DIY Painting & Decorating - Browse through the following list of projects.

Painting and Decorating are probably the most popular home improvement, due to the way you can change the appearance of your surroundings relatively easily and quickly without too much cost.

There are also lots of tools and gadgets specially designed for the job, which allow professional looking results to be achieved. The first thing to do is decide what you want to achieve.

Are you looking to brighten up a dismal room, change a bedroom into a nursery ready for a new arrival, or simply wanting a fresh new look?

When deciding on a new look, bear in mind wall coverings tend to follow trends and fashions, with styles and designs constantly changing and being updated. Also remember to choose a paper that is appropriate for the location.

If it's for a children's bedroom for example, then you wouldn't normally pick a delicate silk or foil type paper. If it is going in a kitchen, take into consideration the possibility of heat and steam where a vinyl would be better.

Painting is the by far the cheapest and quickest option when wanting a new look, with a seemingly infinite range of colours and special effects, which can be combined to create an abundance of different looks and feeling to any room.

You also have the option to use the many stains and varnishes as an alternative to paint, when decorating woodwork, these are usually more hard wearing and easier to maintain than paint, but unless it is new wood, there is a great deal of hard work to strip of the old paint first.

Spend some time planning your new look, it is better to spend half an hour deciding what look and effect you want to achieve, rather than spend hours removing newly fitted paper or paint due to a wrong choice.

Also remember what budget you are working to, you wouldn't want to get three quarters done and realise it is costing a lot more than planned. Preparation is paramount when it comes to decorating, the quality of the finished job, can be adversely affected with poor or rushed preparation.

Access for papering stairs	How to set out ladders and platforms when arranging access to decorate the ceiling or hall and stairs.
Chemical stripping	Stripping woodwork using a chemical stripper, learn how to apply and neutralize the chemical and also how to make your own paste.
Choosing wallpaper	Learn about all the different types of wallpaper from lining paper to patterned paper and what wallpapers can be painted.
Cutting and pasting wallpaper	Step by step guides about measuring, cutting and folding the paper ready for wallpapering.
Dipping	Have a professional firm remove years of old paint.
Filling holes and cracks	How to repair small cracks and holes.
Hand sanding	Different methods of removing paint and sanding down woodwork using hand tools.
Hanging wallpaper	Find out about batch numbers and hanging the first piece using plumb lines.
Heat stripping	Removing paint from wood using a hot air gun.
How many rolls of wallpaper	Use the chart to calculate how many rolls of wallpaper you will need.
Lining paper	Find out how lining paper can be used to achieve different finishes.
Marking a starting point for wallpaper	Find the right place to start wallpapering depending on the type of paper being used.
Mechanical sanding	Using orbital and disc sanders to remove paint from large wooden surfaces.
New plaster	Dealing with new plaster and preparation for painting or wallpapering.
Paint coverage and drying times	Find out how much paint will be needed using the charts, work out drying times and methods of application.
Paint types and finishes	Learn about the different paint types and possible uses.
Painting awkward areas	Painting behind radiators and around light fittings and sockets.
Painting doors	Method for painting panelled and flush doors.
Painting skirting boards	How to paint a skirting board without getting dirt on the brush.
Painting walls and ceilings	Sequence for painting walls and ceilings, using brushes, rollers or pads.
Painting windows	How to paint a window frame in the right order and without getting paint on the glass.
Paper hanging order	Diagram showing what order to wallpaper a room depending on the type of paper being used.
Papering around a ceiling rose	Method for wallpapering round a light fitting and access platform.
Papering around doors	How to wallpaper around a door
Papering around light switches and plug sockets	Decorating around electrical switches without removing the switch.
Papering around windows	Wallpapering a flush or recessed window.
Papering behind radiators	Wallpapering behind a radiator without removing it from the wall.
Papering external corners	Method for dealing with external corners.
Papering internal corners	Method for dealing with internal corners.
Papering the ceiling	How to wallpaper a ceiling and setting up a platform.
Papering the hall and stairs	Learn techniques for decorating a staircase.
Patterned wallpaper	Guides to using patterned wallpaper.
Preparing the paint	How to prepare the paint without contaminating it.
Preparing the paste	Method for preparing the paste.
Removing wallplugs	Remove wallplugs, nails etc without damaging the plaster.
Stripping vinyl wallpaper	Method for removing a vinyl wall covering.
Stripping wallpaper using a steam stripper	How to use a steamer to remove wallpaper without damaging the walls below.
Stripping wallpaper using water	How to use water to remove wallpaper and tricks to make it easier.
Using a paint brush	How to look after and use a paint brush.
Using a paint roller	How to look after and use a paint roller.
Using paint pads	How to look after and use paint pads.
Wallpaper faults	Find out what caused the problem and how to correct it.
Wallpaper for painting	Types of paper suitable for painting.