With the August Bank Holiday looming, there isn’t a better time to get decorating. Painting the walls is one of the best ways to update a room and doesn’t have to cost too much. However, with the choice of colours, design advice and painting techniques on offer, knowing where to start can be confusing.

Before you start, create a budget to keep you on track. If your finances or time span don’t allow for lots of painting then even painting one wall will ensure that the space feels different. Alternatively, consider removable wallpaper or a wall vinyl.

If art is your thing, then project an image onto your wall and follow the lines of the design with paint. However, if you struggle with careful painting then stencilling is a great way to give your walls an attractive pattern, with minimal artistic requirements. You can find various stencils for sale online but if you want to add your own creative flair then make your own.

Metallic is a huge current trend and to give your walls a luxury look use metallic paint. If you are wary of painting all four walls a metallic hue, then an accent wall adds a softer glow or alternatively use the paint on a stencil. Combine this with matching accessories and your DIY project will bring a special sparkle to any room. Suede is a popular material in both the fashion and interior world and your walls can resemble this very easily. To achieve this finish, simply paint on a coat of brushed suede finish to your desired base colour.

A popular technique in modern homes is the 3D look of strié or linen weave paint, which adds texture to any wall by using a wallpaper brush to create streaked lines. For this effect, the glaze and satin base coat mixture should be dragged in either vertical or horizontal lines. To create a linen effect, the mixture should be dragged in both horizontal and vertical lines. Dragging the paint in both directions produces the woven effect that gives this technique its name.

Sponging, a popular technique from the 90s is making a comeback. Perfect for a nautical themed bathroom, use a natural sea sponge to add layers of colour and texture. With this technique it is possible to use multiple colours to give walls additional depth. Similarly, the rag rolling technique is achieved by rolling a glaze colour mixture over the base coat using a crumpled rag. This unusual effect is perfect when using both a darker and lighter glaze mixture.

Give your walls the wow factor with an unusual painted pattern such as stripes or polka dot. The key to creating a professional finished effect is to measure so once you've painted your base colour, tape out the pattern using precise measurements.

In addition to this, remember to cover all floor and furniture with sheets and tape over any fixtures – nothing is immune to flicks of paint! If you are looking to sell or buy, then get in touch today.