Micro makeovers

You don’t have to paint an entire wall or a whole room to see the transformative power of paint, as these micro makeovers demonstrate. Not only do they provide stylish updates for your space – adding colour, flair and character – but they’re sustainable, too. By upcycling something that’s otherwise going unused with a simple lick of paint, you’re giving it a brand-new lease of life, and avoiding buying anything new in the process. Plus, most of these DIY ideas can be done using a leftover can! A win-win, don’t you think? Here, we show you how to tackle seven quick and easy projects, all achievable in just a few hours.

It’s not only generous spaces that can benefit from colour-drenching – soaking a room’s walls and woodwork in the same shade – as this tight corner demonstrates. Pressed Petal™ has been painted in a bold stripe to highlight a lush collection of plants and complement crisp walls in Timeless™. As we used SimplyRefresh Multi-surface, no priming was necessary, meaning we could get straight to it. To take the technique further, why not extend the colour onto the ceiling – either as a continuation of the stripe or the whole thing – and replace the razor-sharp line with a fading ombré effect that sees the two shades gradually blend? Otherwise, simply paint the skirting all the way around the room, or swap out Pressed Petal™ with something deeper like Pine Needle or Decadent Damson.

A pre-loved sideboard from eBay – an emporium of vintage finds, heirloom pieces and antique treasures – can be given much-needed va-va-voom with a lick of paint. Here, we’ve turned ours from drab to fab by upcycling it in lush Pine Needle, painting directly onto the surface thanks to Simply Refresh Multi-surface, which colours and primes at the same time. Its clever 2-in-1 formula can be applied directly to bare or previously-painted wood, metal, melamine and MDF. That means you’re limited only by your imagination when it comes to trawling for treasure on eBay, while a spectrum of fresh colours opens a world of possibility. The result for our sideboard is a glamorous green that’s both on-trend and timeless, while providing ample storage and a platform for displaying favourite pieces. Alternatively, why not leave the exterior bare, and paint the inside of the doors for a colourful surprise when they’re opened?

Without the humble radiator, a house wouldn’t be half as warm and welcoming, so why not give it the love it deserves? Painted radiators – such as ours in Decadent Damson offset against a wall in Timeless™ – aren’t just on-trend, but they’re a great way to blend them into the background or make stylish models pop. For the latter, warm colours work well to reflect the heat radiating from them, whether sunny Honey Nut™, tropical Coral Charm™ or floral Pressed Petal™. Once you’ve nailed one, have fun and experiment by painting every other column in a striking shade, leaving a look-at-me stripe effect. The best bit? You can apply paint directly with SimplyRefresh Multi-surface.

Whether they’re the next Picasso or Van Gogh, your children’s artwork deserves more than displaying on the fridge, which can become cluttered with paper and magnets in no time. Instead, hang their creations pride of place by curating a gallery wall in the hallway or landing for all to see and admire, while making the kids feel appreciated at the same time. All you need is an assortment of frames and a palette of your favourite paint in SimplyRefresh Multi-surface. Priming and painting at the same time, the convenient formula works wonders on wood, whether sanded or lacquered. Here, we’ve offset a neutral wall in Pressed Petal™ with bright shades that showcase the artwork inside, including Indigo Shade™, Coastal Grey™, Honey Nut™ and Overtly Olive™. Just call it pop art!

When it comes to designing your own drawer, first thing’s first: clean it out! Free of clutter, it provides a blank canvas for pouring your creativity into, whether you paint the whole thing, simply the sides, the front or the bottom. Here, we’ve chosen the latter, providing a peek-a-boo surprise when people open the drawer to reveal what’s concealed inside. You can select just the single drawer, or all of them, while coordinating the same colour or mixing-and-matching. There are no rules. If the surface is already painted or primed, use Quick Dry Satinwood to apply glossy colour directly to the bottom of the drawer, otherwise use a quality primer first. The bases of these drawers, in Mineral Mist™ and Pretty Pink™, are certainly eye-catching.

A simple wooden stool can make a statement in any space with a splash of colour thanks to Quick Dry Satinwood (you’ll need to prime bare wood if it’s not already painted). But before you paint the whole thing, consider a dipped-leg effect. Simply measure and mark how far up the leg you want to paint – all the legs don’t have to be even, as varying heights can add visual interest – then fold masking tape around each just above your markings to achieve a crisp line. Paint below the tape – we’ve gone for Sapphire Springs 2 – then remove to reveal a dipped-leg effect (and a designer flourish on a shoestring budget!). Read our step-by-step guide for more help. To complement your chair, get creative with a collection of old boxes – wooden crates or Ikea finds will do – by painting inside, outside, or everything (we’ve complemented the stool with more Sapphire Springs 2 and paired it with Night Jewels 4))! Mix-and-match painted with bare boxes to assemble a customised storage unit.

Is there anything more glamorous than gathering for cocktail hour come 5pm? Give yours Art Deco style by creating a bar cart for serving your concoctions, from martinis to Manhattans and margaritas. Source the cart from a retailer such as eBay or Etsy at a steal and paint yours in Quick Dry Satinwood after priming if it’s not already painted. We’d suggest a jewel-toned colour that harks back to the Golden Age – ours is painted in Proud Peacock – like rich greens, reds or yellows. To finish? Line the surface of each level with spare wallpaper you may have to-hand, and accessorise with glasses of different styles, a cocktail shaker and accoutrements, bowls of garnishes and ice, and of course, spirits and mixers. Happy hour, indeed. 

Pick-up a copy of Let’s colour magazine in your local decorating store for more inspiration; or watch our how-to videos at youtube.com/duluxuk

Share your micro makeovers on social tagging @DuluxUK – you could feature on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Buy Dulux Simply Refresh Multi-surface, new for 2023, which primes and paints at the same time; Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood