You don't need oodles of time or artistic ability to give a room a great new look. Just arm yourself with stamps and some paint and we'll show you how it's done.

You'll need:

Stamps of your choice
Stamp paints
Foam roller
String Chalk

Stamping on walls

You'll find it easiest to stamp onto walls finished with flat-acrylic paint, because the stamps won't slide around as they can on satin paints. If slippage does occur, clean the stamp off and start again.

Step 1
Cut one piece of string to match the spacing you'd like between stamps. Cut another half this length.

Step 2
To mark walls for an all-over design, decide how many rows your design will need (say five). Begin at the top corner of one wall and, using the long string, chalk the position for the first stamp. Put one end of the string on the mark and, keeping parallel with the ceiling, move across the wall to the position for the next stamp. Mark the entire row in this way. Repeat vertically and horizontally for all odd-numbered rows. For even rows, use the short string to mark the first position, then mark the rest of the row with the long string.

Step 3
Pour the paint onto a plate, load the paint roller and glide over the stamp a few times. Roll the stamp slightly when applying it to the wall. Reapply to make stronger images. For an aged look, stamp several times without reapplying paint.

Stamping pictures

Stamp on pieces of card, paint frames a matching colour and pop the card inside. You can even stamp a matching wall shelf!

Stamping on furniture

If your furniture is waxed or varnished, remove the finish by rubbing the piece with methylated spirits and a sheet of fine-grade sandpaper prior to stamping.

Stamping on fabric

Step 1
Wash, dry and iron bedlinen and drape. Fold in halves, quarters and eighths and press the foldings to make grids for easy placement of the stamps.

Step 2
Slip cardboard inside bed linen and tape to table. Stamp using the folds as your placement guides.

Note: You don't need fabric fixative as stamp paint will withstand washing.