We all know that a fresh lick of paint on the walls can transform the appearance of a room, but what about the exterior of your home? Spice up the outside of your property by painting your front door. First impressions matter and it’s the first thing your guests (and you) are going to see. \nNot quite sure where to start? Here’s all you need to know about how to paint your front door.\nWhat to use\nTools and materials-wise, here’s what you need: \nA tin of weather-resistant exterior and masonry paint.\nPaint stripper \nSandpaper\n\nPainters masking tape\n\nPaintbrush\nCutting in paintbrush\nPaint roller and paint tray \nWide scraper \nSponge and bucket of water \nSafety goggles, gloves and a protective mask \nHow to prep your wooden exterior front door for paint\nThe secret to a flawlessly painted front door? Putting in the time to prep the surface before you even reach for that paintbrush. Trust us, it’s worth putting in a little extra time so you can spend the rest of your days showing off that smooth, beautiful finish. \nHere’s what you need to do: \nFirst, get that old and flaking paint off. Slip on your gloves and goggles and start by applying the paint stripper with a brush. Work it into every nook and cranny and leave on for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time. \nTime up? Try scraping a small patch with a sturdy scraper. If the paint comes off easily, continue to scrape away until you’re left with a bare wooden surface.\nWipe down the surface with a sponge soaked in warm water.\nPut your dust mask on and sand the surface smooth using a piece of fine sandpaper. \nOnce the stripping and sanding are done, it’s time to remove the door handle and wedge the door firmly open.\nHow to prep your uPVC and composite front door for paint\nIf your front door is made of plastic or UPVC, just make sure that you lightly sand the surface before application. This will give the paint something to stick to so it lasts for longer.\n
How to paint a wooden exterior front door\nIf the wood is new or well-weathered, apply a diluted first coat (a mixture of 70% paint and 30% water). This first coat is the most important one for long-lasting results.\nIf the wood is new and treated, we’d recommend leaving it for at least 6 months before painting, as the treatment needs time to weather first. Non treated front doors can be painted straight away (starting with the thin coat first). \nNote - \nsome woods will stain and bleed through light colours. For Plywood, red cedar and very resinous woods, apply a stain blocker first.
\nHow to paint different types of exterior front doors\nTime to paint: \nFor panel doors:\n Start by applying paint to the inner panels and the surrounding mouldings. Next, tackle the central areas working your way from top to bottom. Finish with the outer edges, including the exposed door edges right at the end. \nFor glazed doors: \nAffix masking tape around the edges of the glass panels to protect it from drips of paint. Start by painting the mouldings surrounding the glass, using a small angled paintbrush to cut in (learn how to cut in paint). Moving on to the outer edges, working from to bottom before finishing off with the exposed door edges (check out our tips for painting using painters tape).\nFor flush doors:\n Tackle in smaller sections, working your way from top to bottom in horizontal strokes. Carefully blend each section into the next while the paint is still wet, leaving the door edges for last.\n--\nHurrah, all done! If you can (security permitting) - leave your front door open for as long as it takes to dry.\nWondering \nhow to choose the right front door colour?\n Or \nwhich colours to paint your house to increase its value\n? Choose \nthe best exterior and masonry paint colours\n for you with a little help from Lick.

We were so inspired by @tash_lickcolourpro’s DIY upholstered headboard that we thought we’d share her guide on how to make your own. No, you don’t have to be a master upholster to achieve it, you just need to be a bit of a dab hand with a staple gun.\n\nIt’s a great way to tie a look together using fabrics you’ve already got. You can even turn a pair of old curtains into a headboard (or pair of cushions to match). If you’d like to have a go at this DIY guide for yourself, here’s how. 

Step 1: ensure you’ve got the right tools for the job\nYou’ll need: \nFabric \nMeasuring tape\nFabric scissors \nHammer and tacks\nTack lifter\nStaple gun and staples \nStaple remover \nStep 2: measure your headboard\nStep 3: cut your fabric\nCut your fabric to the size of your headboard, allowing an extra 5 cms each side (so 10 cms total) for stapling.\nStep 4: secure your fabric in place\nStarting in the top centre of your headboard, using your hammer and tacks, secure your fabric in place and work your way out. You want your fabric to be snug, but not too tight.\nStep 5: staple\nOnce your fabric is in place and you’re happy with how it looks, grab your staple gun and begin securing it to your headboard, starting from the middle of the top of your headboard, removing your tacks as you go using your tack lifter. \nStep 6: cut in\nAs you get to the corners of your headboard, you’ll need to ‘cut in’ to your fabric using a Y shape, to avoid excess fabric and prevent it from bulging. Roll and fold over your cut edges to ensure a neat finish and secure using your staple gun. Don’t worry if you make any mistakes whilst stapling, you can take them out with a staple remover.\nStep 7: trim any excess fabric\n

And that’s it! You’ve got yourself a brand-new looking headboard. Now, you just need to re-affix it to your bed or your wall to complete the job. If you liked this idea, take a look at these \n9 statement headboard ideas for your bedroom\n for some more bedroom decor inspiration.

When it comes to creating a DIY painted wall headboard, the wall is your oyster. You can go for any design you like—from two-tone to multi-coloured. It’s a great way to use up leftover paint, as \nthis wall mural on a budget\n demonstrates.\n\nIn this DIY painted wall headboard ‘How to’ guide, we’re going to share how to create two of our favourite designs: a semi-circle painted wall headboard design and a rectangular painted wall headboard design—paintbrushes at the ready.\n\n\nShop bedroom paint\n\nHow to make a DIY semi-circle painted wall headboard\nThis DIY semi-circle painted wall headboard idea is a great way to create a cohesive colour scheme. It allows you to add a splash of colour without it being overwhelming. It’s an excellent \nboho bedroom idea\n.

Step 1:\n Make sure you’ve got the right tools for the job:\nYou’ll need:\n\nPaint\n (take a look at our full range of \npaint supplies\n to get the job done)\n\nMasking tape\n\nMeasuring tape\n\nPaint roller \nand \npaint tray\n\n\nPaint brush\n\nString\nPencil\nNail and hammer\nFiller\nSandpaper\n\n\nStep 2:\n As ever, \nprep your wall for painting\n. \nStep 3:\n Once prepped, paint the wall in your chosen base paint colour. This headboard idea is a great way to tie together colour palettes in a room. Take a look at our \nsample boxes\n for some inspiration. Leave your paint to dry.\nStep 4:\n Using your measuring tape, measure your bed to find the centre point  (horizontally and vertically) and mark it on the wall with your pencil.\nStep 4:\n Cut your string to the length of your desired circle diameter (leaving a few extra cms to tie the string around your nail and pencil).  \nStep 5:\n Hammer your nail into your mid-point (don’t worry, you’ll fill this later). \nStep 6:\n Using the string to guide you, with your pencil draw a semi-circle in one consistent movement. \nStep 7:\n \nVery\n carefully (easy does it), begin painting the edges of your circle using your cutting brush. Once you’ve covered the tricky outer edges, you can use a larger paintbrush for the inner circle.  \nStep 8:\n Remove the central nail and cover-up using filler and sandpaper. \nStep 9:\n Use a fine paintbrush for touch-ups where needed.\nHow to make a DIY rectangular painted wall headboard\nThis DIY rectangular painted wall headboard design looks great in highly contrasting colours: a light \nbeige\n with \nblack paint\n or gentle \npinks\n with deep \ngreens\n. Add some wall mounted bedside tables or lamps, and you’ve got an easy to execute stylish look on your hands.

Step 1:\n As ever, ensure you’ve got the tools to get the job done.\nYou’ll need:\n\nPaint\n (take a look at our full range of \npaint supplies\n to get the job done)\nMasking tape\nMeasuring tape\n\nPaint roller \nand \npaint tray\n\n\nPaintbrush\n\nSpirit Level\nPencil\n\nStep 2:\n Begin by \nprepping your wall for painting\n. \nStep 3: \nOnce prepped, paint the wall in your chosen base paint colour. Leave your paint to dry.\nStep 4: \nUsing your measuring tape, measure your bed’s width. Decide the width and height of your painted wall headboard and mark these points. You’ll probably want it to extend around 50cms either side of your bed and the same, if not more above your mattress.\nStep 4:\n Mark these measurements on the wall using your pencil. \nStep 5:\n Using your spirit level and a pencil, draw a straight line horizontally and vertically on either side of your bed. \nStep 6: \nNext, take your masking tape, sticking it to the wall on the outer edge of your pencilled line.  \nStep 7:\n Get your roller and chosen paint colour and paint between the lines. Leave to try. \nStep 8: \nOnce you’re certain your paint has dried (very important. Otherwise, you might end up smudging your hard work), remove the masking tape. Marvel at your razor-edge lines.\nAnd that’s it! A ‘How to’ guide for two of our favourite (and easiest) DIY painted wall headboard ideas. If you liked this, why not take a look at these \n9 statement headboard ideas for your bedroom.\n

It probably comes as no surprise that getting crafty at Christmas is one of the nation’s favourite things to do. From baking delicious treats, to dressing the perfect tree – we go crazy for a bit of festive DIY.\n \nThis year, more than ever – we’ve explored ways to keep ourselves busy and entertained, whilst having to spend more time at home.\n \nTo inspire your Christmas even further, we’ve pulled together five DIY decorations that you can try yourselves – and it won’t even break the bank to recreate them, either! Tried and tested by the following Instagram pro’s - here’s our favourite little designs, that can make a big statement this season…

Homemade gift bows\n \nLuke (\n@lukearthurwells\n) very kindly built a tutorial, showing Instagram how to create the perfect DIY bow for your gifts, this Christmas. Why not give it a go, and impress all your family and friends with some expert gift wrap.\n \nWhat you will need:\nRibbon of choice\nDouble sided tape\nNeedle & thread\nRuler\nScissors\n \nStep 1: \nTo begin, cut 5 pieces of ribbon; x2 at 18cm long, x2 at 16cm long and x1 at 10cm long. Then fold each ribbon in half (apart from the smallest one), allowing a crease mark to appear.\n \nStep 2: \nFold over and under one end of the first piece of 18cm long ribbon, and use your double-sided tape to secure it to the middle of the crease. See images for direction. Do the same for the other side of the ribbon, so both ends now meet in the middle. Repeat for both lengths of 16cm ribbon, too.\n \nStep 3: \nTake another piece of double-sided tape and secure the two newly formed pieces together, in a cross-like shape. See images for direction.\n \nStep 4:\n With the remaining 10cm ribbon, take your needle and thread, and run a loose stitch down one side of the ribbon –  also making sure you leave a couple of centimetres of thread either side of the ribbon too. Once this is done, pull each end of the thread, allowing the ribbon to bunch up - then tie them together. This will create a small, rosette design for you to stick in the centre of your bow.

“ Handmade gifts always go down well, and I think the same goes for wrapping presents - those details really make them feel extra special.”

Pampas mirror topper\n \nTaking inspiration from Instagram’s obsession with pampas grass this year, Nina (\n@nina_moves_in) \ncreated a beautiful, dried grass mirror topper for her arched mirror. In the search for something less traditional, she designed this cloud-like topper to sit at the top of the mirror and jazz it up Christmas.\n \nWhat you will need:\n-       6-8 fluffy stems of pampas grass, and any other dried grass you wish to include\n-       Floristry wire\n-       Oasis (suitable for dried grass)\n-       Small Christmas baubles attached to fishing wire (optional)\n \nStep 1:\n Take the oasis and the floristry wire and attach it to the top of your mirror - using the brackets at the back.\nStep 2: \nSplit your pampas grass stems into smaller branches, then begin adding your grasses into the oasis; ensuring that you create an even design of pampas on both sides. Start from the sides and slowly build around to the middle.\nStep 3: \nOnce you’re happy with the design, you can start adding your small Christmas decorations by attaching them to fishing wire and tying them into the centre of the fixture – allowing them to dangle down delicately. This will help to add a touch of glamour and sparkle to the design.  

“Getting creative at Christmas time is one of my favourite things to do.”\n

Paper origami stars\nDan (\n@_millergrey)\n gave his Instagram followers the perfect tutorial for making your very own paper origami stars, to use as decorations or gift wrap design. We just love how simple and effective this is – and we can’t wait to perfect this one ourselves!\n \nWhat you will need:\n-       Paper, in the colour of your choice\n-       Template downloaded from Dan’s website\n-       Pencil and ruler\n-       Scissors\n \nTo follow Dan’s step-by-step tutorial \ndownload the perfect sized template\n for the activity.– click the link below.

“These stars are an amazing way of using up leftover scraps of wrapping paper - though be as creative as you want to be.”

Foliage mantle display \nDaniela (\n@danielatascayork\n) created the most beautiful arrangement for her mantel piece, by spending just £20! The arrangement contains some foliage bought from her local supermarket, as well as some foraged items that she found by heading out on a walk with a pair of scissors.\n \nWhat you will need:\n-       Foliage and/ or flowers\n-       Oasis\n-       Secateurs\n-       Floristry wire

“I wanted the design to feel ethereal and cloudy, like a frosty winter’s walk through the forest.”

Hand painted / DIY Christmas baubles\nTeam Lick decided to use some of Lick’s trusty, pre-primed paint to up-cycle some ceramic baubles this Christmas. Using colours to suit anyone’s aesthetic, we simply used some sanding paper to sand down the baubles, took a paint brush and got to work. Upgrading simple baubles with just a lick of paint!\n \nWhat you will need:\n-       Plain (ceramic baubles)\n-       Sandpaper\n-       Paint brush\n-       Leftover paint\nIf you fancy giving any of these DIY decorations a go yourself, be sure to tag us @lick. Want more festive decor inspo? Join in on our \n12 days of Christmas content series\n.

Did you hear? We’ve just launched our \ncollab with Livingetc\n — the \nLick x Living Etc palette: Neo Deco pastels paint collection\n. With 7 playful colours to choose from, it’s the perfect palette to set your home up for summer, \nMiami Art Deco style\n. Once you’ve had a good ol’ browse through the paint colours, you’ll soon be wondering which ones you should select for your space, which rooms to use them in, and how creative you can get with this palette.\n\nThe good news? Multiple colours from this collection can be used in one room for that much-loved spring and summer vibe. All the colours in this palette are yellow based and have been carefully designed and developed to work harmoniously together.\n\nJust feast your eyes below...

Equally, the colours don’t \nneed\n to be used side by side to make an impact. This collection is designed to decorate your whole house - use them across different rooms and they’ll all compliment each other. For instance, you could use the blues and creamy white on the walls and the deep burgundy as a highlight detail around a door frame in the living room, leading into a dusty pink dining room. Other great combinations include pairing the white, yellow and green mint blue, the white and burgundy, or the pink & white.\n\nDon’t be afraid to get super creative with this palette — the amount of fun colour combinations here are endless. Discover how to style the Miami Neo Deco pastel paint colours in the different rooms of your home, with recommendations from our Lead Colour Specialist, Tash.\nHow to style mint green paint in your home\n\nAlthough it’s called \nBlue 09\n because of its strong blue undertones, this paint colour is actually a soft mint green (our take on \nduck egg blue paint)\n. From bathrooms to hallways, you can use it in multiple rooms to bring those calming outdoor vibes in and create the \nultimate spring colours palette\n in your home.

How to style baby sky blue paint in your home\nGet permanent blue skies in your home office by painting your study with the perfect \nsky blue paint: Blue 08\n. This soothing colour will evoke a feeling of calm as you deal with your workday. Hey, anything to reduce the stress of those back-to-back Zoom meetings. 

How to style warm sunset yellow paint in your home\n\nCraving some sun? Inject some warmth into your home with a few coats of \nYellow 03\n. This warm sunset yellow would work well in hallways or add a playful touch to a guest bedroom, potentially on the ceiling if you’re not \nquite\n ready to add that much yellow to your walls. It’s also a great accent colour to use on tired-looking furniture pieces that could do with a bit of a make-over.

How to style dusky powder blue paint in your home\n\nAdd a burst of the powdery, \ndusky powder Blue 10 paint\n for a pop of colour in your bedroom or bathroom. This shade would also look great on ceilings, giving you that bright blue Miami sky throughout the year.

How to style dusty blush pink paint in your home\n\nWant to create the ultimate cocooning spot? Paint your bedroom walls with the earthy blush \nPink 05\n and snooze in style. It would also work really well in a living room, giving you the perfect backdrop to lounge. Or add a burst of this comforting colour in your dining room, painting the ceiling pink and pairing with creamy white walls.

How to style dark velvety purple paint in your home\n\nThe most ‘dramatic’ colour in this palette, \ndark Purple 03 paint\n is a rich burgundy purple with deep blue undertones. It may be a little too rich to paint all over the four walls of a room, but Tash recommends using it as an accent colour in your bedroom or hallway to add a bit of depth and drama. It would also look great on your kitchen cabinets, especially if you contrast it with creamy white walls.

How to style creamy white paint in your home\n\nFinally, we’ve got the creamy \nWhite 03\n with a warm yellow base. This would work well in a south facing bedroom or a living room where you’re looking to create the illusion of more space. It also pairs well with pretty much every other colour in this palette.

Now, you may actually want to get a closer look at the colours yourself to test them out on your own walls. Easily done, simply \norder some peel-and-stick paint samples\n from the \nLick x Living Etc Neo Deco pastels paint collection\n and work out which colour combinations and shades work best for your space.

Although it’s become increasingly popular over the last few years, open shelving is one of those design trends that has been around for ages, dating all the way back to the 18th century. It’s one of those design choices that you either love or you hate, but with \nthe rise of Japandi interior style\n (a blend of Japanese design with \nScandinavian decor\n) and \nminimalist kitchens\n, open shelving is a feature that looks set to stay on-trend.\nSo, what is open shelving?\nOpen shelving is shelving that isn’t tucked away inside a cupboard or a cabinet, meaning that everything you pop on the shelves is out for display. It essentially looks like a cupboard with shelves but no doors.\n\nNow, it may not be for everyone, but there’s a lot to like about it, as it offers both functional and aesthetic benefits. And there are ways to work around any clutter concerns you may have. Read on to discover more about this ‘controversial’ interior design trend and how to best use open shelving in your kitchen.\nOpen kitchen shelving - why the buzz? \nSo where do all the strong opinions on open kitchen shelving come from? Here’s the good stuff:\nIf well styled, open shelving gives you an aesthetically pleasing and Instagrammable corner of your kitchen. Search for ‘kitchen shelf styling’ or ‘kitchen shelfie decor’ on Pinterest and you’ll be served with thousands of chic ideas to get you started. Your open kitchen shelves give you the perfect place to show off all your cookbooks, indoor plants, and favourite glassware. More on kitchen shelving ideas later. 
\nOpen shelves are convenient, offering you easy access to all your plates, pots and whatever else you choose to stash there. And you get a clear view of your kitchen items, which saves you having to root around the back of a dark cupboard.\nIf you’re working with a \nsmall kitchen\n, overhead cupboards can make it feel even smaller, while open shelving can help open up a space, making the room feel lighter and less enclosed. On the note of small kitchens, \ngreen kitchen paint\n is one of the best colours for a small kitchens.\n

All that sounds great, so what’s the issue? One of the main concerns that many people have with open shelving is the fact that all their clutter will be out on full display. But you could also say that having everything in open view would help eliminate clutter, as you may keep things tidy to avoid facing an unsightly mess every time you pop in for a snack.\n\nAnother point that open shelving nay-sayers bring up is that the shelves look slightly ‘unfinished’ without cupboard doors. But that’s also where you can really make use of styling to turn shelves into a design feature rather than just an old fashioned cupboard. Open shelving offers you the opportunity to tackle storage \nand\n style, with just a few slabs of wood.\nIdeas for decorating your kitchen shelves\nOnce you’re sold on the idea of open shelves, the next step is figuring out how to decorate them. Check out some of our favourite kitchen shelf styling ideas below:\n\nCookbooks\nWe’ve all got a hardcover cookbook or two lying around somewhere. Dust it off and display with pride on your open shelves. And hey, it may even inspire you to try a new recipe or two.

Coloured glassware and mugs\nYour open shelf is only as stylish as what you display on it. Upgrade your glassware to a more eye-catching colour and make your drinking experience a lot more pleasing to the eye.

Indoor plants\nAn affordable and impactful addition to your open shelves, indoor plants will add splashes of colour to your kitchen shelf while also helping you nail the current interior design trend of bringing the outdoors in. 

Handmade clay plates\nGet your hands on some handmade dinnerware for a trendy and unique look. We love the look of handmade clay plates, the type that you may find in your coolest local independent coffee shop.

Paint the back of the shelves a different colour \nMake a statement with a pop of contrasting colour by painting the back of your shelves with a different colour to the rest of the walls. It’s a sure-fire tactic to turn your open shelves into a design feature without having to worry too much about styling them. Explore our \nrange of designer wall paints\n for \nsome kitchen paint colour ideas\n and pop some colour onto those shelves! You can also play around with contrasting your shelves to your kitchen cupboards. Learn \nhow to paint kitchen cupboards here\n.

Looking for painting tips and decorating advice? Check out our blog posts about \nhow to paint different furniture surfaces\n, \n8 Japandi home decor ideas\n and \n10 tips to decorate your home like a real Scandinavian\n.

A major part of decorating success? Arming yourself with the right tools. \nNavigating your way through the decor aisle can be daunting, we know. If you’ve ever stepped into a DIY store and walked out feeling slightly overwhelmed, we’re here to simplify matters a little. Gather the goods you need using the list below.

Brushes\n
Along with a quality tin of paint, the right paintbrush or wallpaper brush is \nessential\n for a flawless finish. Invest in a 2-inch angled brush to ‘cut in’ the edges so you can reach all those inner nooks and crannies. It’s easy to control so you’ll also find it useful for painting door and window frames.\nRollers\n
Use a large roller to apply paint to bigger surface areas three times faster than you would using a paintbrush. Invest in a mini roller for tight corners and to blend your cut in edges.\n\nIf you're painting high ceilings, opt for a \npaint roller extension pole\n to help you reach them.

Painting tray\n
Pour your paint out into a \npaint tray\n that you can easily dip your roller into. Look for a stable base with a deep enough pit and invest in some disposable liners to save yourselves the scrubbing hassle.\nWallpaper adhesive/paste\n
Hang wallpaper up with a lick of high-quality wallpaper and wallpaper adhesive/paste and it’s up there for the long haul. Lay a trimmed sheet of wallpaper down on a table and apply a thin film of wallpaper paste on the back using a paint roller. Allow the paste to soak in (using the manufacturer’s recommended time) and proceed to hang. \n(Tip: Find out whether your wallpaper material requires a specific paste before you buy. You can get wallpaper paste as a powder to mix with water,  but we’d recommend investing in ready-mixed adhesive to save time.)

Masking tape \n
What DIY project does good old fashioned \npainters masking tape\n \nnot\n help with? Use masking tape (AKA painter’s tape) to protect those areas that you don’t want splatters of paint on. Simply mask off your skirting board and the edge of your flooring before getting your paint on. Trust us, it’ll stay put. \n(Tip: Remove masking tape immediately after painting to avoid peeling off any of your handywork. For more tips, check out \nhow to use masking tape when decorating\n)\nSteamers\n
Sick of the sight of your current wallpaper? Remove it using a wallpaper steamer (learn \nhow to use a wallpaper removal steamer\n). It works by using hot water to soften the wallpaper adhesive so it comes off with easel. It’s a lot quicker than tackling the entire area with a stripping knife. Which takes us nicely to the next tool… \nWallpaper stripping knife\n
Get rid of your wallpaper traditional way - using a sharp wallpaper stripping knife. We’d recommend using a 4-inch wide stripping knife and using sharp and short movements to strip your wallpaper off.\nProtective glasses and masks\n
Safety first. Slip on some safety glasses to protect your eyes from any sawdust or old peeling paint. Put a mask on to protect yourself from any fumes. \n(Tip: At Lick, we’ve designed our paint to be fume-free and low in VOC.)\nFiller/caulk\n
Deal with any holes or gaps in your wall by adding wall filler or caulk for a smooth and solid surface to paint/paper on. The difference? Filler sets hard and can be sanded smooth, so it’s best to use pre-painting or wallpapering. Caulk is a better choice for flexible fillings, such as around windows and stairs. \nFilling knife \n
Use a filling knife to apply filler into those holes and gaps. Choose one with a stainless steel blade and a comfy handle for easy use. \nScraper \n
Get a sturdy wide scraper to (you guessed it) scrape away old paint and wallpaper. \nSandpaper \n
Keep a few pieces of sandpaper at hand to sand down your freshly filled in walls and smooth away any bumpy surfaces before painting or wallpapering. (It’s actually quite enjoyable...) \nDrop cloth\n
Usually made of canvas or plastic (we’d recommend canvas), use a drop cloth to protect your floors and furnishings from paint splodges and splatters.\nExtension handle\n
\nUse an extension handle to make it easier for you to reach high walls and ceilings with your paint roller. 

Those little marks in your hallway, a few nicks on the staircase, that time the builder propped his ladder up \ndirectly against your wall.\n Life brings with it a few knocks and bumps along the way and few places bear the brunt of this more than your walls. So it stands to reason that we might want to give our walls, masonry, or woodwork a little touch up now and again. How hard can it be, right? The truth is, it isn’t, but there are some factors that you need to consider before you begin your touch up to ensure that you get the perfect result, every time. Find out the dos and don’ts of paint touch-ups so you don’t get caught out.\nWhat is a paint touch up?\nWe’re sure you’re familiar with the idea of touch ups, but just so we’re all on the same page, a paint ‘touch up’ refers to the re-coating of a small area rather than the entire wall or surface, in order to conceal minor scuffs or marks. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? But there are some problems that can arise.\nWhat problems arise from touching up?\n\nSurface texture\nFirstly, the texture of a bare wall is different to that of a painted wall. So, if in the first instance you were painting onto a bare wall, whereas you’re touching up on a \npainted wall\n, you might notice some slight differences in the surface texture.\nColour difference\nOnce you've painted on a wall it will start \noxidising and curing\n. This will affect how much light is reflected on it as well as the paint finishing. It essentially means the paint has ‘set’ on your walls. Unfortunately, if you paint on a surface that is already cured, \neven\n if you’re using exactly the same paint (from the same tin no less!) the colour may be slightly different.\n\nWhy does it happen?\nDespite your best intentions, in reality, it’s just not feasible to achieve a perfect match when fresh paint is applied to old paint that has been affected by conditions like weathering and wear and tear.\n\nPrevention\nProper preparation is the best form of prevention. Ensure that your walls are \nprepped before painting\n to guarantee the best finishing. This includes making sure that your walls are as smooth as a baby’s bottom before you begin. Always make sure to use the same paint (if possible the same tin) as you did to begin with. And remember, a workman is only as good as his tools, so take care of your gear by \ncleaning and caring for your paintbrush and roller\n.\n\nSolution\nUnfortunately, as with most things worth having, there’s no quick-fix solution when it comes to perfectly painted walls. The \nbest\n solution is to paint the entire area. Fortunately, areas like our skirting boards (which usually bear the brunt of the heaving lifting) can be painted relatively quickly and easily as an entire area. If you’re looking to touch up your walls, this requires a little more work. Lighter colours tend to be a bit more forgiving because when you’re painting with darker colours, more pigment, any difference in colour or texture, will be more obvious. \n\nWe know it’s not the easiest, but the best solution is to paint the entire wall. Don’t shoot the messenger!

Colour differences between paint batches\nWhile we do test each new batch for colour consistency, minute variations between batches are experienced by all paint manufacturers.\n\nWhile they are minute, when applied onto the same wall, the human eye is extremely good at noticing the difference, so it becomes more obvious.\n\nWe check both our samples and every batch of paint with a spectrophotometer, and then by eye, as the human eye is actually far more sensitive to subtle differences based on specific lights.\n\nAs a result, in order to achieve a flawless finish, the most straightforward resolution is, again, to repaint the surface as a whole.\nFor more painting tips and tricks from our experts, find out \nhow to prevent picture framing on a painted wall\n.

The peonies are out, evenings seem to linger on forever and even Wimbledon is back on our screens. Summer is officially here. And with its arrival, what better time to get your garden decor ready for entertaining? Whether it’s barbecues, garden parties or al fresco lunches that last until sunset, our 6-step plan will help get your garden guest-ready without it costing the earth.\nGarden decor tip: give it a tidy\n\nFirst thing’s first, you shouldn’t start any decor job with an untidy space. That includes your garden. Whether you’ve got a balcony, back garden, or acres of land, bust out your dustpan and brush, grab your rake or ride-on mower and give it a good old tidy. \n\nCheck out these \n8 budget-friendly balcony decor ideas\n to get more inspiration.\n\nBefore you even think about planting anything new, get rid of old leaves and give your perennials a prune. If you’ve got room, why not think about buying a composter and turn this year’s waste into next year’s fertiliser?\nGarden decor tip: get planting\n\nGarden tidy and pruning complete, it’s time to get planting. If you didn’t manage to plant your bulbs back in October (don’t worry, we didn’t either), you can buy fully grown foliage this time of year. Garden centres are a sea of colour in the summer months, so now is the time to go wild. You can even liven up your pots with some \nleftover Lick paint\n.\n\nNot only are plants a great way to add vibrancy to your garden, but they’re also good for the environment too (\nread about all the benefits of rewilding here\n). Want to bring all the bees to your yard? Opt for pollinators like lavender, daisies, and snapdragon. While you're at it, why not jump on the \nvictory gardens trend\n? Use your little outdoor space to grow some vegetables or herbs - nothing beats home-grown produce!

Garden decor tip: paint & upcycle garden furniture\n\nWinter months can be tough on garden furniture and nothing makes it look more tired than flaky paintwork. So whether you’re doing touch-ups or a full-blown upcycle, it’s not a bad idea to give your \ngarden decor a fresh lick of paint\n. Our \nmasonry, brickwork and exterior paint\n can be used on both wooden and \nmetal garden furniture\n—even the \ngarden fence\n (read all about our \nexterior paint for wood\n and check out \nhow to paint a fence\n).\n\n\nShop masonry and exterior paint\n

Garden decor tip: paint your shed\n\nWe think it’s time the humble shed came out from the woodwork and became a welcome addition to your garden decor. Because these days, a shed doesn’t just have to be a shed. It can be transformed into a garden office, a yoga studio, a potting shed, a playhouse for the kids or your very own workshop. So whilst you’re getting your garden ready for entertaining, why not give your shed the makeover it deserves too. Give your garden a burst of sunshine with our \nyellow shed paint\n.\n\n\nLearn how to paint a shed\n

Garden decor tip: invest in soft furnishings\n\nThe best thing about gardens in summer is using them for entertaining. So whether it’s cushions and throws or a block-print tablecloth, invest in some new soft furnishings for your seating areas. Even better, if you’ve got any soft furnishings that are past their best, upcycle your indoor décor and give it a new life outside.

Garden decor tip: festoon lighting\n\nNothing, we repeat, nothing will pull your garden decor together better than festoon lighting. Those guys can make a dilapidated old barn look fit for a wedding (trust us, we’ve seen it). Whether it’s festoon lights, flower wreaths or bunting, make sure your home is garden party-ready with some nifty summer accessories for the cherry on top of your decoration project.

We hope this 6-step guide has inspired you to \ndig out your paint brushes\n and get your garden ready for summer. Even a \npaint refresh of your exterior walls\n can work wonders for your outdoor space and give them a bit of a facelift.

With summer almost in sight, now is the right time to start thinking about giving your outdoor spaces a bit of a spruce. One of the easiest ways to transform your garden without a big investment is by reviving your outdoor furniture with fresh paint. How, you ask? Depending on the type of material your garden furniture is made of, you may need to follow a slightly different painting process.\n\nIf your outdoor furniture is made of wood, check out our blog post on \nhow to paint a shed\n, as it’s a similar process for all outdoor wooden items. If your garden furniture is made of metal, you’re in the right place. Learn more about how to paint metal garden furniture and all the prep that goes into it.\nWhat is the best paint for outdoor metal garden furniture? \n\nNot to toot our own horn, but we’ve just launched a range of exterior paint that works beautifully on metal garden furniture. Meet \nLick exterior paint\n, a high-coverage range of paints designed to be used on all kinds of outside surfaces. Our exterior paints have all the pigment-rich vibrancy of our indoor paints, with the added durability and gloss retention needed to brave the outdoor elements.\nTools you’ll need to paint metal garden furniture \n\nStart by gathering your tools: \n\nLick exterior paint\n: explore our range of 13 colours to find the right one for you\nProtective clothing\n\nBiodegradable dust sheet\n or a \ndecorators canvas\n to protect surrounding areas \n\nPaint brush\n\nMetal primer (for ferrous metals)\nHow to prep metal garden furniture before painting \n\nProper prep will decide how flawless your furniture finish will be. Here’s how to prep outdoor furniture made of metal before painting: \nAssess the conditions of any bolts and replace any missing or rusty ones. \nKill any algae on your metal garden furniture with a fungicidal wash. \nRemove any existing paint flakes from the furniture so you have a smooth and even surface to paint on. \nOnce all the above is done, clean and dry the surface before painting. \nIf working with ferrous metals, apply a special metal primer before painting.\nHow to paint metal garden furniture \nFirst, pick a dry day for painting. Although our exterior paint is designed to be weather-resistant, it needs its initial drying time before it can be exposed to rainwater. \nWhen it comes to priming, the process differs a bit depending on the type of metal you’re working with. If it’s ferrous, you’ll need a metal primer. If your garden furniture is made of non-ferrous metals, you can apply our exterior paint directly without priming.\nPainting on galvanised steel? Expose it to outside elements for a couple of months before painting, then apply directly without priming.\nWe recommend applying two coats of exterior paint to your garden furniture, even if you see great coverage in just one. That second coat will add durability and longevity to your paint job.  \nNote, if you’re using Lick exterior paint, you won’t need to use any varnish as it’s designed to be durable and retain gloss.\n

Ready to pick a colour for your metal garden furniture? Explore our new range of exterior and masonry paint, with 13 colours to choose from. And read \nour step-by-step guide on how to paint your house exterior.\n

How to

How to paint a front door

An easy DIY on how to reupholster a headboard

How to make a DIY painted wall headboard

5 easy DIY Christmas decorations to try at home

How to style the Neo Deco pastels colours in your home

How to style open shelving in your kitchen

How to use different decorating tools

Paint touch-ups: the do’s and dont’s

How to get your garden decor ready for entertaining

How to paint metal garden furniture