How stencils and templates can brighten up your walls

So you want some fancy designs on your walls but can't paint to save your life? Get some stencils. Photo: Christian Bordes/Alpina/DIY Academy/dpa

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.