From FOMO, FOJI, JOMO comes FOMU – the fear of mucking up. Don’t give into your FOMU this summer! This list of quick and easy weekend projects will help you get creative with paint, even if it’s a rental.

To help you reclaim your confidence, British Paints senior brand manager, Bonnie Jenkinson, has compiled some easy to follow tips and tricks for everyone from painting pros to novices.

Upcycle your coffee table

Upcycling a wooden coffee table is a great introduction to DIY and a quick way to make a big impact in your rental home. The perfect size for first time DIYers, a coffee table transformation can easily be completed in a weekend.

Before you start painting, it’s important to give your piece a sand to remove any old paint or imperfections. When sanding, keep a light touch so you don’t gauge the surface, then wipe the table clean once finished.

Your surface is ready, but to ensure that your paint turns out exactly how you planned, apply an undercoat to seal the surface and prepare it for your paint.

British Paints Prep 4in1 Water Based is the ideal product to use for preparing indoor furniture, and has the combined functions of sealing, priming, undercoating and stain blocking. Now your prep is out of the way, it’s time to pick out your desired colour and start painting. British Paints Clean & Protect is perfect for pieces that will stay inside the home, like a coffee table, and can be wiped clean time and time again, making it easy to clean up any spills.

Transform an outdoor seating area

With the warmer weather on its way, transforming your rental property’s outdoor area with some custom furniture, like a bench seat or table and chairs, could be an exciting project to try at home.

Given this new piece will live outdoors, it needs to be able to withstand the elements, including sun, rain and hail. British Paints 4 Seasons is the ideal option for outdoor projects, as its unique formula is designed to last and last, with a 25-year guarantee against peeling, flaking and blistering.

Once again, don’t forget to give your outdoor furniture a sand prior to painting if the surface is old and flaking. If the surface is sound, then you don’t need to sand before you start your project. When it’s time to paint, the right tools will play a big part in helping you get the job done.

If you’re painting a large flat surface, like a full-sized tabletop, opt for a small roller with rounded ends, which will allow for a flawless finish every time and no roller marks visible on the completed piece.

If you’re working on tricky corners or little details, like on a chair, a high-quality angled brush is the ideal tool to paint in grooves for a picture-perfect finish.

Get creative with paint on planters

In some rental homes, gardening is out of the question, so adding pot plants to your outdoor space is the best way to enjoy a moment in nature. Often, the pots that your plants will arrive in are not the easiest on the eye and the cost to purchase high quality, ceramic pots can quickly add up. Luckily, there’s another option to transform your planters into fun, eye-catching statements.

Paint! Given these planters will also be living outdoors, British Paints 4 Seasons will be your go-to option for painting outdoor planters.

If you’re struggling to find the right colour for your pots, give British Paints brand new Virtual Colour Assistant a try. The new, free tool lets you answer a few quick questions about your project – such as colour, white, grey or neutral paint – then pick a few favourite shades. Whether you’re wanting your new pots to match in with an existing colour scheme or create a fun statement, the Virtual Colour Tool will help you find the right shade.

Design your own artwork

Purchasing custom artwork for a rental can be tricky, after all, what if the piece doesn’t suit a future home?

If you’ve just completed a painting project and have some leftover paint or sample pots at home, you can easily create your own quirky piece of artwork for your rental home.

Simply buy a canvas then grab some smaller paint brushes or sponges to apply your paint. You’ll be amazed by your own creativity and the art will really add that personal touch to your space.

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