Decorating

• 101 decorating questions answered
• Decorating
• DIY
• Flooring
• Bathrooms
• Lighting
• Kitchens
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• Children's Rooms

1. I have recently painted my (previously yellow) bedroom white. After three coats you can still see a slight yellow tinge. Is there a reason for the coverage being so poor (two of the walls are outside walls)? As white paint is slightly translucent, it's quite usual for colour to still show through. However, if you paint the wall with a mid-grey undercoat first, it deadens the wall's original colour, so when you paint over this with a good white trade paint (which costs a little more, but doesn't require as many coats), the initial paint shade won't be visible.

2. We kept our flat neutral with the hope of selling, but, as the current market has forced us to stay put, we want to decorate. Our estate agents warned us off silvery floral wallpaper, but as we now have free rein, we'd love some advice. There are many people in the same boat, but staying put is no bad thing, as it means you can have fun creating a true home. Graham & Brown may have your perfect wallpaper: take a look at Basso & Brooke's collection, from £35 per roll, including Chinoise, or Bijou in the Superfresco Easy range (£25 per roll) – you paste the wall, not the paper, which makes it ultra-easy to put up.  

3. We want to give the wooden panelling and bedstead in our bedroom an antiqued look. Can you advise us on how to do this? Rather than the shabby-chic method of waxing, painting and wire-wooling layers of paint, Mylands does something called Crackle Glaze, which the furniture trade uses to create the best effects. Paint the glaze over a base coat of emulsion and, while it's drying, add a top coat in another coloured paint. You can combine some fun shades if you experiment. Buy from theatrical suppliers Flints, from £29.10.

4. I have a narrow (115cm) hallway, which I've painted white. I've hung three white-framed mirrors and laid Moroccan two-tone pink tiles. It's nice and bright, but it still looks like a tenpin bowling alley. Are there any tricks of the trade I'm missing? Your best bet is to keep things neutral (either light and bright or dark and moody) then make sure the focus is kept on the ends of the hallway with, for example, coloured glass in the front door or artwork at one end of the room, to provide long-distance focus. Swap your collection of smaller mirrors for one large one – it will be more effective.

5. I wanted my flat to be all clean lines and, with that in mind, every room is painted white. The trouble is, the result is rather boring, almost clinical. I'd like to introduce more colour but, although I've added some with finishing touches, I really have no idea how best to use stronger shades. Can you give me any advice? It's very difficult to advise on colour, as it so depends on individual taste, mood, and the space you live in. If you're planning to be more adventurous, it's worth reading up on the subject to inspire you and build your confidence. David Oliver's book Paint and Paper (£25, Conran Octopus) should give you some ideas.

6. I've been looking for some funky striped wallpaper for my sitting room, but with no joy. All the designs I've found seem traditional. Could you help me track down a supplier of more modern interpretations? You're right – there are a lot of trad stripes around. But don't despair – K&K Designs does a comprehensive set of about 50 combinations of different-sized coloured stripes. As you'd expect, it's called Stripes Only. Prices start at around £30 per roll for standard prints and head into the mid hundreds for digital.

7. I'm having trouble finding brick-shaped tiles with a flat rather than bevelled edge. Have you seen any? Johnson Tiles has just what you're looking for. The Prismatics range (£20 to £40 per sq m) comes in a number of sizes and more than 70 colours. You can specify edges to be rounded and glazed. You can also buy bath trims so you can tile around corners without the need for plastic trims and the silicone sealant gun. Available at most tile centres.

8. I can never decide which paint looks best in my room before I buy, and I don't really want to put patches of colour all over my walls for weeks. Is there a simpler way that will help me choose the right colour for my room? Instead of painting tester pots directly onto the walls, use them to paint a large sheet cut from lining paper. The lining paper can then be easily moved around so you can try it on different walls, without spoiling the look of your room.

9. I'm struggling to find tasteful 3-D wall letters. I've seen them a couple of times in different issues of Livingetc, but can't seem to find a supplier for them. Can you help? More than likely, they're old shop signs from eBay or salvage yards. You can still get 3-D words made up from many shop-sign companies. BHMA does a range of trade shop letters, or tryMorello Living for metal and wooden letters in different sizes and typefaces.

10. I'm really keen on using plain colours in my home, but I'd also love to introduce a block of pattern to update my style. What's the easiest way for a pattern novice to get started? Start small, limiting yourself to a few accessories such as a cushion or a lamp shade with a bold design. The easiest design to work with is one that has a white or cream background and a simple motif. Pick any patterns you want to use in just one colour, so you can add to the scheme as your confidence grows and you'll know that everything will always work together.

11. Any ideas where I can buy leopard-print wallpaper? It's for a room that's been painted black with a splash of neon pink, and has a punk rock theme. Rather than going to 'Bette Lynch', check out the new Extravaganza wallpaper range from Brian Yates (£38.75 per roll), which includes a wonderful array of animal-print interpretations. They'll help you keep the look cool, rather than kitsch.

12. I want to paint my bedroom blue, but it's north-facing. Will it look too cold? Blue needn't be a cold colour if you pick the right shade and balance it with some warmer tones. A sky blue will look cheerful, and can be warmed up with cream paintwork and peachy-toned highlights. Alternatively, pick out a blue paint that's close to violet and has a pinky tone. You can then accessorise with a pink, floral bedspread or curtains for a warmer look. In a north facing room, the blue shades to avoid are those that seem dull or have a grey tinge.

13. How can I make my lounge feel bigger and brighter? It's overshadowed by a neighbouring development and often feels closed in and gloomy. The lounge has a central pendant lamp and a corner floor lamp. To really create a feeling of space, light the furthest wall that you first see when you enter the room, as lit areas appear further away. Another trick is to flood light into the four corners of the room. Try complementing the pendant with spotllights that will illuminate the walls better and add an overall more ambient light.

14. I've seen a very large poster of woodland that covered a wall. Where can I get something similar? The classic scenes, such as paradise beaches and rainforests, are often sourced through film and display companies. Roy Bell has a brilliant range of large-format posters, the largest of which is 2.7 x 1.9m and costs around £130. Grahan & Brown also has a new range of digital murals, measuring 1.83 x 2.6m, which cost £75 each. You're bound to find something to suit.

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