We are converting the loft of our Victorian terrace into a playroom for our three children (all under 10, and messy), but want it to be suitable as a guest bedroom, too. What colour should we paint it? We don’t mind going for something bold - we have used yellow, brick red and sage green elsewhere in the house.

CS, Islington

You could integrate the loft space with the rest of the house by using the bold colours you have used elsewhere. If you are going to apply this to the walls, yellow would brighten the room, especially if natural light is limited.

Another way to be bold is to paint furniture in bright colours. Earthborn (01928 734171, www. earthbornpaints.co.uk) makes an acrylic-free, ecofriendly matt paint that is wipeable and antistatic – try Proacqua eggshell in Green River. The Feng Shui range, from Ecos Paints (01524 852371, www. ecospaints.com), is also wipeable and solvent-free – mulberry is a particularly striking shade.

You could finish off by adding accessories in other hot hues, such as fuchsia, red or orange. The colours will be fashionable enough to appeal to the most discerning house guests and your children will adore the bright shades.

The other option is to create a space completely different from the rest of the house: a more neutral, multipurpose area that combines function and style. Play safe with whites if you do this, or try mid-stone colours such as Donkey Stone, from Earthborn, or Birch, from Ecos, which look great with natural oak or walnut flooring. Add accents of colour: border curtains in a strong hue, or introduce pattern in upholstered furniture. To make the room more child-centred, pin up wall-sized blackboards or cork boards to display their work.

Andrea Maflin runs her own interior-design practice; www.andreamaflin.co.uk

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