An easy update for an unloved corner.
During lockdown, Brits spent an estimated £110.3 billon on DIY home improvements, and there's no sign of us downing tools any time soon. Transforming your space with paint is one of the easiest DIY projects you can tackle, and we will be covering a series of small but impactful updates you can make around your own home.
We asked Jen Brake, the creative mind behind @halfpaintedhouse, to use the House Beautiful paint at Homebase in a series of small DIY transformations around her home. The first looks at updating an unloved cupboard under the stairs with some clever painted decoration, and scalloped shelving.
For this transformation you will need:
Follow the step-by-step guide below to achieve your own cupboard transformation...
Jen used the House Beautiful Think Pink TP.18 paint at Homebase as a near-neutral base in her under stairs cupboard. TP.18 is a multi-surface matt emulsion, so you can use it on walls, ceilings, wood, and suitably primed metal.
Once your base is dry, mark out the height of your shelves and drill in your brackets – watch our for wires, and a spirit level is always useful (you can use the Bubble Level iPhone app from the App Store.) Don't add your shelves just yet.
Affix the rest of your wall-mounted storage if any – Jen added a handy row of hooks.
Read more: Storage ideas to banish clutter for good
Measure the length of your shelves to establish how long your scalloped edge trim needs to be. Then prime and paint your shelves. Jen used the House Beautiful Back to Nature BN.42 paint at Homebase. Remember that any paintbrush streaks or bubbling in your paint can easily be sanded down.
To make life easier, you can purchase a pre-cut piece of scalloped MDF from the likes of Etsy. You can trim off the edges to fit your shelf – MDF is thin enough to be cut with a simple hand saw.
Prime your trim with the same primer you used on your shelving to give a cohesive result when you paint them.
Read more: Upcycling with paint
Simple sandpaper is enough to smooth brush strokes or bubbles – Jen wrapped a piece of sandpaper around an off cut of wood for easier handling.
Paint your trim in the same colour as your shelves and leave to dry. You'll be decorating them next, so make sure they are totally dry before moving onto the next step.
Jen used the House Beautiful Think Pink TP.18 paint at Homebase – the same shade as the walls – to start the decorative motifs. Use a thin paintbrush here, an emulsion is fine for thin brushes, just make sure it is stirred thoroughly beforehand. Leave to dry.
Once fully dry, you can go over your lighter motifs with a darker colour for contrast. Jen is using the House Beautiful Think Pink TP.24 paint at Homebase here.
MDF is light enough to be fixed safely with wood glue. Add a small amount to both the shelf and the back of your trim.
Press your trim firmly into place and leave to dry. A clamp can be used to hold your trim if you have one.
Complement your new shelves with pretty patterned storage boxes – you can wrap plain boxes in offcuts of wallpaper or spare wrapping paper.
Read more: 20 storage baskets for an organised home
Jen added some finishing touches to her cupboard, like rattan baskets and some sweet wall art.
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