Whether painted, varnished or stained there are simple DIY and decorating solutions to make beams lighter. We ask the experts how best to reveal the beauty of wooden beams…

What is the best way to lighten beams?

The most practical option may be to paint over a dark finish on beams with an appropriate coating, for instance, a pale soft distemper. This traditional water-based paint – the precursor to modern emulsion – has a velvety matt finish and the advantage that it can be washed off easily with warm water if desired in the future.

How easy is it to remove an existing finish from beams?

An alternative approach, which demands more effort, is to strip off the dark finish. It’s vital not to act in haste otherwise you could unwittingly harm the timber or obliterate any traces of early underlying decoration, the presence of which isn’t always obvious (particularly with plainer schemes).

Be aware that many old coatings are lead-based, be mindful you don’t expose yourself or others to hazardous dust.

Baby clothes storage ideas

The key to keeping order is choosing a clothes storage solution to suit the space you have. As nurseries and small children’s room ideas tend to be the smallest room in the house it pays to seek space-saving storage solutions, from stylish hanging rails to show off favourite fashionable ensembles to clever drawers dividers to make more of furniture choices.

1. Keep order with a characterful chest of drawers

Practical storage is essential in a baby’s room, particularly a very young one where you don’t want anything to make the daily routine any harder. The last thing you want when your baby is crying out for a clean nappy is to riffle through piles to find a fresh change of clothes. A chest of drawers is a failsafe way of providing plentiful storage for all your clothes and accessories, allowing different drawers for different purposes – bodysuits in one, leggings and tops folded away neatly in another.

And because it’s a baby’s room why not add an element of fun with a jazzy upcycled furniture idea, such as this one!