15 creative ways with paint
Adding colour is the most transformative thing you can do in a room. At the stroke (well, many strokes) of a brush a space can be transformed from cool to cosy, understated to statement, winter to spring... And it’s not just about the walls – think ceilings, fireplaces, alcoves and dados. There’s barely a surface that can’t be livened up with a hit of colour – the possibilities are endless.
Enhance a focal point
If you choose a statement piece of furniture in a striking hue, it makes sense to use that as a jumping-off point for your colour scheme. Here, the walls have been painted in an elegant olive shade that’s similar to the basin but also works with the earthy terracotta of the tiles.
Pictured: Tunstall Coral tiles, Fluted brick tiles, all Ca’ Pietra. For a similar wall colour, try Green 18 eggshell, Lick. For a similar basin, try Roberto Tiranti concrete basin, Etsy
Paint sporty stripes
Add a fun element to walls by painting stripes of varying widths. Get as creative as you like – injecting colour close to floor level is a great way to ease yourself into a bolder style of decorating. This pink and green is a failsafe combo and adds just the right amount of sweetness to the scheme.
Pictured: Wall painted in Kennebunkport Green; stripes in Apples and Pears and Unspoken Love; shutters in Springview Green; all matt sheen, Benjamin Moore. Footstool, Sofa.com
Go for top-to-toe colour
It’s all too easy to play it safe with white paint, but banishing this go-to decorating option will make space for a look that’s jam-packed with personality. This fabulous room features a warm burnt orange on the walls and ceiling, with red on the fireplace and woodwork heating it all up further, while a calming green on the coving brings some balance.
Pictured: Chair upholstered in Wilde Evergreen fabric; footstool in Franklin Evergreen fabric; sofa in Donegal Slate fabric; all from the Eccentric fabric collection from Moon. For a similar wall colour, try Tan Tan by Little Greene. For a similar woodwork colour, try Pugin Red Heritage eggshell, Dulux. For a similar coving colour, try Bancha estate eggshell, Farrow & Ball
Colour block it
Colour blocking works brilliantly with bright paint colours and can help to accentuate a bedroom corner. Use no more than three colours to keep the palette tight but play with different shapes and sizes to create depth and add personality to your space.
Pictured: Pan For Gold, Golden Gate and Glade Green, all Benjamin Moore
Blue is inherently calming, so is the perfect choice for a room where you want to relax and unwind
Match walls and cabinets
You may instinctively think of choosing different colours for your kitchen walls and units, but using the same shade on both can make it all feel less... kitcheny. A unifying hue will also help a room seem more spacious – especially if you opt for an airy shade like this lovely blue.
Pictured: Wall and cabinets in Greek Blue; table in Athenian Black; chair in Napoleonic Blue; tiles in Burgundy, Scandinavian Pink and Napoleonic Black; all chalk paint, Annie Sloan
Give your landing oomph
Transitional spaces such as hallways and landings can sometimes be a little lacklustre, but you can bring them to life so easily with some clever paint choices. Set the tone for the rest of your home by going big and bold. Combine warm and cool paint shades, like this soft yellow and deep blue, for a fun and vibrant entrance.
Pictured: Wall (main section) in Woad intelligent matt emulsion, door in Grey Stone intelligent eggshell; skirting and trim in Sunlight intelligent eggshell, all Little Greene
Frame the view
Anthracite grey has become popular for modern glazing, but why not try something a little brighter? Whether your frames are wooden or uPVC, you can give them a new lease of life with specialist paint. Choose a natural shade, like this blue-green, and make both the windows and garden beyond a focal point.
Pictured: Brondby small fabric corner sofa, Globe oak coffee table, both Furniture Village. For a similar window frame colour, try Angel Bay interior eggshell, Graham & Brown
The finish of your paint will make a difference to the look. Choose matt or suede for a warm, cocooning feel or gloss to reflect light around the room
Paint a sunshine headboard
Save space and money and bring some happy vibes by painting a headboard design directly onto your wall. Mark a line on the wall the width and height of your bed, find the middle point, then use a pin and string to draw a semi-circle. When painting, use curved masking tape for a perfect finish.
Pictured: Headboard design in Banana Split mixing matt emulsion, Dulux. For similar side tables, try Cult Furniture. For a similar pendant light, try Wayfair
Brighten up a dark staircase
Staircases are often overlooked when it comes to decorating, but giving them some love can create an unexpected mood boost between rooms. High-gloss finishes reflect light in darker spaces, and a mellow yellow shade will provide an uplifting burst of energy every time you go up or down.
For a similar wall colour, try Golden Yellow, Coat
Highlight your exit
It's the last thing you see before leaving home, so make a lasting impression by painting a frame around your door. This yellow adds a happy hit and ties in with the sofa for a cohesive scheme.
Pictured: The Lounge Co Romilly sofa footstool, Nordic oak coffee table, all Furniture Village. For a similar yellow colour, try Gamboge, Paint & Paper Library
Shift your gaze beyond the walls and explore more unusual areas that are normally overlooked
Focus on the details
It really is all in the details. When we think of updating a space with paint it doesn't have to be all four walls. Instead, think about ways to creatively highlight features or nooks and crannies. Case in point: painting a circle around this bedroom wall light and painting the side of the door frame to contrast with the door panel.
Pictured: Soft Fern, Blue Danube, Coral Gables and Decorator's White, all Benjamin Moore
Create a study space
Even if you don't have the space for a home office you can still highlight a workspace with a painted block, as seen here in a mood-lifting yet subdued orange. It creates visual interest and helps to zone the space. Framed artwork adds character and gives you something to look at if you need a break from writing!
Pictured: Freckle, Earthborn
Create a cosy seating area
In an open-plan space, carve out a dining area and make a feature of a seated nook. Choose a fresh, soothing and uplifting colour, like this versatile green, perfect for a room that plays host to intimate family meals and dinner parties.
Pictured: Village Maze and Perfectly Taupe, both Dulux
A modern twist on coving
Paint outside the lines to make an impressive impact in an otherwise pared-back space.
'Unrestricted by existing architecture or "boundaries", use masking tape to play with angles and introduce unexpected geometry to a corner, creating your own modern take on coving in a fearless, eye-catching colour such as red,' says Helen Shaw, director of marketing (international) at Benjamin Moore.
A versatile hue (from fiery red to maroon to terracotta), red paint can be confident and charismatic, or rich and sensuous. 'Pair with furniture and accessories in the same shade to lock the scheme together,' adds Helen.
Pictured: Outrageous Orange, Benjamin Moore
Add visual spice to a kitchen
In a kitchen with neutral walls and cabinets, create contrast by painting elements such as the cooker hood or light fittings, as seen here in energising pastels, which is an ideal update for spring/summer. The use of zingy hues offer a guaranteed way to instantly lift your cooking space.
Pictured: Sunset Boulevard, Lemon Twist, Hannity Green, Feather Soft, all Benjamin Moore
You Might Also Like
