Day 19: Wrap It Up! How to Make Your Own Christmas Wrapping Paper

Everything you need to know to create your own gift-wrap

You put lots of thought into unique and personal ideas for presents so it seems a shame to wrap them all the same in shop-bought paper! Why not get creative and make your own gift-wrap this year? You might find that your friends and family will want to keep the paper as well as what’s inside!

And you don’t need to spend lots of time or money making it. Just use your old paint tester pots, some brown paper and a few stamps or stencils, or go freehand with a fine paintbrush if you want to create a one of-a-kind print. There’s design inspiration everywhere, we LOVE the patterns doilies make when you use them as stencils, they instantly turn a plain piece of paper into wintry wrapping paper!

If you’d like some paint to use you can get 3 free tester pots on the Amazing Space Paint website – see them as an early Christmas present from us to you! And if you love the colours as much as we think you will, buy the full tins in the New Year and treat your walls!

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Day 18: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: Create a Starry Sky in Your Little One’s Bedroom

Give the budding astronaut in your life an early Christmas present

This advent tip is for you if you’ve got a budding astronaut, astronomer or stargazer in the house, and it’s really fun to do – paint their bedroom ceiling in a restful dark blue and add light blue stars for them to gaze up at. It makes a fantastic early Christmas present for a budding astronaut, astronomer or stargazer. And who knows, if they look closely enough they may just see Santa on his sleigh flying across the night sky!

To choose the perfect shades for your little one have a look at the Amazing Space Paint collection.

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Day 17: Revamp Your Guest Bedroom With a Stylish Painted Headboard

Treat your festive visitors to a designer space to sleep in over Christmas

If your guest room needs some love why not give it a quick makeover with a designer headboard. But not the kind of headboard you’re thinking of, this one is painted onto the wall and looks like you’ve just had an interior designer to stay! It makes a striking statement and looks amazing but is quick and easy to do too – just what you need in the run up to Christmas. Here’s a video that explains how to paint it.

Then you could give your guests a few of their favourite home comforts: cosy bedding to cuddle up in on chilly nights, some storage so that they can unpack while they’re staying with you, and relaxed lighting to evoke a feeling of calm, somewhere to retreat to away from the hustle and bustle of the festivities.

Amazing Space Paint has a range of colours, features and finishes for all of your decorating projects – large or small – and you can get free 3 testers too. Our service will help you to choose the best paint for your space, customising it along the way and delivering within 48 hours.

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Day 16: Give Your Living Room Some Extra Festive Sparkle

Update your window recesses with the right paint finish to create a brighter space

If you’re looking to update your space before Christmas but don’t want to redecorate a whole room just re-painting your window recesses can be really effective.

Using emulsion with a Soft Sheen finish will reflect loads of light around the room and add heaps of Christmas sparkle. To max out the effect pop some fairy lights up at the window and their glow will shine around the entire space.

Soft Sheen is perfect for rooms that get a lot of use plus it’s washable so you can wipe the surface clean. To choose the best finish for your space check out Amazing Space Paint – you can create your own bespoke combination of shade, feature and finish, and even get 3 free testers.

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Day 14: The Secret to Keeping Your Painted Straight Lines Crisp…

Find out how to keep blocks of wall colour neat and tidy

Blocks of colour inject heaps of energy into a room but sometimes people are scared to add them because they’re worried about trying to paint a straight line. And if you’ve ever seen it, they don’t look good with curves or messy borders! But it’s actually much easier to keep your painted lines crisp than you might think and the secret is… low tack tape – add it to your Christmas list now!

You can use sticky tape (like Washi tape) whether you’re adding a single sophisticated stripe across a feature wall or a fun repeat pattern but the paint can bleed a little bit under the tape. To avoid this happening start by applying your first colour or base tone. When it’s dry, stick the tape in a straight line and using the same paint, go along the edge of it. This might seem a bit odd but it will seal the edge of your design with the colour so when you apply the second shade it won’t seep underneath – giving you a crisp and even line.

To choose the perfect colour and finish for your design visit Amazing Space Paint.

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Day 6: The Trick to Drawing Perfectly Straight Lines

Shhh! Don’t tell anyone but we’re sharing another design secret today

If all you want for Christmas is to be able to draw a straight line for your stripe effects and colour blocking, today’s advent tip is for you. And it’s super simple – all you need is some string and a piece of children’s chalk.

First of all, decide where you want the line to be on the wall (vertical or horizontal) and measure it out. Then cut a piece of string the same length plus an extra 50cm or so and rub the chalk along the entire length of the string.

Either using low tack tape or by getting a friend to help, fix or hold the string against the wall and grab the other end. Then ‘ping’ it by pulling the string away from the wall. It will snap back against the surface leaving a faint chalk line for you to follow (using children’s chalk means you can easily dust it off when the paint has dried).

Use the tape to define a straight line for a clean crisp line or create a soft faded effect by going freehand with dry brushing.

To create a bespoke colour and finish to use with your colour blocking visit Amazing Space Paint.

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Day 1: How to Create a Clever Christmassy Snow Effect – With Just Paint

A really fun way to make your walls all wintry using matt and shine emulsions

Like all of our favourite tips this one is simple but effective! All you do is choose two complementary paint colours – we’ve chosen an off-white in the lovely modern Matt finish to form the ‘wintry background’, and a light grey in Soft Sheen to be the ‘snow’. Matt is the most popular of our paint finishes and you can use it in any room, while Soft Sheen works anywhere and adds extra light to your space. Combined they create the perfect look for Christmas!

Creating this effect is not as hard as it looks if you follow our step-by-step guide:

Step 1:

Prepare your walls ready for painting.

Step 2:

Paint the base colour onto your walls in an off-white paint in a Matt finish. Then allow it to dry completely.

Step 3:

While your walls are drying prepare 4 circular stencil templates out of card or heavy paper, like the ones below.

Step 4:

When your walls are completely dry (with a second coat if needed), you’ll need to create a straight line from the ceiling to the floor, which you can do using a piece of string with a weight on the bottom.

Make your own with a piece of string and a heavy item – like a stone or a screwdriver – tied to one end. Then rub children’s chalk along the string and attach the end without the weight to the top of your wall with masking tape. Once the string is stationary, hold it taught at the bottom and pluck it. This will leave a chalked mark on your wall for lining up your stencils.

If you don’t want to make your own Plumb Line you can purchase a ready-made one.

Step 5:

Line up your stencils along the line on the wall evenly spaced and attach them with masking tape.

Using a foam roller, paint the circle with light grey paint in a Soft Sheen finish, which reflects more light than Matt. Remove the stencil after painting and repeat until you’ve completed the line.

Alternatively you can use the stencil or a circular object (a plate or coaster) to draw a circle on the wall, then fill it in freehand with a small paintbrush.

Step 6:

Stand back and admire your own Christmassy snow effect wall!

You can find out more about the Amazing Space finishes and order your perfect paint here.

 

Don’t forget to return to us tomorrow for more festive tips and inspiration!

Transform your kid’s room into a playful paradise

Decorating your kid’s bedroom can seem like no easy feat… until you read this page!

Their personal taste can change from minute-to-minute – it’s all part of the fun of growing up. But finding a fun theme and transforming their room into a playtime-ready space that encourages them to pursue their passions is easier than you think.

Jungle Fever

Explorers and nature-loving little ones will find plenty of adventure in a jungle-inspired bedroom. Start with painting in the lush-green horizon backdrop using deep to light shades for your rainforest. Fill up with their favourite jungle animals to complete the look.

TOP TIP: Use 1000 grade lining paper and tear towards you when you make your jungle-scape.

Call in the clowns

The Circus is in town! For all the fun of the fair, look no further than this circus-inspired big top ceiling effect.

TOP TIP: If you’re not sure how to find the centre of the ceiling, find it by snapping a chalk line diagonally from one corner of the room to another – the centre is where the two lines cross. Et voilà!

Out of this world

Create a bedroom fit for budding astronauts with a space-themed bedroom fronted with this galactic paint effect accent wall. The starry bedroom scheme is no rocket science, but some paint brush splattering in a Space Odyssey approved Rich Black, Purple Pout, Striking Cyan and White Cotton.

TOP TIP: To avoid uttering those immortal words ‘Houston, we have a problem’ try out the spattering technique on some paper before you hit the wall.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?…

…it’s a striking city skyline for your little superhero’s bedroom. Transform their room into a batman/superman ready metropolis to develop and nurture their own super do-good powers.

TOP TIP: A little heads up before you spring into action: to get a sharp point on the inside edge of the building shapes, press your fingernail into the corner you want to create at an angle – and tear the masking tape upwards and away from corner.

On your marks, get set, transform!

Attention all sports fans! What better environment to nurture energy-filled kids than with a vibrant sports-themed zone of their own? Create a space for them that echoes their favourite hobbies and may help in taking them the extra mile when it comes to seeing their goals through.

TOP TIP: Make sure that the foam roller or sponge for stencilling doesn’t have too much paint on it when you apply paint through the stencil. Load it with paint and then roll or dab off the excess onto some old paper before you start.

Feeling inspired but not sure how to bring any of these ideas to life? Let our Dulux Design Experts help you.

An Eye for Detail: How to Make the Most of Your Skirting Boards, Cornices and Architraves

Create a completely new look by focusing on the finer points

You’d be forgiven for not always thinking about your skirting boards, cornices and architraves when you design your home but bringing them into your scheme can make a big difference to the overall look and feel of each room. Whether you’ve got an old home with ornate period features or a modern house you’d like to put your stamp on, a little attention to detail goes a long way.

 

Keep it white and bright

Using white on your skirting boards (which, just to remind you, are at the bottom of the wall), cornices (are just below the ceiling) and architraves (around the doors and windows) looks really crisp and clean, it draws your eye to them and creates a different look depending what colour your walls are. White makes a striking contrast against the dark blue and a more classic look alongside pale green. For a dazzlingly bright effect and a spacious, airy feel go for white details and white walls – just keep a can of paint handy in case you need to touch-up any scuff marks over time.

 

Add your own skirting

If you live in a modern house it probably won’t have skirting boards but you can add your own by painting them onto the wall – it adds interest and bags of style to a plain space. You don’t have to daub a big, bold stripe around the room (unless you want to), a thin strip of colour is just as effective. If you’d prefer a less dramatic look paint the window frame and add a splash of colour that way instead.

 

Create drama with continuous colour

For a sophisticated look use the same colour on the skirting, cornicing, architraves and walls then arrange your accessories on floating shelves, hang your favourite artwork nearby and allow the continuous colour to act as a theatrical backdrop. If you’re not sure which colour/s would suit your room tell us about your space and we’ll be able to help.

TOP TIP: the ombre effect is on trend at the moment (for hair, walls, curtains…) so we’ve painted the dado rail (above) the same shade as the bottom section of the wall. How about trying it in your space?

 

Bold looks for brave designers

Top marks for creativity if you give one of these looks a go. The first combines two ideas we’ve already mentioned: painting the skirting (we’ve gone for our favourite – grey) then adding a vibrant dash of colour with the yellow stripe. If you’re tempted to be even more daring you could try the second effect and paint the stairs. It packs a punch so you won’t need any other colour on the staircase. And lastly, our we-learnt-it-the-hard-way tip is to remember to bring everything you’ll need for the day downstairs before you start painting!

Whether you’ve got a period property with decorative skirting boards, cornices and architraves or your home is a plain canvas and you want to add your own, thinking about the details in your design scheme will make a BIG difference to the overall look and feel of a room.

If you’re feeling inspired to update your space and would like our help start your project today.

Create a His ‘n’ Hers Bedroom You’ll Both Love

Read on for our top tips to create harmony in the bedroom

You love muted tones, floral patterns and luxurious curtains, he wants strong colours, clean lines and a minimalist style – or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, we’ve come up with a few ideas to help you settle it once and for all by combining both styles to create a bedroom you’ll both want to spend lots of time in…

Neutral Territory

How about introducing something new to the bedroom with a feature paint effect? This grid pattern is made up of different shades and tones from the neutral colour palette (below) and creates a gorgeous calming space. To continue the light and airy feel, go for minimal furniture, light wooden Scandi pieces work really well – they’re functional and add chic style.

Bring the room together by adding cushions, throws and accessories, and don’t just concentrate on colour, when you chose your accessories try to combine different textures, materials and patterns. When it comes to colour, hints of lavenders, blues, and lime greens will contrast with the neutral colour palette and look great. If you’re struggling to choose your colour scheme, we can help.

 

A match made in heaven

By bringing form and function together – with some clever design thrown in – you can make sure that your bedroom furniture is both practical and stylish. Minimal and structured pieces have a masculine feel, and dark wood will add a macho touch without feeling too heavy. Then you can use soft furnishings and accessories to add femininity. Green tones are our top colour pick for turning a joint bedroom into a calming sanctuary, they’re so relaxing and there are tones to suit any tastes. This beautiful space above looks like an extension of the garden.

TOP TIP: use colours on the same stipe cards when you’re accessory shoppping to make sure that the colours you use work really well together.

 

True blue

Blue is a sophisticated colour and looks great in grown up bedrooms, there’s a huge range of gorgeous tones to choose from. Pale hues create a light and airy atmosphere and will make the space feel bigger and brighter, for balance add accessories in warm rich shades to make your bedroom more inviting. Darker shades look really dramatic in large spaces and will give your bedroom an intimate feel. Finally, add pops of colour with accessories in gorgeous raspberry reds, butter yellows and copper oranges.

 

Whichever look you go for we hope you end up in a bedroom you both want to spend many happy hours in. If you’d like us to create a bespoke bedroom for you and your other half start your project now.