Following on from last week’s blog, it seems you lot love learning about colour! If you missed Part 1, click here to read it first. Now, let’s dive into Part 2 with even more tips to help you transform your property into a stylish moneymaker.
6. Gloss in hallways
If you’ve got a rental property, listen up! Gloss paint might just be your new best friend. Sure, it’s a bit pricier and more faff to apply, but it’s so much more hardwearing—perfect for busy hallways where walls take a beating.
And here’s the bonus: gloss paint bounces light around, making those dark, poky spaces feel brighter and less gloomy.
One of my favourite tricks is to paint the bottom half of the wall in matte and the top half in gloss (same colour). It’s an easy way to add texture without actually adding texture—ideal for hallways and staircases, which often feel a bit bland. Plus, the gloss finish on the top half makes cleaning up sticky fingerprints and scuffs a doddle.
Here’s a stunning photo to demonstrate:
7. Interior Design Trend: Paint on Ceilings - Yay or Nay?
Here’s a trend I’ve been seeing a lot: developers painting walls white and then going bold with a colour on the ceiling. I’m sorry, but no.
Yes, the ceiling is technically the 5th wall, but slapping a bright colour up there while leaving the walls stark white just feels… oppressive.
Instead, pick a muted, calming paint colour and “wrap” it onto the ceiling as well as the walls. Not only does this make the space feel cosy and cohesive, but it also saves time (and money) since decorators don’t have to cut in between walls and ceilings.
Some gorgeous options to try:
8. Use Wood for Colour and Texture
I know I said this last week, but it’s worth repeating—bringing the outdoors in makes us feel happier and more grounded. Humans evolved in nature, after all!
Using wood is a simple way to create a warm, welcoming vibe. Layer up different wood tones for extra texture, but keep the shades similar—no mixing grey woods with caramel ones, please.
Think of it like double denim in fashion: done right, it’s fab. Done wrong… not so much.
9. Best Colours for Bedrooms
Bedrooms should feel like a hug in paint form—not a loud, shouty statement.
I’ve seen loads of bedrooms painted in vivid colours lately, or with bright stripes on the ceiling, and honestly? It’s a hard pass from me. Bedrooms are for relaxing, so stick to shades that feel calm and restful.
Remember what I said about colour psychology last week? (If not, catch up here). The colours you choose have a massive impact on how tenants and guests feel. A happy tenant means less stress and fewer voids—what’s not to love?
A slight exception to this point is a holiday let type SA (Serviced Accommodation) where it could work to have a little more fun with the decor because people are only staying for a short amount of time). In an HMO, it will pay to really research what works well.
Here are a few of my go-to shades:
Little Greene Castell Pink (Link): A soft, plaster-like pink that works beautifully in Airbnbs like this one near Anfield Stadium, where happy guests rave about how cosy it feels.
Little Greene Masquerade (Link) paired with Mylands Museum (Link): This dreamy combo of muted pink and greeny-grey is perfect for serene bedrooms in serviced accommodation.
This property is going great guns on Air BnB and guests are super happy, just like Petra, who stayed at the end of last year and says “A fantastically beautiful and cozy house in which we felt completely comfortable.”
Yes! That was the goal.
10. Hire a Designer
I’m just going to say it: hire an interior designer! Yes, some of you are perfectly capable of doing it yourselves, but does that mean you should?
There’s so much “same, same” out there because people copy what everyone else is doing. Massive yawn. If you want to stand out, bring in someone who knows how to make a space pop—and I’m not just saying that because it’s what I do (well, maybe a bit).
Outsourcing saves you time, stress, and guesswork, and it helps you create a space that actually works. You’ll thank yourself later, trust me.
Ready to go from drab to fab? Get in touch.
Give me a call: 07957 689 065
Drop me an email: louise@wildkindinteriors.co.uk