9 simple wall paint ideas that will transform your interior on a budget

First rule of home updates: never underestimate the versatility and effect of a fresh lick of paint. This goes for just freshening up the walls of a room, making a statement with a feature wall or letting your creative juices flow with some wall painting effects. 

There are so many wall painting ideas that can transform your interior, from block painting and paint effects to a colour scheme overhaul - it's too much to fit into a single blog post. We've collated some simple and wall painting ideas to really ramp up your home style and give you that creativity springboard to get you started.

If you're overwhelmed by the possibilities and could do with some hand-holding, do not fear! Book your room design today to bring your dream home to life 

1. A colourful corner

If you have a dual-function room, or simply want a pop of colour, then just painting a section or a corner is the perfect solution. This technique can not only add a touch of style and personality to your space but also serve a practical purpose by zoning different areas for work, dining, or reading.

By using clean lines and a rectangular shape, you can create a visually appealing painted section that not only adds dimension to the overall design of the room. This versatile approach allows you to create distinct zones within a single space, maximising its functionality while adding an artistic touch.

Whether you want to create a cosy seating area or highlight a specific corner for a particular activity - painting a section or a corner can transform your room and make it truly unique.

Stripes

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Stripes have long been a beloved design element in interior design, and for good reason. They add visual interest but can even create the illusion of height or width in a space. Whether you opt for bold, contrasting stripes or subtle, tone-on-tone variations, incorporating painted stripes into your interior design can instantly elevate a room.

Arches

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If you've been keeping up with your interior blogs and magazines, you'll know that abstract shapes are huge now.  Here, they aren't just adhering to the dark colour trend but also incorporating some of those arched abstract shapes too, all the while adding drama to the room. 

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Diagonal lines 

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The addition of a diagonal line adds a playful and creative element. While the darker paint creates a distinct working area, the light tone ensures that the room remains bright and open. To enhance the playful atmosphere in this kids' bedroom, our designer incorporated gold stickers, adding a touch of fun and drawing attention to this corner of the room.

Need help getting those perfectly straight paint lines?! The paint pros at Lick gave us a demo:

2. Painting ideas to conceal and hide

Paint can be a powerful tool when it comes to transforming the look and feel of a room. Not only can it add colour and personality, but it can also be used strategically to conceal and hide certain elements, creating the illusion of space. This is particularly useful in small rooms where every inch counts.

Radiators reworked

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There are some exceptions but I think we can all agree that, on the whole, radiators aren't the prettiest things - sorry radiators, we love your warm personality though! Radiator covers are great, but can often look misplaced or stand out even more.

To make them blend seamlessly into your interior, paint them the same colour as the wall. This way, they become less of a focal point and more of a subtle background feature.

Ready to transform your home? Book a room design from just £395!

Concealed cabinets 

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Wardrobes and built in storage can also benefit from the magic of paint. Sometimes you want your cabinets or sideboards to be a feature in the room, while other times you prefer them to fade into the background. By painting them the same colour as the wall, you can create a seamless and cohesive look, where the cabinets become a part of the overall design rather than stealing the show.

Hide your TV with paint

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Our interior designers are double as couple counsellors during the design process and one common battleground is the TV! It might be unsightly, but let's face it - we all use it! 

Paint can be a great way to help it blur into the background slightly. Imagine if this wall above was white rather than dark blue - the TV would stick out lick a sore thumb!

Want to feel at home in your living room? Our designers are tailored to you and will create a design you love!

Provide a fuss free backdrop for your art

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Gallery walls are still very much a style icon in the world of interiors, and there is so much diversity when it comes to creating them. If you struggle from interior commitment issues, then using picture shelves might be the answer for you, as you can change, edit and update your gallery wall to your hearts content.

For a united look, paint the shelves the same colour as the wall - this ensures that there are no distractions from your beautiful artwork.

Don't skimp on the skirting

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For some reason, it's a commonly held belief that all skirting boards must be white! However, it's time to break free from this traditional mindset and explore the endless possibilities of adding colour to your skirting boards. 

If your walls are any colour other than white, you're simply highlighting them and drawing the eye down rather than up. By painting them and your door frames the same colour as the walls, you create the illusion of extra space - perfect for small rooms where you need to use every trick in the book!

Are you overwhelmed by all of the design decisions? Book a free call with one of our professionals who can help guide you:

3. Painting ideas to draw the eye

As you've just discovered, paint has the power to transform and hide architectural features in a room that you don't want to take centre stage. But don't forget, paint can also be used strategically to draw attention to specific areas in a room too. Explore these wall painting ideas that will create a captivating focal point in any space.

Zone your working space

You're never going to wonder where the working area is in this room! A feature wall can do just that like the image above.

You could even paint a simple strip of paint the same width as the desk to ground the study space and adds a vibrant pop of colour that will make you feel happy even when you're hard at work.

Zoom background feature wall

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Use paint to create a captivating and eye-catching zoom background in your home office. One option is to create a feature wall behind your desk. Choose a bold and vibrant colour that complements your office décor and personal style. This will not only provide an interesting backdrop for your video calls but will also add a sense of depth and dimension to the room.

Another idea is to use stencils or decals to create a unique pattern or design on your wall. This can be a great way to incorporate your personal interests or brand identity into your home office. Whether it's a geometric pattern, a floral motif, or even your company logo if you're that kind of employee! Whatever takes your fancy, this creative touch will make your zoom background truly one-of-a-kind.

Can't decide on what colour and style is best for your home? Book a design from just £395!

Make a feature out of a quirky nook

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It's time to embrace all the little nooks and crannies in our home and unleash the transformative power of paint. These often overlooked spaces can be transformed into charming and unique features with just a splash of colour. Whether it's a cosy alcove, a tucked-away corner, or a quirky architectural detail, painting these areas can bring them to life and add character to your home.

4. Half height delights

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There is flexibility with this idea as we're not limiting our 'half-height delights' to exactly halfway up your wall. Creating a horizontal line around your room by dissecting the wall with colour is a fantastic way to enhance your décor, whether this be dictated by a picture rail, dado rail or a statement piece of furniture or just a distance chosen by you, it's going to add that bit of extra pizzazz. 

Inspired by our wall paint designs but not quite sure where to start? Book a free chat today:

Shelf height 

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Not sure where to stop the paint? There are many ways to frame your paint section, whether this be following the height of wall hooks, a shelf, a ceiling line before it starts sloping, a picture ledge or a picture or dado rail. It gives a really complete and clean finish to your painting project. 

5. Complete coverage

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We're talking from the bottom of your skirting, right over the coving and cornices and across the ceiling. Painting everything possible on the wall (yep, we recommend including any alcove shelves or cabinets too) elongates the walls and can make the room seem much larger and grander. Plus, the finish is complete continuity! 

Struggling to pick out the perfect colour for your room? Tash from Lick shares her tips for choosing the perfect hue:

6. Painted ceiling ideas 

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Yep, just take that paint and put it everywhere. Ok, it doesn't need to go everywhere, but it certainly can. The 5th wall, otherwise known as the ceiling, often gets forgotten about, which is strange as this is the largest expanse of wall that you will see without it being interrupted by furniture - it makes sense to give it some paint loving! 

Have a read of our blog post on how to pull off the dark painted ceiling trend.

Need help choosing colours for your home? Book your room design today to bring your dream home to life 

Continue your statement wall onto the ceiling

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Painting the walls and ceiling doesn't mean everything has to be the same colour. Remember feature walls? Yep, they're still a thing. If you've chosen a feature wall paint colour, you could double that statement by continuing the colour onto the ceiling - it really gives the room that extra oomph! 

Zone an area with a painted ceiling

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It doesn't have to be all or nothing when it comes to painting the ceiling. In fact, using paint on the ceiling sparingly can create a unique and eye-catching effect, especially when zoning. By painting just a portion of the ceiling in a different colour or adding a subtle pattern, you can create a distinct zone within the room. This approach adds depth and visual interest without overwhelming the space.

Whether you want to create a cosy dining corner or highlight a specific area, painting the ceiling in a nook can work wonders.

Do you have an open plan space that you struggle to divide and zone? We can design a home that is beautiful yet functional. Book your room design from just £395:

7. Accentuate your alcoves

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Looking for some more alcove inspiration? Check out our blog on bespoke furniture to maximise space.

The perfect 'shelfie'

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One of the most popular ways to utilise accents is to include some bespoke shelving. This gives the opportunity to further accentuate how we style these shelves using paint. Whether it's just painting the wall behind the shelves a different shade or colour or painting the whole lot for a complete finish. 

Want to turn your home office into a more productive space? We can design your room from just £395!

Making your space work for you

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As we mentioned, more people are working from home and therefore needing to use transient spaces to create working spaces. A lot of alcoves are just about the perfect size to slot in a desk, bespoke or off the shelf, into and add shelves above. Use paint to zone these spaces and make them a different area to the rest of the room, so that when you sit down, you know it's time to get your mind into working mode! 

8. 2D headboards

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Painting a perfect circle or arch behind the centre of the bed is taking the interior Instagram world by storm - why are we seeing it so much? Because it's such a striking yet understated way to add colour and a feature to your bedroom! 

Disclaimer: you don't need to get rid of your current headboard even if you are painting one on the wall - they can work in perfect harmony together! Using paint in an interesting way only adds to your bedroom and can make it a more dynamic design, harnessing the focal points of the room.

Looking to transform your bedroom? Book a bedroom design for just £395!

Layering colour blocking feature wall

Paint blocking is so hot right now and we can see why. It allows you to really have fun with your colour schemes and create a look that's a little different to your standard room. Colour blocking behind your bed can further frame it, creating an even more prominent focal point in the room. 

Take the headboard higher

Such a simple yet effective paint design. Take the width of the bed, or slightly wider, and paint a strip on the wall behind - when you get to the ceiling, keep going. Just make sure you keep the strip on the ceiling the same width as the strip on to wall and it's directly adjacent - we don't want these lines going off on a tangent!

A cosy shelter

'How do I make my bedroom even cosier?' we hear you ask. Well, create the illusion of a larger alcove or shelter by painting on the walls parallel to the bed and directly above, on the ceiling - just make sure all the painted strips are the same width! 

9. Paint your panelling

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If you have a character property, you have the perfect opportunity to enhance its unique features with painted panelling. By painting the panelling in a contrasting or complementary colour, you can draw attention to this stunning architectural detail and make it a focal point in the room. 

Check out our dedicated panelling guide here.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Need help choosing colours for your home? Book your room design today to bring your dream home to life