Stencilling is a simple method of decorating your walls. The beauty of this technique lies in the handmade effects that you can create. For a faded-wallpaper effect, opt for a repeat pattern, varying the paint coats. Use a small amount of emulsion - a little goes a long way - and apply gently over the stencil using a sponge roller. Start stencilling in the middle of the wall and work outwards. 

This is a form of "speed stencilling", explains Clare Bosanquet, who sells a collection of 21 roller designs. She came across the idea while on a photography assignment in Romania and saw a future for this forgotten form of mechanical 'potato printing'. All you need is a water-based matt emulsion and the embossed rubber roller. Apply with a steady hand for an instant and thrifty alternative to patterned wallpaper. Bosanquet is currently working on a series of new designs.