How to create a faux marbled splashback

I was pregnant with our second child when we started house hunting during Covid, taking advantage of the stamp duty freeze. We’d outgrown our small house and the layout didn’t work for a young family.

Of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen must surely be the hardest working. Prepping, cooking, eating and socialising make for plenty of use, so surfaces need to be able to withstand wear and tear,

Shopping list ● 3x fretwork panels ● tape measure ● 2x 2.4m(L) x 68mm(W) x 21mm(D) smooth planed pine stripwood battens ● pencil ● jigsaw ● sandpaper ● combi drill ● screws ● multi-surface spray paint

In the process of updating her 18th-century home, this owner found herself unexpectedly drawn to bright patterns and lively colours, bringing warmth and joy into the hubbub of their cosy family space

Refresh for less with these quick-fix ideas and savvy buys

There are plenty of projects that can be done to keep your home looking fresh. The key is to work out which tasks you are capable of as a DIYer, and which require specific skills and safety measures.