Arm yourself with cardboard, a paintbrush and some wall paint and you can easily redesign your walls. All you need to do is cut a template out of some firm cardboard and start painting patterns wherever you like.
Cologne's DIY Academy in Germany has a few tips for anyone tempted to try this at home. You might try creating a different design for each room – maybe a bird for the living room, an owl for the kids' room, and diamond shapes in the kitchen.
You could also try out vine tendrils or large plant leaves in your living area, while the children might enjoy seeing a few foxes or bears on their walls.
The experts say you'll want to get your hands on some masking tape, spray glue and a craft knife before you get started. You'll be able to order these online, if necessary.
Once you're ready to start, print out the design you want for your template and glue it onto a firm piece of cardboard with spray glue. Let it dry thoroughly then cut it out carefully using a knife. That way, your template will be stronger and won't go soft too soon.
Then fix your template to the wall using the masking tape and carefully apply the paint, working from inside the design to out. Press the inner edges of the template to the wall to prevent any of the colour from leaking beyond the lines. Next, peel the template off carefully and you're done!
A last but important tip is to use a small paintbrush with short bristles. If you don't have one, take a regular brush and tape the bristles together using a piece of masking tape. That should prevent the bristles from straying too far apart and keep the results looking tidy. – dpa
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