This week’s episode of Changing Rooms on Channel 4 packed a colour punch, didn’t it? Especially Mark and Jackie’s family living room that boasted over half a dozen colours and clever techniques like colour framing with paint. Impressed, we asked our talented Content Director, Steph King, for her take. Watch our quick video to see how she created a mirror feature wall, and find our easy step-by-step guide below. 

You’ve probably heard about colour blocking with paint before. It’s a low-effort, high-impact way to add interest and style to a room using large blocks of colour. In this week’s Changing Rooms, the idea was adapted to colour framing: using paint to create geometric shapes on the wall that will showcase a piece of hanging artwork, mirror or wall-mounted light fixture. In essence, it’s about framing an item on the wall to create a focal point.

Putting this creative idea to the test, our Content Director Steph King has made a unique design statement for a hallway mirror, turning an otherwise ordinary item into a modern mirror feature wall. 

In Mark and Jackie’s living room (above), designers Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead, of 2LG Studio, used vibrant pink Heritage Pugin Red for their mirror frame, but we’ve pared it back to a gorgeous, warm Copper Blush. Choose your favourite shade, whether it’s pale and subtle or bold and striking.

Read our easy guide below for how to decorate mirrors and watch our inspiring video.

You'll need

• Dust sheets
• Good quality decorators’ low-tack/clean-edge masking tape
• Paint - emulsion
• Roller and tray for wall
• Medium brush

Plan ahead

1. Start with your mirror hanging on the wall.

2. Using a spirit level and measure, carefully use a pencil to draw a square that will surround your mirror.

3. Extend the lines at the side to the bottom of the skirting board to create a column shape.

4. Remove the mirror from the wall. Mark the lines with a low-tack masking tape and then seal the tape by lightly brushing over its edge with the base colour; this ensures a crisp, clean line.

Let's paint

5. Paint the inside of the rectangle using a roller loaded with Copper Blush and leave it to dry.

6. Once dry, apply a second coat. When it is almost dry, carefully remove the masking tape.

7. Place your mirror back on the wall, and style with a console table, lamp and accessories of your choosing.

Steph’s insider tip: Play around with the painted shape – you could opt for a giant circle rather than a rectangle.

Don’t miss the next episode of Changing Rooms on Wednesday at 8pm on Channel 4 – and stream this week's show here.