7 Clever Ways Paint Can Enhance Your Home's Decor
From zoning to tricking the eye, take a look at these ideas for using paint to create smart effects
Paint isn’t just about bringing colour to a space – it can also be used to give a different look to a room. Check out these homes, where paint has been added to create an interesting effect, divide areas, overcome architectural challenges or make a room feel more spacious.
Replicate lines
Here’s a smart way to bring together old and new in your home. The wooden handrail above the ornate balustrade shows off the period feel of the house, while the bold orange strip along the bottom of the wall is clean and contemporary.
Despite the opposing styles, the two elements replicate each other in colour, shape and direction, bringing a cohesive look to the whole space.
Find professionals to help design your home
Here’s a smart way to bring together old and new in your home. The wooden handrail above the ornate balustrade shows off the period feel of the house, while the bold orange strip along the bottom of the wall is clean and contemporary.
Despite the opposing styles, the two elements replicate each other in colour, shape and direction, bringing a cohesive look to the whole space.
Find professionals to help design your home
Join the dots
The ceiling on this landing is anything but bland, with various sloped areas forming interesting angles. It gives the home character, but when it came to painting it, it was tricky to decide which areas were ceiling and which walls.
The answer? Neaten up the space with a line starting just below the lowest angle and running straight around the room. The designer has painted the walls in a bold salmon pink, which sharply contrasts with the crisp white above, making a feature of the scheme.
The ceiling on this landing is anything but bland, with various sloped areas forming interesting angles. It gives the home character, but when it came to painting it, it was tricky to decide which areas were ceiling and which walls.
The answer? Neaten up the space with a line starting just below the lowest angle and running straight around the room. The designer has painted the walls in a bold salmon pink, which sharply contrasts with the crisp white above, making a feature of the scheme.
Lead the way
The staircase in this small hallway was widened towards the bottom to fill the area next to the glazed partition. To turn it into a feature, the designer has painted a grey stripe up one side.
The coloured steps point to where it’s suitable to walk, as well as bringing some playful interest to the stairs.
Take a look at more staircase designs from around the world
The staircase in this small hallway was widened towards the bottom to fill the area next to the glazed partition. To turn it into a feature, the designer has painted a grey stripe up one side.
The coloured steps point to where it’s suitable to walk, as well as bringing some playful interest to the stairs.
Take a look at more staircase designs from around the world
Add new period details
Give a nod to those features that might originally have been part of your house by recreating them with paint.
Here, for example, a block of dark colour stops where a dado rail would traditionally have been fitted. The bold contrast with the green above is modern enough to turn it into a fun feature that mixes old ideas with new design.
Give a nod to those features that might originally have been part of your house by recreating them with paint.
Here, for example, a block of dark colour stops where a dado rail would traditionally have been fitted. The bold contrast with the green above is modern enough to turn it into a fun feature that mixes old ideas with new design.
Go for it
Another way to be more creative with your interior paint is to cover all surfaces with the same colour. In this space, the designers have chosen a vivid teal shade and used it on all the walls and joinery.
By teaming this bold hue with a simple white sink and natural wood surfaces, they’ve managed to make the space feel calm and cosy, rather than busy.
Another way to be more creative with your interior paint is to cover all surfaces with the same colour. In this space, the designers have chosen a vivid teal shade and used it on all the walls and joinery.
By teaming this bold hue with a simple white sink and natural wood surfaces, they’ve managed to make the space feel calm and cosy, rather than busy.
Play with space
Some smart paint tricks can work wonders in a bijou hallway like this one. A triangle of colour covers two walls and the door, finishing in the adjacent space.
By leading the eye along the diagonal to the side of the room, the painted area makes the space appear wider than it actually is.
Read more:
The Secret to a Long-Lasting Wall Paint JobWhere to Use Which Paint?
Tell us:
Which of these paint ideas would you use in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Some smart paint tricks can work wonders in a bijou hallway like this one. A triangle of colour covers two walls and the door, finishing in the adjacent space.
By leading the eye along the diagonal to the side of the room, the painted area makes the space appear wider than it actually is.
Read more:
The Secret to a Long-Lasting Wall Paint JobWhere to Use Which Paint?
Tell us:
Which of these paint ideas would you use in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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In a small, open-plan space, creating clear divisions between each area can make the room feel more functional. Here, the designer has used paint to zone the dining area and ensure it feels separate from the kitchen and living space.
A subtle stripe of pale grey runs up from the floor and partway across the ceiling, framing the dining table. The block of colour helps to ground the table in the space, and also provides a decorative background for a shelf of plants.