Update with Paint

We’ve got this covered! Here’s everything you need to know about paint, from choosing the best finish to finding the right shade

Feature Emma Fishman

Don’t be bamboozled by all the different paint types and finishes. We’ve done all the hard work so you can choose the perfect paint solutions and get the very best results. Paint is an inexpensive way to instantly transform the look and feel of your home, and this is the perfect time of year to brighten it up with a new colour palette. No matter how big or small your home is, a quick update with paint can make all the difference. Make use of a weekend or two and give your home a colourful new makeover. Happy painting!

How much paint will you need?

Measure the height and width of your walls to get a square meterage. Then multiply this by the amount of coats you’ll need. Paint pots will indicate the coverage on the tin. If you’re stuck, find a paint calculator online to work out how much paint you’ll need, but as a rough guide, a 2.5 litre pot will cover a 30 square metre wall area. B & Q have an easy paint calculator for extra reassurance.

LIVING ROOMS

Be creative in your living room and decorate with a colour or pattern that reflects your personality and makes your home your own.

If you can’t decide on one colour why not jump straight in there with two? Colour clashing combinations can result in the most adventurous spaces full of fun and energy

Lion’s Mane matt emulsion, £15.99 per 2.5l; Cherry Drop matt emulsion, £15.99 per 2.5l, both Wickes

Mix it up and be creative with a geometric paint effect to make your wall really stand out. Mark out your pattern with a pencil, straight edge and painter’s tape and then begin to customise your wall. Either paint in the triangles with a small paint brush or use a stamp to create the desired effect. Continue the fruity theme around the room and paint a side table too

Flame Frenzy 5; Sweet Citrus; Patisserie Pink Endurance+ matt, all £29.99 per 2.5l, Dulux

if you don’t want to go all out and paint the whole room, then just treat an alcove to your favourite colour and make it really stand out. The name of this classic 20th-century shade, moon shadow, was not inspired by a colourful lunar cast, rather the hue of the earth as seen by man, from the moon’s surface in 1969

Main wall: Slaked Lime Deep; alcove: Moon Shadow; skirting: Slaked Lime Deep, all £38 per 2.5l absolute matt emulsion; £54.50 per 2.5l intelligent eggshell, all Little Greene

Think outside the box when it comes to your pot of paint. add a simple, horizontal stripe in fuchsia pink to mark out different areas in the room. it’s enough of a statement to give the room the absolute