Episode 5 Recap

Changing Rooms: all you need to know about episode 5

This week’s Changing Rooms was a riot: vivid hues, offbeat colour combinations, statement walls and a medley of decorating effects from colour banding to painted headboards. We’ve also rounded up the episode’s funniest moments, the designers’ inspiration and some expert tips so you can recreate - or adapt - Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Russell & Jordan’s boldest décor concepts at home.

Room 1: The Villa Villainess

The room: Kerry and Sophie’s bedroom, dunked by leather-clad Laurence Llewelyn Bowen into swirling layers of rich purple, berry and pink and featuring a bespoke pergola-effect headboard and statement ceiling. He also adorned the wall with a fantastical digital wallpaper design – and a gilt-framed portrait… of himself.

Laurence’s inspiration: Superheroes! Laurence sought to bring a “villain’s lair” vibe to the home of Marvel and DC superfans Kerry and Sophie. Cue richly pigmented, ka-pow colours and over-the-top design details.

The colour scheme: The walls and ceiling were coated in Velvet Robe, while the voluptuous headboard arch effect came to life with Berry Smoothie, Velvet Robe, Party Balloons and Sweet Pink – just watch our how-to video to see how you can recreate this look at home. The ceiling effect was created by dappling Berry Smoothie with Sea Nettle and Blue Incense.

Biggest surprise: The first paint can that LLB popped open during the “get your lids off” moment. It was - uncharacterisitically - Brilliant White. He was having us on, of course.

What we learned: After years of knocking down walls to create an “open plan” space, we’re ready to embrace a wall – especially if it means gaining an airy, calm (and very white) office like the one Laurence carved out for Kerry and Sophie.

Best quote: Pleased with his design for Kerry and Sophie, Laurence says triumphantly: “Who brought the sauce? I brought the sauce!”

Made by Marianne: We asked our Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, for some alternative colour palettes inspired by Laurence’s vision for the room: Using paint to create a bit of interest in a relatively plain room without any architectural features is a brilliant (and cost-effective) idea. We loved the way Laurence used painted concentric arches behind Kerry and Sophie’s bed for a bit of extra punch. If the pop of pinks isn’t for you, the beauty of this technique is that it can be completed in any combination of colours to create differing effects. If you like the idea of tonal graduating colours, then use colours in the same colour family in light and dark shades. For example, if green was more your thing, you could use Tranquil Dawn, Overtly Olive and Pebble Shore to create a more sophisticated alternative. Or you could go all out with a rainbow of different brights such as Raspberry Diva, Blood Orange and Golden Sands for your very own bedside sunset.

Room 1: The Villa Villainess

Hold and swipe to view the full room

After

Before

Featured Colours

Room 2: The Acid House

The room: Kath and Keith’s living room, a space that had been arranged entirely around Keith’s high-tech sound speaker system.

Jordan and Russell’s inspiration: A forward-looking twist on “cottage core”: mixing vintage pieces and cosy vibes with bright and modern - yet slightly offbeat - hues.

The colour scheme: The feature wall with its clever cabinetry (thanks, Tibby Singh!) was polished off with a lick of Palm Night, while the colour banding effect was created with Sweet Citrus and Guild Green. A single coat of Simply Refresh Egyptian Cotton on the upper walls and ceiling added crispness and a bit of breathing space to the room.

What we learned: We’ve long used paint to mimic architectural features in a room, such as a split wall, but Jordan and Russell’s approach to colour-banding brings a contemporary edge to the technique. And once the room is prepped, it’s easy to do! Visit our step-by-step video and article if you want to inject some playful colour into your space at home. (PS: we also learned that we really, really want a bar cart.)

Biggest surprise: Russell’s “floating” top half – his bright yellow trousers matched the paint colour so exactly they disappeared into the wall.

Best quote: Russell promises to deliver a brilliant design for Kath and Keith’s home: “We are going to take this from Bunga-low to Bungal-Whoa!”

Made by Marianne: “That yellow – that’s definitely put the acid in this Acid House scheme! If you are looking for something a little less acid, and a bit more PH neutral, then you’ll be glad to hear with some alternative colour choices you can still have the impact without the need for sunglasses. We love the coloured banding technique that creates a interesting feature around the room, much like a dado or picture rail might do. If Russell & Jordan’s zingy Sweet Citrus isn’t your thing, consider an alternative colour such as sultry Denim Drift with a Pressed Petal band for a relaxed vibe with a pop of ever-so fashionable pink. Alternatively, sticking with the green theme from the show, you could use a toned-down palette of cosy Overtly Olive on the bottom with a pop of mustard toned Golden Sands. For even more design kudos, carry those colours over the doors and woodwork too.”