Colourful furniture DIY

Changing the look of a room can come from small details or dramatic statements; giving just one item of furniture a makeover can alter the character of the space around it. Whether the function of the piece is to subtly add to a scheme, or serve as a central focus tying together a design arrangement, there are many great ways that doing it yourself lends a wholly unique aspect to making home sweet home.

Interior trends for S/S 2015 are defined by bold patterns and print as key decorative elements; the wider colour palette for 2015 ushers in pinks, reds and oranges. Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2015 fronted by Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been named as Copper Blush. The subtle background palette frames prints and patterns beautifully alongside vivid complementary colours like cobalt blue and turquoise.

More people are getting involved in DIY and restoration projects which are more environmentally friendly and often considerably cheaper than buying new furniture or seeking out expensive antiques. There has recently been a surge in upcycling wooden pallets for indoor and outdoor use, demonstrated by the many wonderful and innovative ideas seen on DIY sites like Pinterest.

Upcycling is focused on restoring and improving the functionality of waste materials; conceived in 1996 by Gunter Pauli, upcycling was further popularised by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things (2002). Freecycle, Swapz, charity shops and car boot sales are sources of prefabricated items, but for those who prefer to buy new, retailers like Ikea offer pieces designed with personalisation in mind. There is a wealth of DIY options available to anyone regardless of skill or experience, with an extensive number of guides available online – Pinterest, Instagram and Etsy are good starting points.

Paint – One of the most simple and effective makeover methods.

Distressed – Try the shabby chic look, using paint and distressing methods, adding a bold pop of accent colour (either incorporated into the piece or complemented by an accessory) for a fresh twist.

Reupholster – Updating a piece of furniture with new fabric is far easier than most people think. Bold fabrics and colourways work brilliantly when updating dining chairs, for example.

Decoupage – Wallpapering a piece of furniture? Yes, really! This is a fantastic technique which can be a really stunning way of refreshing so many different items, incorporating many different uses of colour.

Emma Pugh