Poppy's choice: PAINTED BORDER

Add a dash of colour to a plain window or doorway with a decorative painted feature in a pretty pastel shade

- LISA FAZZANI

Colourful paint effects are a fun way to brighten up plain white walls and small areas like this window frame are a great place to start if you’re experimenting with paint for the first time.

Go for a contrast

Painting a scalloped or wavy-edge border around a window frame or recess is a great way of adding interest to a plain area and turning it into a decorative feature. You’ll only need a small amount of paint in a bright, contrasting shade, so mini tester pots or paint left over from your other DIY projects are ideal.

Create your own design

Painting a design freehand (like Poppy did here) might be an option if you’ve a very steady hand and are a confident painter, creating a flowing look. You could mark out the area to be painted in pencil first, so you can make sure that you are happy with how the design will look before you fill it in with paint.

Make a template