Creative paint ideas really are the answer to transforming an interior and its atmosphere. A simple lick of paint highlights an architectural feature, zones a specific space or plays with visual effects. Paint a fireplace, trim, floor, or even a bathtub, to create bespoke decor effects in a relatively short period of time, using small quantities of paint and pleasing your bank balance. Interior decorators agree. The current vogue for paint is all about being artistic; delivering dramatic and theatrical illusions that express their client’s characters and sense of aesthetic.

“Throughout our long design history, Warner House has never been shy of bold and decorative design,’ says founder and owner Lee Clarke, ‘Our curated paint range is inspired by our extensive archive of heritage documents and allows you to complement our confident wallpaper and fabric portfolio or use as a hero highlight in a room.”

While some homeowners will use a professional painter to achieve these effects, others will see it as a creative DIY project when you have a free day or two. You just need an innovative idea, the right medium and the perfect colourways to achieve something elegant and sophisticated.

In this article, we explore how to get creative with paint and inspire you with ideas to spark your next interior design update…

Every successful paint project needs a little bit of preparation in advance. Follow these back-to-basics rules before you get started…

Firstly, consider your colour scheme. Order a paint card to see a selection of options, order samples and get to know the shades that will work in your home. Consider the effect it will create with your existing decor and how and where you may use it.

Secondly, choose your finish. Ask yourself, do you want shine or dull? There are many paint finishes from high-shine gloss and lacquer and to the matt flat eggshell or shine of satin. To make it easier for customer tastes, Warner House offers two finishes that are made with high-grade ingredients and guarantee excellent results on walls and woodwork.

Matt emulsion is a pigment-rich water-based soft matt finish for walls and ceilings, that combines durability with good coverage and ease of application. Eggshell is a durable and modern water-based version of a classic eggshell finish with a low subtle sheen that is suitable for interior doors, trim and general woodwork. Both are environmentally friendly water-based paints, non-toxic and virtually V.O.C. free. They are also child safe and meet the strict EN71-3 testing (ensuring the paints are perfect for children's rooms and toys).

Thirdly, think about how much paint you will need. We recommend paint coverage of 12m2 per litre. Emulsion comes in 2.5 and 5 litre tins and Eggshell in 1 and 2.5 litre tins. Measure out the space you need to cover and order accordingly.

Ready to be inspired? Read on for six creative paint ideas…

Hallways are often places you pass through, but you can elevate the space as soon as you open the front door by painting a staircase as a charismatic feature. A powerful design effect can be created with two colours – one dominant on treads, skirting and spindles, one in moderation on the handle rail – as seen here in a scheme by interior designer @laurastephensid.

To keep your look sophisticated, seek out the glamorous dark brown and spice combinations, such as Merchant’s Brown and Silk Kimono. Popular right now for adding warmth and comfort, they work seamlessly against a wall decorated in the ikat stripe, Samarkand Spice Wallpaper (shown) that also echoes the lines of the staircase.

Vertical stripes are a must-have in the interior designer lexicon. Paint your own in small spaces where you can play with scale to create intriguing illusions in both height and width. You’ll need to plan out the repeat carefully to ensure that you get the right spacing. A plumb line helps to get the vertical spot on.

If you want a crisp stripe edge, a professional painter’s trick is to use Frog Tape or something similar to mask off each section. We recommend you paint the base paint first and then add your stripe once dry. @the_found_home chose the warm neutral Tussah on a background of Weaver’s White, complemented by another interior designer ingredient – a small sprig floral Primula Gold Wallpaper (shown).

Highlighting an existing or reclaimed wooden fire surround can transport it miraculously from past to present day. People tend to stick with traditional black or white for a fire surround, but painting it in an inventive, even surprising, modern day colour emphasises and celebrates its crafted shape and design. It’s also an easy way to make it an eye-catching focal point, setting the tempo for the atmosphere you want to create.

When transforming the dining room of an Edwardian terrace, @the100yearoldhome chose Lettice Paint (shown), a fresh spring green, to bring a joyful twist to the Arts & Crafts style fireplace. The colour was also echoed on the ceiling. Pavone Pastel Wallpaper (shown) immerses the space further with storytelling vibrancy.

Highlight a ceiling molding with a colour that breaks up ‘blank canvas’ walls and then echoes around the room on soft furnishings and rugs. If you don’t have coving, paint a horizontal strip at the top of the wall where it joins the ceiling. The effect will be to unite the space from top to bottom, allowing it to work as a whole and make the space feel more intimate.

@sionnadesigns created a living area using aged reds and blues throughout. Rich with Ottoman influences, the room is accessorised with intricately patterned linen cushions and soft furnishings in Adaline Merlot, Lilou Merlot, Amoli Rouge and Giverny Teal (shown). Note the way the contemporary chandeliers are also painted in the red colourway.

Original floorboards that have seen better days can be brought back to life with new-lease-of-life paint effects. Checkerboard or diamond-style floors are of the moment, mimicking tiled floors and tricking the eye with interesting geometric patterns. To paint a pocket-friendly checkerboard floor, you’ll need to prepare the wood, paint the background colour and then measure out and mask off the areas to be painted – make sure that you get your angles spot on.

@resinn chose three complementary colours to create a painted floor effect in her bootroom: Weaver’s White for the base; the rich neutral Shantung for the large square; and off-black Old Ford for the small square (shown).

Painting a wooden bath surround is one of the simplest do-it-yourself projects you can do. Many of us will have the classic white bath with a wooden bath panel and a stylish paint colour will add a luxury note to your bathroom instantly. Consider adding rectangular beading or tongue and groove to the existing surround for extra architectural interest.

A decorative way to add drama to an all-white bathroom is with a classical black and white theme that feels clean and elegant. Knotted Sash Charcoal Wallpaper and blinds in Knotted Sash Charcoal Linen Mix Fabric (shown) were the inspiration for this black bath surround painted in the similar Opera Hat.

Paint door trims and you won’t believe how they transform from being functional and barely there to dramatic entrances. Painted trims frame an entry and divide the space; especially useful if you have large areas of neutral-painted walls that can feel cold and echoey. By adding colour, you are drawing the eye from one area to the next.

In the home of @watts_inthehouse, a dark blue, similar to Old Indigo, was used to lead the eye to the Jannah Midnight Wallpaper in the restroom beyond. Continue the paint colourway on doors, dados and skirting if you are after a truly immersive result.

Who would have thought that a lick of paint could make such a difference? We hope we’ve inspired you to update your home with these unique and creative paint effects. Made to order in the UK, Warner House’s 66 water-based paints, in matt emulsion and eggshell finishes, deliver depth of colour and a hard wearing finish. These archival-inspired shades have been carefully curated from hundreds of historic samples in our archive. Head to the website and order our paint card so you can start planning your creative paint project today.