Fast, cheap and chic homestyle tips

Don\'t move, improve!

quick & easy,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima prima dulux paint

Our brilliant makeover ideas can really make a difference - so much so that you might even give up notions of moving and stay right where you are! Click through our gallery to discover the home improvement ideas that can change your living environment oh-so-effectively. 

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By Prima magazine homes expert Suzanne Wilkinson

Add a stencil

quick & easy,home inspiration,home makeover,stylish bedrooms,Prima pp bedroom Ethnic styles are big news right now It\'s easy to get the look with a stencil - just dab lightly and don\'t overload the stencil brush. Here stencils and Crown Sophistication Metallic emulsion add a touch of glamour and have been used to make an inexpensive headboard feature with a Moroccan twist.

Emphasise alcoves

quick & easy,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima pp alcoves Highlight an alcove in a strong colour that contrasts with the surrounding walls. You can also make alcoves more interesting by hanging a lovely mirror or adding some built-in shelving.

Bathroom update

quick & easy,brilliant bathrooms,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima pp bathroom Create a wow from your feet upwards with a contemporary wood or stone-effect vinyl floor. Gerflor Griptex vinyl, £17.99 per s qm, is wonderful at mimicking the appearance and texture of stone. The point of difference with Griptex is that it\'s slip-resistant with a self-levelling backing, to smooth over unevenness in the subfloor. This also makes it warmer underfoot than ordinary vinyls. TIP: Laying floor tiles diagonally makes a room feel wider. And fixing taps centrally on the bath gives that \'spa\' feeling.

Get the finish right

quick & easy,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima pp living room When deciding how to paint your walls think about the finish as well as the colour. For example Crown\'s Fashion For Walls range has a dead-flat matt look which works surprisingly well with period features. Also bear in mind that bold colours look darker on the walls than in the tin. If you\'re not sure about the colour or texture of a paint, try a sample first - Dulux will send you three for 98p plus p&p.

Glass splashbacks

quick & easy,dream kitchens,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima pp kitchen Brighten up your walls with these up-to-the minute glass splashbacks, which you can simply stick over old tiles. They\'re easy to clean and come in 20 colours, with a gloss, glitter or iridescent effect. The splashbacks (£99.99) come in standard sizes, but should you need to cut one, just take it along to your local glass cutter. Or for a cheaper fix, try painting over existing tiles with a specialist tile paint. International One Coat Tile Paint with Teflon Surface Protector (£16.98 for 750ml, B&Q) is one such brand. The Teflon gives it a tougher surface and it doesn\'t need priming.

Block it out

quick & easy,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima pp paint tips Use your paint imaginatively but inexpensively in ways that the eye does not automatically expect. Introducing stripes, blocks or geometric shapes can look fabulous. And using blocks of colour as backdrops for pictures can be intriguing

Go for bright

quick & easy,diy,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima prima dulux paint Revamp a dreary hall in striking, confident colours such as cheerful yellow. Washable emulsion is much tougher than ordinary emulsion and handy if you need to wipe off fingermarks. Even if you have the smallest, darkest passageway imaginable, Dulux Light & Space paint, £18.99 for 2.5L can make it look light and airy - it makes a room reflect twice as much light compared to conventional emulsions. Also, painting walls, woodwork and radiators in the same colour can add to the illusion of space.

Go for wallpaper

quick & easy,home inspiration,home makeover,Prima pp laura ashley roomset

Yes, it\'s back in and you can be oh-so-daring with it! Here Malvern teal wallpaper (£25.45 per roll) and curtains in Malver Teal fabric (£40 per m) - both are from Laura Ashley - make for an eye-catching yet dreamy room.

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