Materials you'll need:

• Mouldings
• Wood glue
• Wallpaper or fabric remnants
• Knobs and hinges
• Antique gold and silver finish
• Fine point paintbrush
• Aerosol cans of paint
• Children’s colouring book
• Carbon paper
• Small pots of PVA paint
• Clear polyurethane finish

Sometimes the difference between an ordinary looking piece of furniture, and a distinctive one is the way in which it is trimmed or decorated. There are many ways you can achieve a more decorative look at home. Some simple methods are outlined here.

Mouldings and Veneers.
A plain cupboard door can be given depth and character with a "frame" of short lengths of timber moulding glued just inside the outside edge. Buy the moulding in the length you require, and mitre the corners for a neat appearance. The moulding can be painted in a contrasting colour to the surrounding surface, or you can fill in the centre panel with remnants of wallpaper, fabric glued in place to match surrounding decor, or inlaid veneer panels that are specially made to give a ‘craftsman finish’, look to your old or new furniture.

If you want a real timber look without the expense of real timber, you can buy thin pieces of real timber called "veneers." These come in panels and strips and can be applied to a cheaper timber with the proper glue.

Handles and hinges.
Dress up ordinary furniture with smart handles and hinges. Copies of rustic black wrought iron hinges make the piece a “period” one, while adding shiny modern knobs will create the opposite effect.

Gold and silver.
Generally best suited to furniture, which has been given an antique finish, this method involves highlighting turnings and mouldings with antique gold or silver finish. These come in small pots and are applied with a fine point paintbrush.

Hand painted furniture also looks distinctive and is quite easy to do. Choose a simple design from a children's colouring book and transfer it onto the furniture with carbon paper- Use a fine point paintbrush and fill in the design in your choice of colours, using PVA paint thinned with water to a workable consistency. When the design is complete and dry, protect with a coat of clear polyurethane finish.