Wallpaper vs paint – it’s a choice we all have to make when it comes to redecorating our living rooms. Whether you want to add a hint of texture or make a statement with a geometric pattern, wallpaper is an easy way to transform your space without changing too many other details within the room.

Beyond the typical all-over application, here are five of our favourite ways to use wallpaper to create an instant impact.

1. Pay attention to the fifth wall

It might not be the first place you’d think of, but decorating your ceiling is the perfect way to add some interest to your living room without overwhelming it. It’s a great option to add a hint of pattern in rooms that already have a point of focus on the walls, like artwork or panelling. Or, it’s a good choice if you don’t want to disturb a clean colour palette across the walls.

If you need to get rid of a textured or Artex ceiling in your living room before wallpapering it, take a look at our Artex ceiling removal tips.

2. Add an easy accent

Feature walls add another dimension to a room, without the commitment of wallpapering everywhere. They work particularly well in rooms with neutral or minimalistic colour palettes, as they add a refreshing pop of colour. To make your living room feature wall stand out even more, use flock wallpaper to add a velvety texture.

Before you get started, read the do’s and don’ts of creating a feature wall.

Ensure a smooth finish and avoid annoying mistakes, such as misaligned patterns, by hiring a professional to complete your wallpapering job. Connect with a vetted painter and decorator on Rated People now!

3. Create a one-of-a-kind wall collage

The true zero-commitment wallpaper option – framed panels of wallpaper – is a customisable alternative to typical wall art. It’s super easy to make! Plus, it’s quick to move around and swap out for new wallpaper if you change your living room layout or décor in the future.

On the hunt for more lockdown DIY projects that you can do at home? Check out 10 DIY jobs you can do whilst social distancing.

4. Line your furniture

Add a subtle flair to your bookshelves, drawers or entertainment units by lining them with wallpaper. This is a great fix for furniture that’s a little on the older side and has lost its lustre.

You could even use offcuts or samples of luxury designer wallpaper for an upmarket look.

5. Upcycle your blinds

This cheap-and-cheerful idea of customising plain roller blinds is recommended by the likes of celebs such as Martha Stewart. Simply lay the blind out flat and apply the wallpaper to it, using paste if it’s not pre-glued. This idea also works for Venetian blinds too – just cut and stick the wallpaper to the slats.

Find a skilled painter and decorator to transform your space on Rated People.

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Even on the days when we’re blessed with a bit of sunshine, there’s no avoiding the fact that winter days and cold weather are upon us. So, it’s time to make our homes cosier. There are lots of ways to make your space more homey, apart from adding decorations. A fresh coat of paint is a popular way to warm up your home, with 35% of homeowners planning to repaint their kitchens in 2020 and 26% looking to repaint their living rooms, according to The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2020.

Here are our favourite ways to get a snug feel.

Pick colour that warms

Colour has the power to transform the atmosphere in a room, so use it to your advantage. Berry shades, golden leaf tones and pumpkin oranges all have natural warmth and seasonal appeal, so introduce them to a room that needs a cosier note. There’s no need to change the colour of all four walls when time’s short, but if you’re handy with a brush, try painting the chimney breast or a feature wall in a rich shade. After a speedier remedy to an interior that’s making you feel like putting on an extra cardie? Add a rug featuring a warm colour, or choose cushions or a throw to add your chosen accent.

Looking for a painter and decorator? Find a qualified, vetted and recommended professional by posting your job on Rated People.

Think materials and textures

Prefer to stick to pale shades in your rooms? Cosiness can still be yours without straying from the palette that suits. Natural materials have an appealing warmth that the man made lacks. On your must-have list put wicker, wood with an organic look rather than a polished finish, chunky wool knits, deep pile rugs… Choose accessories that pick up the theme, too. Look out for wooden mirror and picture frames and table and floor lamps with wood bases together with textural ceramics.

Work the layout

Turning a fresh eye to the position of your living room furniture can transform the room’s ambience so it’s right for the season. If you have a fireplace, it’s vital to make sure this is the focal point around which your seating is grouped – the TV just doesn’t cut it in the cosiness stakes. A pair of sofas, an armchair and sofa combination or a corner design should all be positioned facing or at a right angle to the stove or fire.

Without a fireplace, it’s still possible to place your seating in a grouping that feels cosy. Use the warm-coloured feature wall you created as the focal point instead, or lay a rug around which the seating can be positioned. Make sure the floor covering’s not too large, though. The goal is an intimate arrangement not far-away formality.

Light the night

When cosiness is the vibe you’re after, neither a lonely single pendant or a grid of ceiling spotlights will be your helpers. However, a group of pendants that illuminates just the dining table and surrounding seating after dark will look appealing, as will floor lamps that throw a gentle glow over an armchair, or a pair of table lamps positioned on a sideboard or console.

It’s worth checking the colour temperature of the lights you select as well. There are warmer whites, and bluer colder versions, and it’s definitely the former that will up the cosiness level in living spaces and bedrooms. Stick to the latter for working spaces like kitchens instead.

Looking for an electrician? Find a vetted professional by posting your job on Rated People.

Layer it up

‘Wear layers’ isn’t just good advice when you’re out for the day in unpredictable conditions – it’s an equally valid strategy for creating cosiness in the bedroom. For a snug feel, dress the bed with throws and cushions in touchy-feely textures – a lonely cotton duvet cover just doesn’t have the same charm. And even if you have fitted carpet, but especially if you chose hard flooring for your bedroom, layer the floor as well. What could be cosier than stepping on to a soft rug when you get up each day?

Make your home cosier this winter with our simple adjustments. Post your job on Rated People today.

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