Try paint super dupes
Colour-drenching the walls and ceiling in the same shade adds character in a modern space – this kitchen is painted with Flora’s Tale, £61.50 for 2.5l, earthbornpaints.co.uk.
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Thanks to advances in colour-matching technology, it is now possible to achieve the look of an Edward Bulmer or Farrow & Ball shade without the luxury price tag. A colour-matching service from Valspar at B&Q, for example, will cost around £37 for 2.5 litres, compared with £79 for the same quantity from Farrow & Ball.
It is worth noting, however, that colour matching works best in smaller quantities, such as 2.5 litres, as slight tonal variations can occur between batches. High-street brands often use just two or three pigments per colour, while premium paints use five or more for a richer result. To ensure consistency across a room, order the full quantity upfront.
When it comes to application, unless you live in a period property with ornate cornicing or a decorative ceiling rose, colour-drenching a room in a single shade will instantly look more elevated than drawing attention to a flat white ceiling. ‘I paint everything from the ceiling to the walls and skirting in the same shade so that the room envelopes me,’ says content creator and founder of The Wood Edit, Maria Le Mesurier. As such, the rooms in her stylish Welsh cottage are washed in the soft off-white of Galeo by Francesca’s Paints.
Le Mesurier also swears by using tonal shades, eg warm whites and plaster pinks, to elevate a room. Favourite tones to make rooms feel calm, cohesive and quietly luxurious include Jonquil by Edward Bulmer and Cord by Farrow & Ball.
Finish matters just as much as colour: a dead-flat emulsion will give walls a rich, chalky depth, while gloss or eggshell will add a subtle sheen to skirting, woodwork and ceilings.
Get smart with art
Using generous mounts and similar frames will instantly make art look more expensive. Eastsidestudiolondon.co.uk sells a range of affordable modern art.
‘Don’t be an art snob,’ says the co-founder of Collagerie, Lucinda Chambers, whose artwork collection consists of ‘scrappy’ things – vintage oil paintings and botanical sketches picked up from charity shops, photographs from auction houses and posters found at car-boot sales. A favourite piece is her dining-room portrait of a girl without a face (‘It’s modern, romantic, original’), bought at a boot sale for £50. ‘Pictures don’t have to “go” with each other or your decoration, they just must mean something to you,’ she says.
You also don’t need to trawl appointment-only galleries for a wall-worthy piece. Chambers’ first display was a set of vintage wallpapers slotted into Ikea frames painted in colours by Annie Sloan. ‘They covered my bare walls, looked great and didn’t break the bank,’ she says.
‘Presentation and the choice of mount also makes a huge difference,’ adds British textile designer Molly Mahon. ‘You can display a collection of shells found on the beach or a piece of vintage fabric in an affordable frame [try eframe.co.uk for a cheap and cheerful selection], but a generous mount will elevate even the simplest piece and give it space to breathe.’
For those looking to buy something new – and not tempted by the ubiquitous slogan artwork on the high street – partnership editions.com, tat-london.co.uk and emmagurner.com offer a wide range of original and bespoke pieces. Expect to pay from £60 for a small, unframed print. Ebay and Facebook Marketplace are also valuable resources. Or you could even rent high-end pieces at mah-gallery.com and riseart.com, from around £54 a month depending on the size of the artwork. Perfect for commitment-phobes.
Tile tutorial
The ‘tural’ trend will create an instant focal point across a small surface area. These are Dyrham Dairy ceramic tiles, £25 each, capietra.com
You don’t need to tile an entire room to make it feel expensive. ‘The trick is to use tiles strategically,’ says interior stylist Cassandra Doyle.
Focus on an impactful area – behind a basin, around a fireplace or inside a shower alcove. It will look far more bespoke than covering every wall in a basic, builder-grade tile.’ Another trick is half-height tiling in bathrooms or utility rooms, creating a classic, tailored effect while keeping material costs manageable.
Mandarin Stone has a useful clearance section online with discontinued marble-effect porcelain and Calacatta styles reduced by up to 50 per cent. Bert & May offers up to 40 per cent off end-of-line encaustic and glazed tiles with fast delivery.
Texture matters. Glossy, glazed finishes bounce light around darker rooms, while handmade-effect zellige tiles can introduce subtle imperfections that feel artisanal and reclaimed, when they are not. Even humble metro tiles can look high-end when laid vertically or in a herringbone pattern rather than the standard brick formation.
The latest tile flex is the ‘tural’: a mural-style statement tile designed to create impact in smaller spaces (as pictured above). Petra Palumbo’s playful Delft-inspired designs feature everything from clawfoot baths to kitchen utensils and start from £27.50 per tile. Perfect for adding personality without overwhelming the room.
Play with paper
Grasscloth and fabric wallcoverings add texture and look high-end with minimal effort. B&Q (diy.com) sells an affordable selection.
‘You don’t need to cover an entire room in wallpaper to create character,’ says interior designer-turned artist Emma Gurner. ‘Applying it on smaller surface areas, such as ceilings or cloakroom, is a great way to add personality without having to invest in large quantities.’
You can also use wallpaper in unexpected ways to maximise impact while minimising cost. DIY projects such as lining the back of open shelving or papering a panel above a fireplace will create a bespoke feel that looks more expensive than it is.
The outlet section of janeclayton.com offers up to 70 per cent off discontinued rolls from heritage brands including Sanderson, Morris & Co and Harlequin. Likewise, Designer Wallpapers is a goldmine for archive designs, where a coveted Cole & Son print can cost as little as £49. Ebay, Etsy and reclamation yards are also rich hunting grounds for discontinued designer rolls at bargain prices.
Texture is another route to a more elevated finish. Grasscloth, raffia and linen- effect wallpapers will look handmade and make even the plainest room feel layered and expensive. They work particularly well in smaller spaces such as the downstairs loo or hallway, where tactile finishes feel cocooning rather than overwhelming. See dunelm.com for a surprisingly chic selection from £18 for a 10.05m roll.
