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Love the place you live but feel the need to change things up a bit? It’s absolutely possible to spruce up your home decor and still stick to a budget. Give in to the urge and express yourself through colour and fun geometric patterns. Follow these cues to brighten rooms with paint ideas that are as cost effective as they are eye catching and savvy furniture upcycles you can do yourself, then bask in the glow.
Introduce an array of bright colours into your living room with creative panelling for a feature wall with a difference. The hardest part of this project will be choosing your paint colours!
First, measure your space and mark the outer panels. Use painter’s tape to mark out the area to be painted, then use a paintbrush to cut in the edges and a small roller to fill in.
Paint the remaining two panels, then leave to dry. Use tape to mark out the inner panels, then paint the areas with your chosen colour schemes. It is easiest to use a darker colour on the inner panel to create a crisp edge and avoid the paint bleeding. Remove the tape while the paint is still tacky so it doesn’t peel off.
To add the framing, measure and cut the moulding to size, using a mitre box and saw to create 45° angles on the ends. Paint the moulding your chosen colour, allow to dry then fix to the wall with construction adhesive, using a level to ensure it is straight.
Nostalgia for 1970s design sees furniture that utilises rattan and touch-me textiles like bouclé. Seek out vintage finds to restore, or invest in new pieces that pay homage to the period, then experiment with paint and moulding to create an accent wall that’s an artwork in itself.
Dark timber furniture – think teak or walnut – in geometric shapes also references the 1970s trend in room designs, but you can keep the look eclectic. Search op shops or raid your nan’s attic for quaint decor items to add warmth and whimsy.
Take a feature wall onto the ceiling for a unique focal point! Choose your colours, then paint the whole area in the paler colour and leave to dry. Decide the width of the stripes, then measure and mask off the wall and ceiling with painter’s tape. Use a small paintbrush (approximately 25mm) to cut in the edges, then a mini roller to fill in the bold colour. Remove tape while paint is still tacky to achieve neat edges.
Work lighting into your colour scheme by giving a pendant light shade a quick coat of paint. Tape off electrical wires and the inside edge of the shade. Using a sample pot (or leftover paint from your room) and a small brush, paint the outside of the lampshade. Allow to dry, then give the shade a second coat.
The bedroom calls for a calming, more muted scheme – but that doesn’t mean you have to opt for a white-wall approach. Base your palette on your favourite bed linen, and take a pillowcase in store for reference to colour match paints and create a cohesive look.
Use the hacksaw to cut the bases off two clear 1L plastic drink bottles, so they are at least 100mm shorter than the lampshade halves. Attach picture hanging wire to the back of each half-lampshade, making sure it is taut, then hang from a suitable (for wall type and weight) picture hook. Screw lids tightly onto bottles, add water and flowers and carefully position bottles in each sconce.
Tip: If necessary, wedge paper or fabric around bottles to keep them upright in sconce.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
