3 simple ways to transform your home with colour ready for spring
A little paint and lots of creativity can go a long way
Spring is the perfect time of year to lean in and celebrate colour in our homes. After a long winter, vibrant tulips and daffodils are poking their heads out of the ground, and frothy pink blossoms are adorning trees. However, this riot of colour isn’t just for the garden, it’s for inside the house too, and there are so many easy DIY projects you can do to add a shot of colour to your home while we wait for spring.
Over the last year colour experts have all noted a trend towards using bolder and more playful colours in the home. Dulux’s 2025 colour of the Year, True Joy, a vibrant and sunny yellow, demonstrated this. However, you don’t need to drench a whole room yellow to be bold with colour. One of my favourite paint ideas at the moment is colour accents which are the perfect weekend project.
Dulux True Joy paint shade used on the door frame and Moody Cobalt on the walls.
These accents only need a small tin of paint or a few paint testers for a quick and easy transformation. At the moment, Dulux is offering free delivery when you buy 3 or more of its testers, including its ‘Peel and Stick’ testers so stock up and try your hand at one of these simple ideas.
1. Paint a border
Dulux True Joy used on window and walls in Rustic Chestnut
One of the most strikingly simple, but effective paint ideas is painting a colourful border around a window or door. It is a project that will take less than a day and can be painted over easily if you get bored with it.
All you need is one of Dulux’s roller testers and some painter's tape, or you can use a small tin of Dulux’s simply refresh one coat. For a crisp finish, paint over the tape with leftover paint in the same colours as the wall first, then leave it dry for a few minutes before following with your chosen colour.
When thinking about your colour choice you can try out Dulux’s new 'Colour Play’ Tool for inspiration on what will work with your existing colour scheme. But don’t be afraid to go bold, try a contrasting colour or the same colour in a different tone.
2. Revamp light switches
Dulux Heart Wood and Summer Pecan used on wall.
Peel and stick wallpaper samples are a great and affordable way to jazz up or disguise light switches. Start by choosing the paint sample, it can either be the same colour as your walls to perfectly blend in, or reuse leftover peel-and-stick paint samples to make it a feature.
There are two ways to do the next step. The most budget-friendly is to cut the sample to size, with space cut out for the switch and a small patch to cover the switch and stick it on. The other option is to follow the same steps but switch to a clear light switch cover that will sit over the paint sample, making it more durable.
Either option will give you a fresh look in less than an hour.
3. Create a furniture accent
Dulux True Joy used on cabinets and Intense Azure behind cooker.
Most paint including Dulux can be used on walls and furniture as long as you prime the furniture properly before painting. If you’re a renter who isn’t able to paint the walls, a quick furniture upcycle is the perfect way to introduce a splash of colour.
The front of drawers, table legs, and handles on a wardrobe can all be elevated with paint. A paint tester is perfect for covering these small focal points. If you want to go bigger try painting bookshelves in a contrasting colour like red or purple to make a real statement.
Get your home ready to look as colourful inside as the world is outside this spring.
Sign up to our newsletter for style inspiration, real homes, project and garden advice and shopping know-how

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.
-
I used this game-changing Joseph Joseph gadget to cook perfect rice in my microwave in 10 minutes flatForget boiling a pan on the hob or a plug-in rice cooker
-
I took a risk and opted for bright yellow in my lime-plastered spare roomIt's my new favourite spot in the house
-
Solar water fountains are the hottest garden trend of 2026, and this easy DIY hack makes it look even betterCreate a chic water feature with ease
-
I refused to decorate my home for guests or potential buyers, and painted my lime-plastered spare bedroom bright yellow – and I couldn't be happierIt's my new favourite spot in the house
-
This is how a colour expert created the perfect engaging colour scheme for her son’s playroom – here’s how to translate it to your own home'Designing the playroom was one of my favourite rooms to work on'
-
Sorry, Farrow & Ball! But this is the paint shade that so many stylish homes have in common – even Ideal Home editors have it in their homes‘Everyone asks what the paint colour is’
-
I asked interior and paint experts what are the paint colours people most regret choosing – these are the 4 shades they warn to be careful with‘Colours people regret are often the simplest’
-
'Barely-there-blue' is the bedroom colour of the summer – it's cooling, restful, and exactly what 2026 calls forIt's cooling, restful, and exactly what this hot weather calls for
-
Farrow & Ball’s most popular blue shades that people can’t get enough of in 2026 – it’s the world's favourite colour for a reasonAnd this year's biggest colour trend, too
-
Red is the 'it' bathroom colour choice for 2026 - here's how to use this dramatic shade in cloakrooms, ensuites and family bathroomsBeing brave with colour always pays off
-
Farrow & Ball’s most popular front door colours in 2026 – 3 shades to take inspiration from for your home’s entranceGive your front door a colourful makeover with one of these stylish shades