Homeowner creates striking feature wall for free – using leftover paint!

This makeover proves you can improve your home on any budget...even zero!

Looking for an affordable DIY project, using leftover paint you've got going spare? This striking feature wall is all the inspiration you need.

The fabulous painted feature wall is the work of creative homeowner Sarah Powell, a nursery nurse and mum of one from Nottinghamshire.

Sarah was keen to transform her hallway with a unique feature wall. But didn’t want to spend a fortune on wallpaper to get the look.

Related: How to paint a staircase – transform your hallway by painting your steps

Instead she used leftover paint for a savvy painting technique – carrying out a project that cost her nothing at all. We think you'll agree, it totally transforms her hallway...

hall way with white wall and square wall mirror and a white drawer with table lamp

(Image credit: Future PLC/Sarah Powell)

The family moved into the house last January. Ever since then Sarah's been keen to start on the task of redecorating.

'I constantly browse home accounts on Instagram and Pinterest,' Sarah tells Latest Deals. 'I came across some designs with dots and stripes that people had painted on their wall. I came up with the idea to do a diagonal tribal type pattern.'

Having some grey paint leftover from another project, she decided to go for it.

'With a small rounded end brush, I began in the top right corner painting on free-hand lines' Working her way down and across.

Sarah's painted feature wall in progress

a hallway with white wall and square wall mirror and white drawer and green chair

(Image credit: Future PLC/Sarah Powell)

Mid-transformation you can already see the difference the bespoke design will make.

'As I was doing it all completely freehand and without pre-marking it out, some of the lines aren’t perfectly straight,' explains Sarah. 'But I think that adds character and makes it unique to me.'

'As I started to paint I kept stopping and looking at it and thinking 'do I like it?' and 'should I carry on or not?'. The answer was clearly yes, as Sarah carried on and ended up loving the finished look.

'The total painting time took around an hour and a half to two hours' she explains, to those looking to emulate the look.

Grey striped hallway feature wall

a hallway with white wall and striped print wall paper and a large mirror

(Image credit: Future PLC/Sarah Powell)

Sarah is absolutely delighted with the results of her bespoke wall design, saying how a project like this is not only affordable but also a great distraction during lockdown.

'The project didn’t cost me anything. I already had the paint and the brush from previous projects' she explains. 'But a small tester pot of paint would have easily been enough to cover it if you don’t have any leftover paints at home,' she adds.

'I did paint mine completely freehand. But for anyone wanting a slightly more polished look, I would recommend marking out the lines with tape – to help keep the lines straight.

Like so: DIY fans get creative with feature walls – thanks to this £6 must-have

Fancy a go?

Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.