Home DIY

A question about paint. I want to do my hallway in something a bit more interesting than the current, very tired, pure white. I think I'm sold on the idea that a bit of colour/drama in the hallway is a good thing, and better than simply trying to make a space that will always be quite dark, as bright as possible.

I've done the woodwork under the stairs in a deep blue black with a lacquered finish, and it looks great. I'm thinking something like Craig and Rose Kitchen Gold on the walls would set it off nicely, but doing all the hallway and the area up the stairs might be a bit much. Is painting half way up the wall in a strong colour, and off-white above -as if there was an imaginary dado rail - a good idea or will it look naff?

Send hallway paint inspo pls

Very roughly this sort of thing

That last image is FIT.

Looks like my hallway, except I don't have the ornate woodwork, stunning tiles, tasteful stained glass, dado rails, picture rails, cornicing, ceiling rose, or posh handbags artfully placed on the floor. Think these may be somewhat essential to the overall look.

It's definitely a thing right now - minimalist / graphic take on the aesthetic of a traditional dado rail. I wish i'd done in an eggshell as our stair has a greasy brown smudge up it where the kids have used the wall rather than the bannister on the other side. If you do it use good masking tape (frog tape) and peel off before dry to get a good edge.

Or use "swiss technique" to take it even further. Seal the tape with colour underneath and then paint over with the new colour when dry.

The first paint will seal any gaps in the tape, which will match the existing paint, and then you'll get no bleed with the new colour.
This does rely on having both colours of paint tho.

thanks - that requires a whole system which i dont currently plan to have

@nefarious @lemonade that last image is gorgeous..

We did this in our hallway (please excuse laughable estate agent photo focal length), broadly inspired by a scottish tenement hallway. Is it naff? Who can say. I followed the "swiss technique" described above (paint middle line, mask over and paint either side) and it was broadly disaster-free

naff?

Nah that's great. Very professional job too.

My hallway/stairs area currently is an awful lot shabbier than yours, needs some zhuzzing. Think I'm going to give this a try. This is my starting point, going to try Craig and Rose Kitchen Gold or Papyrus half way up the stair wall unless my wife stops me.

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got an outside light, motion sensor, but isnt coming on. changed the bulb and the fuse but still not working

dont you have to set it somehow? switch off for 15 secs then back on again? dunno.

Is there an isolation switch which may have tripped off?

there's a fused switch on the inside, which is in turn wired into a socket, but both are on

Some of the older ones needed to be off, on, off, on'd to get the sensor to kick in but should still come on if just switched on.

https://www.worktop-express.co.uk/worktop-accessories/unika-solid-wood-worktop-oil-mousse

It's oiling my worktop time, and while I don't mind (honest..) the prospect of sanding it down and then wacking on danish oil, this looks like it might be good too.
Has anyone used this?

Not used it, but at that price I'd be tempted to give it a shot worse case scenario you've wasted £13. If it works as advertised you saved a fair bit of time and effort.

Any recco for a handy man in SE for simple jobs? Looking to get someone to install window insulating film on all our single glazing windows

Any recommendations for an electrician to move a few sockets in North London? The two I've contacted so far haven't got back to me.

HoL was recommending someone called Ed recently who I'd been planning on getting in touch with myself. Is he one you tried?

What's the correct way to make a joint in a floorboard (120x18mm) above a joist? One end of which will be discarded, if that makes it any more straightforward.

I'd have thought something circular, but guess the larger the diameter the more it will cut into the boards either side.

Yes. I emailed a few days ago and have got his voicemail when I tried to call. Everyone seems busy at the moment.

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Multi-tool?

Definitely multi-tool as @dt says. You make a mark to set your depth as well if you're worried about cables or pipes.

Thanks both. Multi-tool looks like a lot of fun, had seen those before but not twigged what they actually did.

However I've just noticed the right-angle attachment for a dremel (which I already have) that might do the job. Obviously won't cut right through at the edges like an oscillating cutter, but I reckon it'll get close enough to break the rubbish end off and neaten things up with a chisel.

Drawing is to scale with a 50mm disc.

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