Feature walls are an easy and cost-effective way to update the look of a room quickly and offer home owners the opportunity to test a new colour in a space before committing to painting the entire room.

Before running off to get your roller, there are some simple steps to follow to ensure the DIY paint job is successful.

Firstly, clear the space and mask off your designated feature wall - including windows, door frames and fittings. A high quality tape will ensure a sharp line, preventing the paint from bleeding.

Next, begin with a smaller brush and paint the edges and corners inside of the masked-off area.
This act of "cutting-in" will reach all of the areas the paint roller cannot, and will stop any excess paint from the roller reaching the neighbouring walls.

Once dry, paint the rest of the wall with a roller using zigzag then horizontal strokes to ensure an even coat.

After the undercoat, the only decision left is what style to paint your feature wall in! Some painting trends at the moment include patterns - such as stripes, checks, diamonds or gingham - or using metallic or pearl paints.