8 ideas that will inspire you to be a braver decorator

Once you've found a look that works across multiple rooms, it can be easy to get stuck in a decorating rut. If you're craving a room that will shake things up, be a braver decorator. Try one of these ideas to create a dramatic scheme that has lasting impact.

1. Add humour with a trompe l'oeil

Use an accent mural to define a space within a space, such as a dining area in an open-plan kitchen-diner. This spoon design is a whimsical way to draw the eye to the dining table and adds a sense of depth to a simple scheme. All-white walls and no-frills furniture will let a trompe l'oeil stand centre stage.

2. Create impact with metallics Unleash your inner diva and introduce some metallic surfaces in your home. A graphic wallpaper in gold will bring luxe glamour to a room. Team it with simple, sleek white furniture with a few metallic details, such as vases and lamp bases, for a decadent, contemporary look.

3. Mix a combination of brightsPerk up a pared-back room with a heady mix of zingy shades. Pick out the colours in bed linen with scatter cushions and an upholstered headboard and ottoman, keeping walls and furniture white. This idea is ideal for a teen's bedroom as they can change it up with fresh colours when they want to create a new look.

4. Make it luxurious with modern fittingsAdd depth to an all-white room with a dark flooring - these large-format tiles in high-gloss black help make a feature of the beautiful oval freestanding bath, as well as reflecting light around the room. The red mosaic tiles add a hit of colour, bringing warmth to the scheme.

5. Personalise a room with wallpaper
Be a braver decorator and turn a neutral scheme into something more memorable with a feature wallpaper. An aged-maps design brings country-house glamour to this living room. Keep upholstery and rugs plain so they don't fight with the eye-catching backdrop.

6. Add a hit of sunny colour

Bring a modern black and white scheme to life by using a vibrant accent colour on one wall. A simple way to do this in a kitchen is to choose a glass splashback in a bright shade. Add one other element in the same colour to tie the room together, such as a set of enamel pendant lights.

7. Set the tone with a statement feature

Create a fearless feature in your hallway by carpeting the stairs in a standout pattern or shade – it will lift your mood as soon as you walk through the front door. This uplifting orange runner is perfectly complemented by white-painted stairs and walls.

8. Bring the drama with monochrome
Be a shade braver and swap a soft palette for a high-impact monochrome scheme in a bathroom. Glossy black tiles will create a contemporary look that suits modern wall-hung fittings. You can make this look work in a compact space by only tiling a third of the way up walls and painting the rest crisp white.

Liked this? Find out which decorating style best suits your personality.

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