Awesome trompe l'oeil walls

If your kids share a bedroom, you'll know the struggle of getting them to agree on any kind of decor choice. One child might want a princess theme, while the other could be football mad. Using clever painting tricks is a great way to add personality to the room, without arguments, tantrums or tears.

If you've got enough wall space, creating two murals, each based on the interests of one child, is a great compromise. To encourage creativity and co-operation, use chalkboard paint to create a shared drawing area. If your kids have designated desks, chairs or storage boxes, paint these to show who they belong to. Sharing a room doesn't have to be hard!

Create two separate murals

Your kids might have very different interests, and it's nice to see that reflected in their bedroom. Creating two separate painted murals is a wonderful way to add loads of character to a room, without one child being disappointed. You could split one large wall in two, and create murals in either side.

It's possible to create a really interesting mirror effect using this technique. For example, one side could contain a knight and a traditional castle, while the other side could depict a princess next to a pink palace. There's a nice feeling of continuity, even though the two sides are different. Using two different walls is perfect in larger rooms, and allows you to create murals with greater contrast.

Use chalkboard paint to create a drawing area

Kids love to get creative, but it can be hard to find space to display all of their drawings. Turn the bedroom wall into a canvas by painting with special chalkboard paint. Your kids can work on designs together, encouraging them to play nicely and work as part of a team. The chalkboard can also be used to leave fun messages for each other, or write down chores.

Paint furniture to show who it belongs to

As your kids get older, they'll start to need their own space. Using paint to designate which items of furniture belong to who is a great way to avoid disagreements. You could paint one child's desk purple, and other's blue. The same applies to storage boxes, chairs, tables and beds.

Having contrasting furniture like this creates a fun, playful effect, so it's not just practical. If you don't want to paint everything completely, you could go for subtle options, like painting desk and chairs legs in bright colours and leaving the rest white.

For more ideas, contact local painters.