Soften dark woodA dark wooden chest of drawers can be lightened up with a lick of beautiful pale chalky blue paint. I would never suggest painting something that’s a lovely antique, but cheaper replica pieces are ideal for this look. For a restful feel, chalky colours are always lovely. This blue is fresh and adds a subtle touch of colour. You could also go for pale green or grey-pink, or a timeless dove grey. If you want to add new handles, consider antique metal, cut glass, mother of pearl, or delicate ceramic.
Get creative with masking tapeChevrons are hot news at the moment and it’s not difficult to apply this trend to furniture.Start with a wooden set of drawers and, as ever, give it a good rub down with fine sandpaper. Remove the drawers, wipe all the dust away and unscrew the handles. Paint the entire piece with the first colour, which is cream in this case. Allow it to dry and apply a second coat for solid coverage. Once this is dry, put the drawers back in and use a tape measure and pencil to mark out the chevron-shaped points. Apply masking tape in a ‘mountain’ pattern, then use a ruler to make sure the next row of masking tape is parallel to the first. Continue down the drawers, and add tape across the top drawers, too, if you want a horizontal stripe as on this unit. Paint the unmasked areas with your second colour – grey if you’re following this design – and don’t worry if you go over the tape slightly. When you’ve finished, carefully peel off the tape while the paint is wet, then leave the unit to dry before replacing the handles.
Bring colour to a white spaceA white room works well as a light and bright backdrop, and a colourful piece of furniture will prevent it looking too clinical. With white walls, you’ll have free rein to choose whatever colour you please, so why not be brave and go bold? You could even choose a hue that’s one shade brighter than you would normally pick – after all, this is a statement piece, so you might as well really go for it! This is a great time to change the handles, too, as it’s so easy to replace an old knob with a new one: simply slot it into the existing hole. You can find fabulous designs made from gemstones, battered metal or even hand-painted pictures. Discover ideas for bringing white walls to life with bright colours
Instil a calming vibeWashed-out greys and chalky whites are an effortlessly chic way to capture the coastal look for the 21st century. These painted old shutters make a stylish headboard set against the white walls – look out for similar pieces that can be repurposed at reclamation yards.Read how to get the coastal look
Q