oleum Magnetic finish primer and then followed it up with Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint turning the fridge into a chalkboard.

Once the fridge had dried for a few days, the DIYer cured the surface by covering it all over with chalk for 24 hours. After rubbing off the chalk coating with a dry lint-free cloth Jess drew pretty floral patterns over it with chalk.

Jess isn't the only decorator revolutionizing refrigerators on TikTok. Interior designer @athomewithashley has gone to the other extreme with an incredible colored fridge.

• Should you wash your fruit and vegetables before putting them in the fridge?

Using a product called Slick Stick Primer soft latex paint shades and decorator's tape, her kitchen appliance has been transformed. It's now a kaleidoscope of colorful rainbow stripes! It is now a unique kitchen pastel decorating idea.

'Painting large kitchen appliances such as the refrigerator or a dishwasher is a fantastic way to upgrade an old kitchen appliance or change one to suit a new aesthetic,' says Managing Director, Michael Rolland of The Paint Shed.

However, if you do decide to try this DIY fridge hack make sure you use a primer and paint suitable for painting on metal or plastic. The last thing you want is your hard work flaking off in a few weeks' time.

Knowing how to clean walls may not be on your essential cleaning list, but if your walls are looking grimy after many years, or have been scribbled on by enthusiastic toddlers, then it is time to give them a good scrub, using some of the best cleaning products around.

Cobwebs, dust, and pollution affect even the cleanest homes. Add pets and/or children and various marks, stains, and greasy fingerprints all contribute to an untidy look. And while painting a wall all over again may seem easier, most walls can be easily cleaned if you follow a few simple rules and tips. 

How often should you clean your walls?

Cleaning guru Melissa Maker of Clean My Space suggests that 'if you're going to clean your walls, you should maybe clean them once or twice a year, thoroughly during spring cleaning. Or, if you're preparing to paint your walls, that's the other time you want to clean them thoroughly. Otherwise, you're going to be focusing on spot cleaning.'

Maker notes, 'Prior to any form of wall cleaning you're doing, you want to test what you're using in an inconspicuous area. That's important because some paints can't handle being cleaned and will leave a permanent wet mark on the wall.'

How to clean walls

Before you start, make sure you have the right tools (all can be bought on Amazon), including: 

• Sponges
• Microfiber cloths
• Mops

1. Dust your walls

Dust off any excess dirt before starting to clean painted walls, otherwise you will just spread the grime. You can do this using a lint-free cloth for those areas you can reach, and a soft broom with a rag over its bristles or, better still, a dust mop (we rate the e-cloth deep clean mop) for any high areas. If there are no stains on your walls then just dusting may be enough.

2. Wash the walls with a gentle detergent 

In most cases, all you need for this is warm, soapy water and the best mop. Create a cleaning solution in a bucket using water and your mildest cleaning detergent – we like the Ecozone Sensitive washing up liquid. Use your softest sponge to apply the solution to your walls. Don’t over soak the sponge. If you do, wring it out properly before cleaning, as dripping can potentially leave water stains on your walls. Leave for five to 10 minutes. 

Have a second bowl or bucket of clean water to hand so you can rinse off the soapy solution about five to 10 minutes after applying. 

This simple process should be enough to clean most painted walls.

You can also use a sponge mop to do this which will give you better reach. Maker recommends saturating the mop, then squeezing the excess water out, working from left to right with your mop and in a W shape. Then dry the walls by putting a microfibre cloth onto a flat headed mop and working in the same motions.

3. Clean painted wall stains with vinegar

Need something a little stronger? White vinegar, our old cleaning favorite, is up to the task of cleaning off any stubborn stains or particularly grimy walls. It's an essential when learning how to clean walls.

Simply mix a cup of white vinegar with a bucket full of warm water and use your soft sponge to tackle any stains. No need to rinse off after.

4. Use a mild degreaser for painted kitchen walls

Obviously, painted kitchen walls can get a little greasy. On top of your washing techniques above, an additional wipe down with a gentle degreaser should do the trick. Just follow the product instructions to avoid any streak marks, and don't forget that harsh chemicals should be avoided. Our advice? If in doubt, stick to white vinegar.

5. Spot clean painted walls with baking soda + water

Got a few stains that just won’t budge? Baking soda can come to your rescue. Spot clean your walls using a mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda/baking soda on a soft cloth or towel.

A half-cup of it in a bucket of warm water should do it. Any crayon or pen marks should come straight off with this nifty little blend. Again, be sure to test out on a hidden area before applying it to a visible part of the wall.

6. Or spot clean with baby wipes

Baby wipes, make-up removers... all of these are good for removing the odd dirty spot from your walls. Choose biodegradable ones and don't flush them down the toilet to be environmentally friendly.

7. Use a magic eraser 

Magic erasers are good for so many cleaning tasks around the home, and walls are no exception. They're safe to use on paint and wallpapers and are especially useful for removing pen marks. Just wet a corner of the sponge and watch the stain disappear.

8. Cleaning matt walls? Use your vacuum

Your best vacuum cleaner will come in handy if your delicate matt paint is beginning to look grimy. While sturdier, glossy paint can be easily cleaned with a solution of soap and water, the matt, non-washable type of paint will have to be cleaned using your vac. Use a soft brush attachment for best results and to prevent your wallpaper from ripping as you clean it – and go gently! 

9. Latex paint? Use an all-purpose cleaning spray

If you have latex paint on your walls, then the great news is that you don't need a wall-specific cleaner. A multi-purpose cleaning spray and some cloths is all you need to get it clean.  

10. Dry as you go along

One thing you don't want to do is soak your wall in water for too long. So, if you're using a mop, get a second one as the dry back-up and dry the wall off in sections as you go. The same goes if you're using cloths – use a damp one to clean and a dry one to dry off the wall. 

11. Use sugar soap

Want to know how to clean painted walls naturally? Sugar soap, also known as Castile soap, is a household cleaning maverick. Its completely natural base (originally, olive oil-based but nowadays also made from coconut, sunflower, and other vegetable oils) is really good at cleaning without being harsh, and is safe on lots of different surfaces. You can safely use sugar soap diluted with water on semi-gloss wall finishes, although we'd avoid using it on completely matt paint. 

What not to use when learning how to clean walls

If you’re heading to your cleaning cupboard to find the right products to clean walls with, step away from anything containing alcohol or harsh chemicals. These ingredients can break down your paint surfaces and leave your walls in more of a mess than when you first started.

If you’re unsure about even the mildest detergent, test it out first. Find an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t contain any ingredients that will affect the paintwork.

Grime, gone! Knowing how to clean walls isn't tricky, but getting it right is important for maintaining the quality and integrity of your walls.

Typically, you'll need to know how to remove paint from wood if you are refinishing or restoring old wooden furniture. Whether you'd like your wooden piece to be left natural or you want to repaint it, you will need to find a way to lift off that old paint – all of it, even if there's not much left.

So, before you reach for the best paint for furniture for your project, make sure you follow professional advice on removing old paint. 

How to remove paint from wood: oil vs. water-based paint

You will save yourself a lot of time and potentially wasted effort if you determine what paint you've got on top of your wood before trying to remove it. Most paints used on furniture are either oil-based or water-based, and the two require different agents and techniques when it comes to removal. 

Not sure which type of paint you've got? Interior designer and consultant at DIYgeeks.com Tony Adams recommends performing a simple test to find out: 'dip a cotton ball/swap into denatured alcohol, then rub the cotton ball over the painted wood, if the paint comes off then it's water-based paint, if the paint doesn't come off then it's an oil-based paint.'

Alternatively, you can also use the flashlight test: 'Use your phone flashlight and shine into the painted wood, if the surface looks shiny then it's oil-based, if the surface looks dull or doesn't reflect light then it's water-based.'

As a rule of thumb, if you have water-based paint, the following will be effective for removing it:

• A water-based paint stripper from Amazon 
• Rubbing alcohol
• Baking soda
• Vinegar

If you have oil-based paint, try:

• Solvent paint thinner 
• Lacquer thinner
• Mineral spirits
• Acetone

The time it takes to remove water-based paint is typically 10-15 minutes; removing oil-based paint is twice as long, so bear that in mind when leaving your chemical of choice to work on the paint.

If you're trying to remove stubborn, old paint that won't come off easily, try one of the following methods, recommended by professionals who've worked with wood and paint. 

1. Use a solvent

Your first port of call when trying to remove old paint should always be a solvent. Zack Hall, a woodworker and the operator of SketchUpForWoodworkers.com swears by it from his own experience removing old paint. Plus, 'a solvent will also help remove other layers on top of the paint that are used to protect it, such
as lacquer or polyurethane.'

Hall's hero product for this purpose is Citristrip which you can buy on Amazon. It 'will work on any paint or finish. And because it's thick, you can also easily use this on vertical surfaces.'

'Apply it, wait for it to set, then use a scraper to peel the layers of paint and finish off. Afterwards, I typically wipe with a clean rag and then lightly sand the revealed wood surface.'

2. Test multiple products

Depending on the exact type of paint you've got, you may need to try more than one product, to find the formula that works best for the surface you're working with. Stacy Lewis, the Interior Designer at Eternity Modern, advises testing multiple strippers 'in a small area on that item to see which stripper works the best. Apply the
stripper on the wood using the recommended type of brush. Test the paint
intermittently to see whether it has softened.'

Once you've found the product that works and removed the paint, 'wash the wood with a clean, water-soaked rag, then sand down the entire surface. Wipe and clean the wood again to remove any particles left from sanding.'

If you are restoring an item of furniture that you want to keep natural, Lewis recommends finishing off by applying a furniture polish or liquid beeswax 'by brush or cloth. Leave for six hours and apply more coats as necessary. Once dry, buff with a cotton cloth. And for extra shine, apply wax polish.'

3. Try an oven cleaner

Don't want to buy paint solvent? You may have luck with...one of the best oven cleaners. Brooke Grasley, founder of Restore, Decor And More, cites oven cleaner as a 'favorite' – 'I like this method because it's easy and doesn't require any special tools or supplies. All you need is a can of oven cleaner and a soft brillo pad. Simply spray the oven cleaner on the furniture and let sit for about an hour & 15 minutes. Then, it will wipe right off with a soft, wet brillo pad and a little bit of pressure.'

4. Run wood planks through a planer

If nothing is working and/or you've got a large piece of furniture, for example, a large table, you may be able to get the paint off mechanically – by disassembling your furniture piece and running it through a thickness planer.

A planer is a tool that removes the top layer of a wood board and makes it uniform in thickness. It's used in making cutting boards and other woodworking projects. You can hire one or buy a planer from Amazon. They're not cheap, so buying one only really makes sense if you are seriously into DIY/furniture restoration. 

Suzie Wible, the owner of the DIY website and blog The Accent Piece, has removed paint from wood using this method many times –  'most recently, I had a painted tabletop that I disassembled into individual boards and ran each piece
through my planer. This made quick work of removing the wood (much faster
than sanding!)'

5. Try a heat gun

Another alternative to chemicals is a heat gun. Dan Wiener, the Founder & Lead Interior Designer for Homedude, advises testing a heat gun 'on a small
area of the furniture to make sure that it does not damage the wood. If
everything looks good, then you can begin using the heat gun to remove the
paint. Start by heating up the paint until it is soft and then use a
scraper or putty knife to scrape it off. Be careful not to damage the wood
while scraping.'

Will paint thinner ruin wood?

In most cases, no, as long as you use the product as directed. Damage to wood from paint strippers or thinners usually happens because too much of the product was applied, or the product was left on too long. Wiener also cautions that when removing paint from wood 'it's important to use a product that is specifically designed for this purpose' – so, it has to explicitly say it's sage to use on wood. 'It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, as using too much or using the wrong chemical product can damage the surface.'

If you want to freshen up a space and give it new life, painting a room is a simple and effective edit. Whether you literally want to go over the walls in white or if painting is part of a bigger home transformation, it's an easy project that can be quick to do and easy on the budget – if approached in the right way.

You'll save a ton by going down the DIY route for sure, but if you don't have time or if you’re just not handy with a paintbrush, you may choose to leave the job to the pros. In this post, we’ll look at the average cost to paint a room, the factors that influence that cost, and other things to consider before tackling this home renovation project.

What's the average cost to paint a room?

Professional painters calculate the charge of painting a room by measurements, cost of the paint, the complexity of the project, and timing, according to Matt Kunz, president of Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company. “We take the guesswork out of pricing by using our software package to determine the best pricing for the homeowner,” he says. 

If you want a ballpark to start the planning process, Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi, says, “The average cost to paint a room is $525, including labor and materials.” But if you DIY the job, she says you can do it for about $100. Of course, the final cost would depend on the size of the room, among other factors. Otherwise, the following chart shows an estimated cost to paint a room by its size.

COST TO PAINT A ROOM BY SQUARE FOOT

These prices are estimates based on ranges secured from professional painters. Including ceilings will add to the cost.

Of course, the size of the room isn’t the only thing that goes into the cost of painting. If you hire a professional mover to empty the space, their services will increase the price. If you live in an older home that requires a lead test, that’s another expense. Other common factors that influence cost include:

• Height of the ceilings
• Condition of the walls
• Number and size of windows and doors
• How many colors you want to use
• Cost of the paint
• Cost of other materials
• Labor charges

Cost of paint and other materials

Like all building materials, there are cheap, inexpensive, and quality paints to choose from. Is there a difference? Yes. “High-end paints like Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore are definitely worth the money,” says Britney Johnson, owner of B-Design interior design firm in Olympia, Washington, and instructor of the Design Your Dream Home online course. According to her, “you will almost always get better coverage and a richer color” with high-end paint. She even says that using the most inexpensive option from a top brand will bring better results than cheap paint. “Painting with cheaper paint is harder too; it's often runnier causing more drips and runs,” Johnson says.

You might also notice a price difference between sheens of the same paint. But not very much, if you compare within the same brand. For example, you may pay $5-10 more for a gallon of semi-gloss versus flat paint. But, it’s essential to use the correct sheen for the job. 

'To DIY this project,' says Carson, 'you’ll also need rollers, brushes, buckets, drop cloths, primer, and other materials.' And that’s provided you don’t have repairs to make that require scrapers, sandpaper, or spackling. Overall, the cost of these items can add 20-30 percent of the paint cost to the cost of the job. Ensure you pick up the best paint roller for the job of course.

How to calculate the amount of paint you need

Before setting your budget and shopping for paint, you need to know how much to buy. For a rough estimate, add the length of all the walls to be painted, from corner to corner, to get the room's perimeter. Multiply that number by the height of the walls from floor to ceiling to get the square footage. Then, divide the square footage by the coverage of one gallon of paint (found on the can). The answer is how many gallons you’ll need of the chosen paint to cover the walls with one coat. 

The coverage of paints varies by type, sheen, and manufacturer. The average is 400 square feet per gallon. Also, this estimate doesn’t consider the area taken up by doors and windows, the ceiling, primer, or any accent colors. So, if the calculations seem too cumbersome, you may find using a paint estimating calculator helpful.

Pros and cons of hiring a professional

Many homeowners find painting an easy DIY project. Some even consider the process therapeutic and gratifying. But if you don’t agree, hate the mess, or otherwise wish someone could come in and take care of it for you, you’re not alone, either. 'The quality of the paint job will depend on the quality of the painter, so if you want to ensure the room will be flawless, without streaks, gaps, or any uneven areas, it’s best to leave it to the experts,' says Carson. So, if you’re struggling with this decision, here are some pros and cons of hiring a professional painter.

Pros:

• Professionals already have all the tools
• They get the job done faster
• A professional will do a better job
• They take care of moving the furniture
• They clean up after themselves
• A professional saves you time

Cons:

• You may have to wait to get on their schedule
• You have to pay for their labor

Pro tips for the DIY painter

If, after balancing the pros and cons of hiring someone to paint your room for you, you still want to do it yourself, here are a few tips Kunz offers for the DIY painter.

• To help you choose between several colors, paint them on separate pieces of full-sized cardstock and place them on different walls in changing light.
• Use a lightweight spackle to fill small nail holes.
• Remove the switch plates.
• Dust baseboards and trim and carefully mask with good painters’ tape.
• Prime dark-colored walls before covering with a lighter shade.
• Always use two coats of the topcoat.
• Be generous with your use of fabric drop cloths.

Other considerations when painting

Painting takes time

When painting a wall or entire room yourself, what you save in money you spend in time. According to Johnson, the average time to paint a 10x12 room with two coats is 6 - 10 hours. Of course, that depends on the amount of trim work and your experience level. You’ll also have to move all the furniture yourself or hire someone to do the heavy lifting for you. According to Kunz, a professional painter moves or covers the furnishings so you don’t have to.

While you're at it

While the furniture is out of the way and you’re already in home improvement mode, take this time to make a few more upgrades. Now is the perfect time to replace beat-up baseboards, install crown molding, install new switches, outlets, and plates, replace hardware, or hang new window treatments.

Accent walls

Painting one wall a different color generally costs more because you’ll have to buy an entire gallon for the wall, and you won’t use all of it. So, if you want an accent wall, add the price of one more gallon. If you're going to apply other types of texture to the wall like beadboard, shiplap, wallpaper, or even stucco, you’ll have to add the cost of those materials, too.

QUESTIONS TO ASK A PAINTING CONTRACTOR

If you’ve decided to hire a professional, it’s essential to vet the company you work with. To find someone you can trust, ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Once you have a couple of contractors to call, here are a few questions you want to include in your conversation.

• Are you insured?
• Do you offer financing?
• When can you start?
• Do you roll or spray the paint?
• Will you provide all your supplies?
• Do you purchase the paint, or should I?
• Can I get a discount if I provide supplies?
• Do you expect me to empty the room of furnishings?
• What steps do you take to protect my furnishings?
• Do you charge by the hour or the square footage?

Painting a room can be a rewarding experience, but it’s not everyone’s favorite thing to do. If the thought of painting makes you want to run for the hills, you’ll save time and prevent headaches by hiring a professional. Either way, the facelift will increase your home’s value and make coming home a joyous experience.

A DIY-fan revealed her secret to getting crisp, professional edges without painter's tape using a file folder hack. However, it has stirred up some controversy on social media. 

Crisp edges are essential for giving painted walls or furniture a professional finish. While painters' tape is usually a standard part of how to paint a wall, TikToker Molly @therenegadehome has shared her simple hack for skipping this step.

In a TikTok video, she revealed how she uses a plastic file folder to complete painting jobs quickly and neatly. 'It’s something I like to call the file folder trick,' she explains in the video.

'Plastic file folders work best, but you can literally use anything you have on hand. You just basically drag that file folder along with you. And it keeps the paint off of whatever you don’t want to be painted without having to spend a ton of time taping.'

Molly demonstrates how she trims the plastic folder down to get a straight edge. She then holds the folder next to the area she is painting to catch any excess paint, when she pulls it away she has a beautiful crisp finish. 

She shows how the hacks work a treat on the wall trim, kickboards and door edges of her living room and hallway paint ideas. She even uses it to tackle tricky spots on furniture and around door hinges. After she has painted an area she simply cleans the file with a baby wipe to avoid the paint being dragged across the floor. 

• 9 secrets of people who always have a clean home

The hack has had over 253K views on TikTok since it was posted. However, while the hack has gone down a treat with some DIY-ers looking to save time on DIY projects, it has stirred up some controversy. 

'Love this idea as every time I use tape it pulls all the paint off I just don’t get on with it this I will def try,' commented one fan on Instagram who couldn't wait to try the hack. 

'I loathe cutting in, so you just blew my mind. Now I’m looking forward to the next room. Thank you!' wrote another.

However, others were less convinced. 

'Don’t be fooled by this believe me it will get everywhere. Just use frog tape,' commented one skeptical Instagrammer. 

'Just use painter's tape,' wrote another. 'Trust me you’ll make a mess doing this and you're prone to the paint bleeding - you want to get under the baseboard to protect the doors - use wax paper rolls - they slide under effortlessly'

Most professional decorators and paint brands recommend using tape for a clean and tidy finish when painting baseboards. Will Thompson, Head of Product Marketing at Valspar, recommends using a combination of tape, a dust sheet and cardboard.

'When it comes to prep, protect the floor by taping a dust sheet or a piece of cardboard underneath the skirting boards, then sand and clean the boards,' he explains. 'Prime the surface and leave it to dry. To paint, start at the top, positioning the brush at a 45-degree angle and go from right to left, starting in one corner of the room and working your way to the other.'

Are you team file folder hack or team tape?

An interiors lover has totally transformed her boring bathroom on a tight budget by using a clever color blocking paint technique. Lauren from @the.tiny.colourful.terrace has banished the beige, filling her space with playful bathroom ideas and plenty of plants, too.

Before

Before the pink and blue bathroom makeover got underway, the bathroom was perfectly functional and spacious, with a bath, shower and toilet. But it didn't *quite* reflect Lauren's style. 

The DIY fan tells UK Radiators, 'I would describe my interior style as a vibrant spin on retro design. 'I like to use bright colors and graphic shapes with traditional elements to add a modern touch,' she says. 

With a few cans of paint, Lauren has created something much more impactful by creating a color-blocking effect. The gold, oval mirrors work really well alongside the round edges of the pink arch (see bottom pic), while offering some handy bathroom storage for her plants and skincare.

After

'The total cost of my bathroom makeover was £124 and the beauty of it is that I didn’t use all of the paint in this room so I have been able to use leftover paint for other projects,' Lauren tells UK Radiators.

Feeling inspired? Take a look at how to paint a wall arch and give it a go. If all else fails, you can paint over it again and pretend it never happened.

Lauren painted all of the walls and tiles, waving goodbye to the magnolia and stone hues. On the floor, she used budget-friendly blue peel and stick vinyl, available at Amazonwhich brings some lovely pattern.

Lauren also used color blocking in her kitchen to give the walls a fun and retro feel. The experienced DIYer says her top tip is to always follow the instructions on the paint can.

'The tile paint required a completely clean surface, so I used sugar soap to wash away any residue and then sprayed it with water to clean away any sugar soap residue. I was also not able to get it wet for 24 hours after painting. 

'All these things will help to get a good finish on the paint,' she says.

If you want to know how to get paint off a hardwood floor, you will need the answer sooner rather than later. Like any other type of stain, a paint stain is much easier to remove if it's fresh. But even if you have a dried, old stain on your wood floor, don't panic – you can still remove it with a bit of know-how and patience.

You've invested in the best type of wood flooring, and you will want to keep it in the best condition possible. Even so, sometimes paint spills happen, especially if you're repainting a room yourself. Fortunately, there is a wealth of expert knowledge for you to draw on when learning how to get paint off a wooden floor. 

How to get paint off a hardwood floor

First of all, protecting your hardwood flooring from paint is a far better strategy than trying to remove paint. Geoff Sharp has 28 years of running a painting company and is the owner of Sharper Impressions Painting. He recommends 'tarping and taping' to 'protect wood floors from drips and splatters of paint. But sometimes paint does land on hardwood floors.' 

Sharp's method for getting paint off a wooden floor works on latex paint, which makes up '95 percent of paint' used today. 'Don't fret!', though – 'it can be cleaned up with some basic household items and some minor elbow grease.' 

You will need the following (you can buy all items on Amazon – great if time is of the essence):

• A rag or cloth
• A clean putty knife
• Goof Off or denatured alcohol
• Murphy’s Oil Soap

1. Wipe off excess paint

'If the paint is still wet a simple rag will wipe the excess right off', advises Sharp. If you've noticed a paint spill, do not wait until it's dried. You do need to use a lint-free rag or cloth to pick up as much of the paint as possible and avoid spreading the spill.

2. Try to peel off newly dry paint

'First, try to slowly and gently pick at and peel up the paint drip with your fingernail. Most of the time with a little prodding the paint will literally just pop off in one piece.' This is thanks to the latex content in the paint, which makes it a little rubbery when it's only just dried. 

A plastic tool like a putty spreader could also be used as it will lift the paint without scratching the floor below.

3. Soak older paint stains

'If the paint is older and cured it will be a little harder', Sharp admits. However, with a little patience, you may still be able to remove it. 'First put a warm water rag on top for a couple hours. This will help the water soak into the paint splotch and make it a little softer. Using your fingernail or a clean putty knife gently work around the edges to pry the paint drip off in one piece.'

If this step doesn’t work, 'rub at the top of the paint drip with the wet rag. You will see the paint drip start to wear off into the rag and start to form a crater in the paint drip. Continue this back and forth and circular motion until the paint drip is gone.'

You may choose to mix in a little bit of one of the best wood floor cleaners to help dislodge the stain.

4. Use Goof Off on stubborn stains

If the drip or splatters are very stubborn, using a little Goof Off on a rag or denatured alcohol 'will start to penetrate the paint drip and wipe it away. Try your best to focus the chemical onto the drip itself. The chemical shouldn’t harm the wood floor, but it’s always best with these types of chemicals to not saturate the wood floors coating.' 

This step is very useful for very old stains and should be at least tried before you start looking up how to refinish hardwood floors.

5. Clean up dull spots with oil soap

If when you are done cleaning you notice a dull spot where the paint spill had been, don't panic. 'Applying some Murphy’s Oil Soap to the spots and the spreading some Murphy’s to the surrounding area to blend will give the floor its luster back.'

And even if you don’t have a wood floor cleaner like Murphy’s, Sharp advises not worrying too much about it – 'the floor will eventually even out and the dull spots will disappear with time, normal other cleanings and some foot traffic.'

6. Use a magic marker for hard-to-reach stains in cracks

In cases where the paint has seeped into a crack in the floor, you won't be able to reach the paint to clean it, In this case, Sharp recommends using 'a colored magic marker or other liquid stain that is colored closely to the wood floor color, you can apply that color into the cracks and coat the dried paint making it blend in with the wood floor. Even though you can’t reach it you can somewhat camouflage it.'

How to get oil paint off a wooden floor 

If your paint is oil-based, 'you're going to need something stronger' than a cloth and water, says Zoey Dromgoole, resident hardwood flooring expert at Wood Flooring Ireland. Namely, you will need acetone. 'Apply some acetone to a cloth and very gently scrub the area where the paint is, then allow it to stand for about 10 minutes. This should remove most of the paint, the remainder can be chipped/scraped off with a soft edge.'

Can I use paint thinner to get paint off a hardwood floor?

Dromgoole's advice is that 'paint thinner is to be absolutely avoided – Yes it can remove paint very easily but it can also strip away the finish on your hardwood flooring, it is an extremely harsh solvent.'

Can I use lemon juice to get paint off a hardwood floor?

Yes. You can use a solution of rubbing alcohol and lemon juice to remove stubborn paint stains. Ralph Severson, owner of Flooring Masters, recommends 'A solution of 1 part lemon juice, and 2 parts rubbing alcohol should be put on a soft cloth. Leave the cloth on the paint stain for 5 minutes, then scrub it off with the rag. This should remove all of the paint without damaging the face of your flooring.' 

Paint experts have shared a common painting mistake we make when redecorating our homes. According to paint professionals, many of us leave out an important stage: prepping the walls with a primer.

Many paints now say that no primer is needed, however, if you want a seamless, professional finish when painting a room, The Paint Shed says not to skip over this step.

Common painting mistake

Some might argue that you don't need to use a primer before starting a paint project. But The Paint Shed says that if you are looking for a top-quality finish with no imperfections, this vital step must not be missed. 

'Paint primers act as a base coat, creating the foundation for a flawless paint job,' say the experts from The Paint Shed. 'You should always use a primer if you need to cover imperfections, conceal stains or neutralize the color of a surface before painting.'

The professionals say a primer, available at Amazon, creates a foundation for brilliant color and a smooth, seamless paint application. In most cases, they recommend using one coat of primer before two coats of your chosen paint to achieve a professional finish.

If you're painting a porous surface, such as wood or masonry, you may need to use two coats of primer. The same is true if you're painting over dark colors, going from a dark shade to something lighter.

If you are painting walls or surfaces that are compromised in any way, for example, if it's chalky, stained, powdery, or peeling, then the experts say you'll need a primer. 'This also applies to surfaces that have been repaired or patched in the past, or if you’re moving from a higher sheen to a lower sheen,' says The Paint Shed.

In these scenarios, a primer will help create a seamless transition. Although it's an extra expense and means your paint job will take longer, we'd rather make sure we've done everything we can so the walls look good for years to come.

Once you're done on the inside, you can thinking about painting the outside of a house, too. Will you be taking their advice?

Working out the cost to paint a ceiling is about a bit more than just buying a can of paint. 

And while painting a ceiling is an easy enough job, depending on your level of DIY skill, you may wish to hire a professional painter-decorator, which will affect the cost. 

If you decide to learn how to paint a ceiling yourself, you'll need to factor in various other costs, especially for your tools. 

This expert advice should give you a good idea of how much you should expect to pay – and whether the savings made by DIYing the job are worth your while.  

Cost to paint a ceiling on a DIY basis

If you feel confident about painting a ceiling yourself, you can save yourself a substantial amount of money in labor costs. 

To accurately work out how much a DIY ceiling paint job will cost you, use the following step-by-step process.

1. Take measurements

According to Travis Nolan,  Founder and Co-Owner of Tampa-based Old Crow Painting, 'if you plan on painting your own ceilings, start by taking some general measurements to determine what square footage needs to be covered. '

2. Work out the cost of paint

Once you've worked out the square footage of your ceiling, 'you can estimate the cost of paint. Most painting companies and suppliers have a paint calculator that can easily calculate how much paint will be required to finish your project.'

3. Work out the cost of your tools

Paint is the basic expense when you are DIY painting a ceiling, but it isn't the only one. Nolan reminds us that you'll need to factor in 'brushes, poles, ladders, rollers, or paint sprayers. Each of these will add more to the cost of the work.' 

Moreover, you'll probably need to get furniture covers like these from Amazon if you aren't able to move out your furniture to a different room. 

4. Consider other variables

You've worked out the costs of your paint and tools. Now, as Jeff Shipwash, CEO of Shipwash Properties, advises, you'll need to 'keep in mind that painting a ceiling comes with many variable costs. For example, are you wanting to scrape your current texture and apply a new one? Are there several repairs that are needed before you apply paint?'

Your precise ceiling idea will affect the cost. For example, 'changing your texture or making repairs can add several hundred dollars to the cost. If you hire a contractor to scrape and replace your texture, plan on adding at least three times the cost to the project.'

How much does it cost to paint a 12x12 ceiling?

Still not sure what you can expect to pay for painting a ceiling? Volodymyr Barabakh,  the Co-Founder and Project Director of building contractors Structural Beam, says that 'you can expect to pay between $200-750 to paint a ceiling of an average 12-foot square room. This will depend on location, paint quality, and how many
layers you would like.'

To break down the costs further, he explains that 'a room this size will require around 2 gallons of paint plus the primer. Paint is generally sold for $15-30 for a gallon whilst primer costs approximately $12. You can hire a painter for $20-50 per hour and for one coat of primer and 2 coats of paint they will need at least 2 hours plus 2 hours between each coat for drying time.'

This is an easy job to make DIY and could allow you to keep the cost below
$50 so is definitely worth considering. 

Cost to paint a ceiling in a 2000-square-foot home

Redoing the ceilings as part of a house renovation?  Shipwash, advises that 'the cost to paint a ceiling as a DIY project typically runs about $50 per 500 square foot including paint and materials (rollers, etc.). 

Therefore, a 2000 square foot house will cost around $200. If you hire a professional, it will typically cost $1-$1.50 per square foot as rule of thumb.'

How much does it cost to paint a ceiling by a professional?

There's no denying that hiring a professional will add substantially to the costs of painting a ceiling. 

According to Barabakh, 'hiring labor could add between $80-200 onto the cost.' However, this increased expense 'will ensure the job is done efficiently without scuffs or mishaps. You may also want to factor in the time you will spend painting to see if it is worth your savings.'

Nolan agrees that hiring a professional will 'ensure the job gets done quickly and without any headaches. Pricing is heavily dependent on whether or not a building is occupied, so expect to save money if you're having work done on an empty home.' 

Also, the pricing will be affected by the 'quality of materials used as well as the skill of the painters. Painting is like anything – you get what you pay for. Expect to spend anywhere between $1 to $3 a square foot with additional costs for tray ceilings, exposed rafters, etc. A professional company will be able to give you an accurate estimate with a white glove treatment of your home and furnishings.'

DIY it or get a professional? It all depends on how confident a DIY painter you are.

Forget the carpet, and let flooring steal the show with painted floor ideas that you can easily DIY to transform your space, from the ground up! 

From creating a patterned rug effect in bathrooms and mudrooms, to adding interest with jaunty stripes in the living room or bedroom, painting floorboards will give every space a near-instant uplift. Plus, adding pitter-patter personality across baron floors underfoot is a DIY job that even beginners can tackle in a day or two.

All you need is the best paint for wood, some careful prep and a little creativity which we can help you with.

Easy painted floor ideas that tell a colorful floor story

Penny Swift, writer at Zen Soundproof, comments: ‘Of all the surfaces in our homes, there is little doubt that floors take the greatest hammering. They are also a source of noise in the home, which is one reason that soundproofing our homes is so important. But I digress.’

‘Most of us cover our floors with tiles or carpets, which help to create a buffer from any noise. Both tiles and carpets are commonly laid over concrete floors. People see them as the only options. Wood, on the other hand, is usually sealed so that it doesn’t deteriorate and can be mopped clean. The realization that all floors can be painted is something that surprises many people. But the trick is to use products that will survive being stomped on the day in and day out!’

And when it comes to the benefits of painted floors, Swift continues: ‘If you or anybody in your family is allergic to house dust, painted floors could be the answer. Even if the surface covering doesn’t last as long as carpets, it’s going to cost less, may well look more attractive, and will be a lot cheaper to replace.’

Wondering which floor paint to use? Rust-Oleum HOME floor coating is an innovative and time-saving choice for the majority of floor types. Its revolutionary technology allows you to coat over a wide variety of substrates inside the home without stripping, sanding, or priming - result!

1. Play floor games with an oversized harlequin pattern

Learn how to refinish a hardwood floor, and seal the deal with playful painted diamonds in a contrasting shade. The harlequin pattern is a historical decor fave, and when painted (as opposed to tiled), and supersized in scale, it takes on a fresh, modern attitude. 

Sibling to checkerboard floors which are laid in a straight pattern, just like a game of chess or checkers, harlequin floors mix things up on the diagonal, changing up the dynamic in any space. 

You’ll need a bit of patience and tape skills to recreate this look, but it’s oh so worth it! Helpfully, we’re here to guide you every ‘check-point’ of the way with how to paint classic checkerboard floors. 

2. Create the illusion of added space with stripes

Flooring is often laid in planks (obviously), so in theory, the stripes are already there - they just need some color and pattern injection to make them sing! Introduce patterns into your home and get creative with striped flooring ideas to add depth to your space, whilst also creating the illusion of added space. 

It’s up to you how zebra-stripes you want to go with color combinations. Take a two-tone approach with contrasting shades; create an ombre paint effect with graduated tonal shades, or paint stripes in different thicknesses for a more improvised take if you’re feeling extra adventurous. 

No.29 Design has us covered on how to paint stripes on floors. Which color duo tickles your toes? 

3. Create a two-tone scheme with cheerful colors

Paint can have a transformative effect on any space. Energize and elevate your interior, whilst adding drama and depth with contrasting shades on walls and floors. Why settle for one color when you can have two? Painted floorboards are a quick project to cover up ugly wood floorboards, mid reno too. 

Shown here, inspired by nature, emotive pink and restful green make a striking yet cosseting statement in a bedroom (but would work equally well in a two-tone living room) - a swoon color duo for 2021 and 2022. For a more subtle look that still washes your space in gentle color, choose two chalky pastel shades.

4. Use stencils for a decorative rug effect

In areas like wet rooms and kitchens where rugs just aren’t practical, let floor stencils transform floorboards in a day, to add interest and decorative details. Browse and buy from a huge selection of reusable floor stencils from Cutting Edge Stencils. 

Kris Lippi, licensed real estate broker, ISoldMyHouse.com, comments: ‘If there are faded or discolored areas on the floor, consider painting that area with a pattern that resembles a rug. This is an excellent option if placing a rug isn't convenient for you, and you can't keep up with its maintenance. You can select from a wide range of patterns and stencils accessible online, including bright Moroccan-style stencils and country-style patterns. Choose a style that complements the look and personality of your home.’

5. Go bright in white

A favorite color choice for white living room ideas owing to its light-bouncing properties, space-enhancing wizardry, versatility, and timelessness, to name but a few, this go-to neutral dazzles wherever it goes - walls, ceilings, and flooring. 

Painted floorboards retain the textural warmth of the natural grain for a gorgeous rustic look, but with a chic Japandi edge, making them a perfect choice for relaxed settings with a sense of style. (Don’t forget the best mops for ultra-clean floors to keep your white delight floor spotless!)

6. Fill unused spaces with a graphic chevron design

Banish messy flooring molehills, and elevate your wooden boards into a striking mountainscape with snazzy chevron zig-zags in a monochrome palette. What’s not to love about a stop-in-your-tracks statement full of modern sass!

Kris Lippi, licensed real estate broker, ISoldMyHouse.com, comments: ‘Each house has a number of empty floor areas. These are typically found in entryways or in between rooms in a home with an open floor plan. Painting those sections with a chevron pattern is a terrific approach to give your home a fresh look and fill empty space. When painting a chevron pattern, choose colors that complement one another. An effective color scheme for chevron designs are black and white, or try an interior paint color trend 2022.’

Conquer the ‘twin peaks’ flooring dream, and recreate this look with  Dos Family’s fabulous tutorial on how to paint a chevron floor. 

7. Combine paint with decoupage paper on stairs

This effective staircase paint idea will transform your hallway into a highlight of the home - bursting with pattern and personality. And it’s a fun and calming craft for any age and ability to try! Create a unique look with mix and match decoupage paper designs, or use a single wallpaper design for a more cohesive run. Paint railings and steps in a complementary color to balance busy patterns and unify the overall look and feel. 

Breathe excitement into well-trodden stairs. If you fancy the idea of a DIY scrapbook paper stairs makeover, Color Me Thrifty will lead you all the way up the stairs (literally.)

8. Cheat and use a vinyl decal in a kid's room

Whatever your little munchkins are into - racing cars, sailing, nature trails, etc, try this fun kids’ bedroom idea and utilize the floor space as a play area with a fun vinyl sticker that doubles up as an interesting focal point. If you’re feeling artistic, you could try painting a bespoke design instead. 

Surprise your cheeky monkeys with TenStickers’ fantastic collection of vinyl flooring stickers - and let decals spread delight! 

What are the best ways to paint floors? 

Penny Swift, writer at Zen Soundproof comments: 'There are many ways that you can paint floors, but the best involves a bit of creativity. You don’t have to be a talented artist to achieve a great effect, but some artistic vision does help.' 

Here are some ideas:

1. Create a marble effect on floors, dividing it into sections that look like marble tiles.

2. Do the same by creating a granite effect, which is a lot easier for an amateur paint technique enthusiast to achieve.

3. Try marquetry on a wooden floor. All you do is seal the entire floor, and then when it’s 100% dry, tape the floor to create a simple marquetry effect with alternate light and dark squares. Seal every alternate square with a darker sealant. 

4. Use stencils to make patterns and borders that look like pretty carpets.

5. Paint a carpet on the floor using either stencils or graphics. 

What are the right materials to paint floors?

You need durable paint to withstand high traffic, so avoid using latex or water-based paints that aren’t resistant to moisture and chemicals. 

Swift continues: 'This takes a bit of research because not all materials work on floors. Ultimately, the key to a successful floor finish lies in the topcoat that will protect the paint finish below. Just be aware that many hard-wearing varnishes tend to yellow. If you take this into account when you design the colors for your floor, you’ll be okay.'

Valspar has some good options for wooden floors and porches which you can find on Amazon.

Sun, wind and rain all take their toll on the outside of your home. If yours is beginning to look shabby – or you simply want to give it a fresh new look with a different color – you’ll want to know about the cost to paint the exterior of a house.

Naturally, the size of your home will influence the final bill, but so will factors such as the style of the home, the state of the exterior, and the type of siding it has. Some types are easier and quicker to paint, reducing cost. 

We’ve put together all the details here, so you can see what you might expect to pay when you're painting the exterior of a house, along with expert advice – including whether you should DIY or not.

The average cost to paint the exterior of a house

The cost to paint the exterior of a house is between $0.75 and $2 per square foot, according to Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi. ‘But it can range from $0.50 to $3.50 per square foot,’ she says. 

To get an idea of what it might cost for your home you can do some simple math. ‘Find the total finished area – the perimeter of your home multiplied by the height – and the total paintable area – subtract the area of doors and windows from the total finished area,’ says Andre Kazimierski, CEO, Improovy Painters Glenview. Multiply the result by the high and low values in the range of costs above for an estimate for your home.

However, be mindful that there are additional elements that play into what you will pay. ‘Factors like location, accessibility, siding material and the condition of your home all play a role in determining the overall cost of the project,’ Bailey explains. Take a look.

How does house size and style affect the cost of painting the outside?

As you would expect, the cost to paint the exterior of a house generally increases with house size since painting is priced by the square foot. However, there are additional elements that impact the final bill.

‘Accessibility also plays a big role in cost, so a three-story house will likely be more expensive to paint than a single-story house,’ says Bailey.

The style – and therefore layout – of a home is a further factor. ‘For example, ranch-style homes are typically one floor, making them less expensive than mid-century modern split-levels, which will require accessing and painting additional stories,’ explains Bailey. 

‘It typically costs between $1,500 and $3,500 to paint the exterior of a ranch-style home, while that range increases to $3,000 to $6,200 for a two-story home and $4,500 to $10,000 for a three-story home.’

How does the type of siding affect the cost to paint the exterior of a house?

Siding material is another major factor in the cost to paint the exterior of a house. ‘Some materials take very little time and effort to paint, while others can be more stubborn,’ explains Bailey. ‘Brick, for example, is a more porous material, so it will take more paint to thoroughly cover a brick wall than it will a vinyl one.’

To assist your budgeting, Bailey provides the following cost guide for common siding materials:

• Metal: $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot
• Wood: $1 to $3 per square foot
• Vinyl: $1.25 to $3 per square foot
• Concrete: $1 to $3.50 per square foot
• Stucco: $1.80 to $3.60 per square foot
• Brick: $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot

Which other factors determine the cost of painting a house?

Alongside considerations about the area to be painted, the layout, and the type of siding, another crucial determinant of the cost to paint the exterior of a house is where you live.

‘Location is a huge factor when determining the cost of your exterior painting project, mainly due to the cost of labor and materials,’ says Bailey. She gives the following examples of costs to paint a 1,500 square foot home by region:

• Far West: $4,500
• Rocky Mountain: $2,900
• Southwest: $2,400
• Plains: $2,300
• Great Lakes: $3,000
• Southeast: $3,315
• Mideast: $4,300
• New England: $4,800

If you’re calling in a contractor to paint your home, Bailey emphasizes the importance of getting in-person estimates from local pros before committing. ‘Quotes will be more accurate if the pros have seen your home and can take into account its size, layout and the condition of your siding,’ she says.

Can you save by painting the exterior of your home yourself?

Painting the exterior of a house is a job you could DIY, of course. ‘If you’re handy and you have a one-story house, you can save money by painting your house exterior yourself,’ says Bailey. ‘The average cost of hiring a pro is $3,000, while DIY usually costs between $500 and $1,000.’

However, above one story and the job becomes more complicated with safety at height also an issue, and calling on a pro could well be worthwhile. 

Considering selling your home soon? ‘I typically recommend my clients hire a professional to paint the exterior of a home if possible because curb appeal is everything and that first impression is the most important,’ says real estate consultant Chase Michels of Compass, The Michels Group.  

‘It is also very time-consuming to paint an entire exterior and I don’t think most people realize how long it will take,’ he says.

Case study: historic Charleston home

Design expert Beth Martin recently finished a project on a one story 1,200 square foot house built in 1937 in Charleston, SC. 

‘It still has original siding and windows, and over time, the humid weather and brutal sun had caused damage to the paint job,’ explains Beth. ‘The owners also allowed vegetation to grow into the siding and roof, which added a ton of extra prep work. Even though the house was not large, it cost just over $10,000 due to the previous environmental damage. This could have been avoided by maintaining the growth of the greenery around the house and pressure washing yearly. Historic homes need to be re-painted more frequently, typically about every five years, due to the age of their materials.’

More often than not, the hub of the home is the place to start when you feel like refreshing your space, and when the cost of painting kitchen cabinets tends to run far less than a complete remodel, considering this DIY is a no brainer.

If you are doing this yourself, the main investment you're going to make is in purchasing the best paint for kitchen cabinets to ensure you get that professional finish. But, it's a small price to pay vs a complete kitchen upgrade. And, painting kitchen cabinets yourself instead of replacing them will save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars – whether you DIY the job or hire a pro – whilst still giving your cooking space a solid facelift.

In our eyes, the expense of this project is well worth it. Especially when there are plenty of clever ways to save along the way, without compensating on an expert finish.

Why it's worth painting kitchen cabinets

Whether remodeling a kitchen entirely or just sprucing it up a bit, tending to the cabinets can give the space a fresh new look. But that’s not all. 'Painting kitchen cabinets isn't just for aesthetic purposes,' says Kyle Richards, co-founder of Best Overland Park Painters in Kansas. 'It helps make your cabinetry last longer by protecting it from moisture, mold, and insects.' Here are some popular reasons homeowners choose to paint their cabinets:

• The cabinets have outdated, dirty, or peeling paint
• They want something new
• They’re planning to sell and want to improve the home’s value
• They’re remodeling on a budget

Also, your reason for upgrading the kitchen will influence how much money you spend on the cabinets alone. For example, a whole-kitchen gut and remodel involves removing the cabinets and treating them differently, which adds to the overall cost. But, the cost of painting the cabinets yourself in place of rejuvenating the entire kitchen saves money.

Factors that affect the cost of painting kitchen cabinets

Whatever kitchen cabinet ideas you're trying to recreate with paint, several factors impact the project’s cost – from the condition and number of cabinets to the type of paint you choose. So, let’s look at how these factors play out, whether you’re DIYing the job or hiring a professional.

The type of paint you use

The amount and type of paint required for the job impact the cost. Also, according to Richards, the kitchen paint’s color affects the price. 'This is particularly true for in-demand colors that may be more challenging to source,' he says, 'especially now that we're experiencing a shortage due to supply chain issues.'

If you’re buying off-the-shelf colors, how much will you need? 'I can do most kitchens with one gallon of primer. And for an average kitchen, you’ll need one to three gallons of color,' says Britney Johnson, owner of B-Design interior design firm in Olympia, Washington, and instructor of the Design Your Dream Home online course. However, it will cost more if you need multiple coats to cover the old color.

Even though it’s more costly, Johnson recommends enamel paint because it’s harder and dries smoother. 'Enamel paint self-levels so you don’t see the brush strokes,” she says. 'Good paint is worth the cost.'

Method of painting

Spray painting the cabinets will get the job done faster but is more costly. Most homeowners opt to brush the paint, especially if DIYing.

Conditions of the cabinets

Old, soiled cabinets cost more to paint for a professional job because of the prep work needed. However, if you’re DIYing the job, it will take more time, not money, to clean and sand the surfaces.

Supplies

Whether you spray, brush, or roll your paint, you’ll need painter’s tape and paper and plastic sheeting to cover all the surfaces you want to protect. Brushes, rollers, pans, sandpaper, and clean-up supplies also add to the cost.

The average cost to brush and roller paint the cabinets in a 10 by 10 kitchen is $1,300-2,500, according to the home services website Fixr. If you’re painting the cabinets yourself, expect to pay the following for paint and supplies. 

• Primer–$30-50 per gallon
• Paint–$50-80 per gallon
• Brushes–$10-15 each
• Painter’s tape–$5-7 per roll
• Masking paper–$4-15 per roll of 150-200 linear feet
• Plastic drop cloth sheeting–$3-10 per roll depending on size and thickness
• Sandpaper–$12-15

For a professional to paint your kitchen cabinets, expect to pay $5,000 for a medium-sized kitchen, with a range from $3,000-10,000, according to Andre Kazimierski, CEO, Improovy Painters Chicago. 'The average cost of painting kitchen cabinets is $100 per drawer face and $175 per cabinet door,' he says. Or, some cabinet painters charge by the linear foot or by the hour, with $90 per hour being average. However, labor costs will also vary depending on the following:

• Area of the country
• Condition of the existing cabinets
• Number of cabinets
• Whether the cabinets are removed or painted on-site

Site preparation

Whether taking on this DIY project yourself or hiring someone else, the site must be prepared and the other surfaces protected. Here is a breakdown of what to expect your pro painter to do, or for you to do yourself. Remember, spending the extra time to diligently prep the space will result in a cleaner and more beautiful outcome. 

• Empty all cabinets and drawers and clear everything off the countertops.
• Remove any freestanding appliances, as able.
• Move any furniture out of the space.
• Cover the countertops and floors with paper and tape in place.
• Hang plastic sheeting over the doorways, windows, backsplash, and appliances you didn’t move.
• Protect anything you don’t want paint splattered on with paper or plastic.

Ways to save on the cost of painting kitchen cabinets

Despite the savings you’re seeing by choosing to refresh rather than replace the cupboards, there are additional ways to save on the costs of painting kitchen cabinets. Here are a few to consider:

• Buy your paint during summer holiday sales like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
• Brush rather than spray paint.
• Carefully calculate how much paint you’ll need to avoid purchasing too much.
• Ask a pro painter if a paint/primer combo will work for your cabinets. 
• Use old bedsheets for drop cloths.
• Go through the entire painting process with just one cabinet to start. If you’re unhappy or find it too involved for your DIY skills, hire a professional before proceeding.
• If you’re hiring a pro, ask for a discount if you’re also painting the entire room or adjoining rooms.

Refreshing kitchen cabinets yourself is really rewarding and if you have some basic DIY skills under your belt then doing it yourself will be more cost-effective than replacing them or hiring a professional. If you feel like it's too complicated a process then of course speak to a local professional and the costs may outweigh the upheaval of trying this yourself. Either way, it's a great way to refresh your home without going the whole hog.

Valpsar has partnered with famed Astrologers, the Astro Twins, to curate the Valspar colors of the year 2022 based on your star sign. 

In September Valspar unveiled its 12 colors of the year. However, if you were struggling to choose which home decor trend to settle on between Fired Earth or Lilac Lane, the Astrotwins have stepped in to help you choose the best color for your home according to astrology. 

The Astro Twins, Ophira and Tali Edut, are the brains behind the horoscope website Astrostyle, and have authored the Elle.com horoscope column for 10 years. 

'The 2022 Valspar Colors of the Year hit all the right notes for the 2022 annual cosmic forecast,' they explain. 'In 2022, the stars call for a calming sense of connection—to ourselves, the people in our lives, and planet.'

Picking a color for your room based on your star sign might sound a little crazy, especially if your birthday lands you on a color you think you can't stand. However, the Astro twins explain that these colors aren't permanent, they are ones that will complement your star sign in the year ahead.

They can be used to cover a full wall, or as accents, nods to the colour that will help see you through 2022. After everything 2021 has thrown at us, we must admit we'll happily try anything to give us a turbo boost in the new year, especially if that includes filling our living room ideas with a revamped color scheme.

The Valspar color of the year 2022 for your star sign

• Aries - Sunset Curtains
• Taurus - Gilded Linen
• Gemini - Grey Suit
• Cancer - Delightful moon
• Leo - Mountain River
• Virgo - Subtle Peach
• Libra - Orchid Ash
• Scorpio - Fired Ash
• Sagittarius - Rustic Oak
• Capricorn - Blanched Thyme
• Aquarius - Country Chime
• Pisces - Lilac Lane

To appreciate the full benefits Ophira and Tali recommend focusing the color on your 'power room'. 'Every year you have a “power room,” an area of the house where you can align with the unique planetary alignment for your zodiac sign,' they explain. 

'You might be more drawn to the kitchen—which is the case for Pisces, whose passions are heating up in 2022. Or, if you’re an Aries, you may need more reflective time near water, a good reason to turn your bathroom into a freshly-painted sanctuary.'

If you are an avid horoscope reader, painting your power room in one of these colors is a great way to bring your horoscope to life. For the more skeptical among us, it never hurts to try, right?

Will 2022 be the year you embrace your star sign in your wall painting ideas?

Color blocking walls is a key way to add in depth, interest and of course, color into your home with paint. Unlike wallpaper, color blocking gives your the freedom to design your space exactly as you want it. You choose every color, every shape and every angle, so the look is always personal and bespoke. 

And if you're sat there thinking you don't even know how to paint a room and you don't have the steady hands for such an artistic feat, think again... With the help of some essential masking tape, a ruler and a pencil, all of these ideas are easy enough for even the most novice of DIYers. 

So from colorful kids bedroom ideas, to ways to revamp your panelling and add some organic shapes into your home, we've compiled the best ideas so you can get inspired.

Color blocking walls to add depth

'After spending the last 18 months cooped in our homes, we’re eager to open the windows and doors of our homes and let the world in. Color has been on the rise, and will continue to be in the centre of interior design in 2022,' says Sophie Hill, Marketing and Insight and Innovation at Rothley.

1. Work your panelling 

DIY panelled walls have had a bit of a moment recently, and this paint effect by Crown just takes the design to a whole new level. 

If you have panelling like this, use it as a frame to go wild with color and turn your traditional style space into a contemporary statement.

Simply apply masking tape in a slick straight line and paint for a seamless finish.

2. Clash colors

When decorating our homes, we all too often forget about the woodwork. If you're blessed with traditional coving and oak doors like this, put them in the spotlight by painting them in a contrasting shade to the rest of your walls. 

This pale blue by Mylands also helps to connect the room to the blue staircase, creating a home that visually flows. 

3. Play with stripes in a kid's room

If there's one room where you can go all experimental with color, it's a kids bedroom. This striking feature by @melanielissackinteriors is a fun and funky way to embellish and frame a gallery wall. Match up the colors of your paints to the colors in your art prints for a statement feature they'll be proud to show off to their friends. 

'The most striking color combinations are achieved when you use colors that are opposite on the color wheel like yellow and blue or red and green. These are called complimentary colors,' says Justyna Korczynska, Color Consultant at Crown.

4. Round up shapes and colors

Soft curves and rounded edges bring an organic, soothing feel to a space, and this curvy feature by @elleyhome is a perfect example. Contrasted against the sharp lines of the wooden furniture, this larger than life deep orange circle is reminiscent of the sun, bringing warmth and tranquility to the space.

Top tip– to draw out the perfect circle or semi circle, attach a piece of string to the central point, tie a pencil to the other end, pull the string tight and draw. You can buy special curved masking tape for the perfect paint finish too. 

5. Add pattern underfoot

If your floor tiles are looking a little tired but you don't want the cost or faff of replacing them, give them a face lift with a statement pattern. This abstract paint design by Annie Sloane is retro and quirky, instantly uplifting the whole space. Simply paint all your tiles in one color, then paint a contrasting shade in any shape you like over the top. This kitchen flooring idea is an easy an inexpensive route to a super personalised space. 

Top tip – always ensure to buy specialist floor paint for your floors. This will provide a less slippy finish, and should be more hardy to stand up to wear and tear. For extra protection, apply a specialist floor sealant too. 

'As greys and neutral hues are taking a back seat, interior enthusiasts are embracing color as a way of injecting personality and giving a space a new lease of life,' says Sophie Hill, Marketing and Insight and Innovation at Rothley.

6. Frame mirrors with color blocking

Give your bathroom mirrors some extra interest by painting a frame onto your wall. This is a great way to revamp your look sustainably, using what you already have and giving it a new spin. 

All you need is your existing mirrors, some left over paint, and masking tape and you're good to go. We're loving this fail safe color combo of pink and grey by Earthborn.

7. Create a splash back effect 

A kitchen splashback is often the finishing touch for a kitchen, working to pull the whole scheme together. You can get the look with paint by drawing out a simple horizontal line above your cabinets and painting above and below in different shades. 

This soft blue, Bright Skies by Dulux, adds to the nature inspired scheme of this kitchen and breathes a breath of fresh air into the space. 

'Blue tends to draw in the light, creating a restful space for the eyes and allowing our minds a moments peace in – often – hectic lives,' says Dominic Mylands, CEO at Mylands Paints. Making this soft shade the perfect hue for a busy kitchen. 

Always use a specialist kitchen paint as this will stand up to splashes and stains. 

8. Paint the walls to match the floor

Matching the floor color to the walls creates a strong statement like in this kitchen paint idea. Painting the lower third of the wall in the bright color with a neutral shade above helps create a feeling of loftiness in the room. Highlight your woodwork by continuing the color across architraves and doors in a seamless band. Use a laser level to ensure you get a horizontal line – try the Dewalt red self levelling cross line laser level from Screwfix.

9. Go big and bold with geometric

Have a blank white wall and want to liven it up without spending a fortune? Add a large area of vivid color in a strong geometric shape (using masking tape to achieve super straight lines), then place a bolt of a contrasting tone against it – the juxtaposition of these will create a cool statement.

We love how the modern lines of this sofa from Maisons du Monde work with the simple block of vibrant color behind it – try Valspar’s Premium Blend V700 in Golden Beet for a similar shade.

10. Take bright paint colors outside

Achieve a striking alfresco space with some bold blocking. The classic combination of punchy primary colors against a crisp white background instantly lifts a space. 

Add
pattern and interest with textured floor cushions for a place you’ll love to relax in. These outdoor pouffes, side table and outdoor rug from Ikea are perfect as an inexpensive way to transform your outdoor space. For a similar door paint, try Rust-Oleum Universal all-surface paint in Canary Yellow from Homebase. 

11. Use paint to create a focus 

Instead of using an oversized piece of art for your wall, create an area of interest by painting a section of wall behind a favourite piece of furniture. Increase its impact by painting a darker outer area then a slightly lighter shade inside to ‘frame’ the paint effect.  

Love this hallway idea? Find more hallway paint ideas to inspire your space.

12. Create eye-catching shapes with paint 

In a bedroom with few architectural features, you can be more daring with the pattern created by the colour blocking, while unexpected colour combinations will give your walls punch and character. 

Recreate the paint effect in this room by keeping, in the main, to a similar palette of tones, then add a surprise splash of strong colour. Mixing square blocks with geometric triangles only amplifies the effect. 

Find more paint ideas for bedrooms to find your perfect colour scheme.

13. Paint a statement ceiling 

Statement ceilings are officially a thing. Reimagining your space as having five walls rather than four can bring a whole new dimension to decorating. Patterns and textures are being used along with muted tones, but we love the impact of having a strong paint colour overhead, particularly in a bathroom where daring colour choices are limited. Find more paint ideas for bathrooms if you need still more inspiration.

Not sure where to start with painting your ceiling? We have a simple step-by-step guide to painting a ceiling to help you out. 

14. Get creative with patterns

Encourage your little explorers by using large triangle shapes to make mountain ranges as a backdrop to their room scheme. For this look, try using a dark paint against a paler background. 

For a similar effects and lots more inspiration, check out our inspiring paint ideas for kid's bedrooms.

15. Brighten up your window

Make a feature of your windows by edging them in a vibrant shade. This look can work with any colour offset against your walls – but you can afford to go bold and really make them pop. Use a fine-headed brush for precise painting.

Check out our guide to see how to paint timber framed windows. 

16. Mix and match your wallpaper

Colour blocking doesn't have to stop at paint, get creative with different patterned wallpapers. We love how this swirly, fantastical marble print looks with pops of gold and teal. You can find similar prints at John Lewis. 

17. Choose complementing colours for a subtle look

Seeee, colour blocking doesn't have to be all about crazy colours from opposing sides of the wheel. If you are after something more subtle choose similar colours, or colours that have a similar tone. Here Antibes and Miltown from B&Q's GoodHome range, have been used to to create a gorgeous backdrop for the simple white furniture. Oh and did we mention that this paint starts from just £8!!

18. Use colour blocking to fake a headboard 

No headboard? No problem. Look how in this bedroom, colour blocking has not only been used to add a load of interest, but by painting a darker pink a quarter of the way up the walls there is an illusion of a headboard. Pure magic.

Love this bedroom? Well you are going to want to check out these pink room design ideas too. 

19. Colour block with contrasting pastels

If you want to create plenty of contrast with your colour blocking but don't want anything too bold, use pastel hues. We love the combination of Turquoise Blue and Confetti from Little Greene. The Mid-century styling and some sharp black lines help to ground the look – and those pops of vivid orange? Colour blocking perfection. 

20. Go for harmonising paint tones

Create a calming scheme with hues which sit alongside one another on the colour wheel. Yellow and green are a perfect example as they work beautifully together. Used over a wall and woodwork, they can cleverly inject this block feel but with a lighter touch. Picking out one of the shades with a large piece of furniture, such as this velvet sofa from Habitat, to contrast against the background will bring the scheme together perfectly. For similar paint colours, try Sunrise and Flagon, both Crown.

21. Go for on trend pink and yellow 

Want to bring this bang on trend colour combo into your bedroom? Just pick a lovely sunny yellow (something like Farrow & Ball's Citron) and paint half the wall behind your bed. Create the contrast by picking our some pink bedding and then complete the look with a vivid yellow throw to create contrast. Total spring update in just a weekend. 

22. Use colour blocking on furniture revamps, too

So you're keen on the idea of a geometric paint effect but don't want to go overboard. We present to you: an upcycling project you can get done in an afternoon! Choose a piece of furniture that needs a bit of love, then try out a design in a colour of your choice. We love the bold colour-block effect on this wardrobe, perfect for adding a bit of drama to a kid's room. And doesn't the black contrast gorgeously with the beautiful original wood?

Take a tour of this monochrome home for more statement ideas.

• How to paint furniture

How do you color block walls?

The key ingredient for colour blocking walls is masking tape, otherwise known as painters tape. 

This is the easiest way to create crisp, sharp lines. If dividing your room into two colours, stand back and visualise where you want the divide to be. Mark the area with pencil, and then use a leveller and a ruler to mark out the line in pencil. Lay masking tape along one side of the line, ensuring you press down firmly to get rid of creases and air bubbles. 

Then you can paint directly onto the tape, and fill the entire side of the wall. The best part is peeling away the tape to reveal your perfectly sharp, straight line - it's so satisfying.

Then (once it's completely dry) repeat on the other side, applying masking tape to your newly painted wall and painting your contrasting shade right up to the edge of your previous colour. 

Peel the masking tape away carefully, stand back and admire your bespoke masterpiece.