We answer some of the most common decorating questions

An open home is your chance to really show off your house to its full potential, so don't let chipped paint and rushed decorating decisions impede your auction results.

To ensure you feel confident completing your last-minute painting and decorating projects with ease, we're revealing the answers to some of your most common decorating dilemmas.

Q. What is the best way to remove animal hair from furnishings?

While it may not fall under the decorating category, removing animal hair from furnishings is an important task for any seller. In order for buyers to visualise your space as their own, you must remove the majority of personal things, including your four-legged friends and all that they bring with them.

Instead of using wasteful amounts of sticky tape, remove animal hair from upholstery with a damp rubber glove. Whilst wearing the glove, simply run your hand over the fabric's surface to attract the hair, and rinse and repeat as needed.

Buyers want to visualise your space as their own so remove it of personal things, including four-legged friends and all that they bring with them.

If hair has found its way onto wooden furniture, use an anti-static dusting spray to remove. The spray will cancel out the electric charge, making removal easier and lowering the risk that the hair will re-stick.

Q. What is the most effective way to fill a blank wall?

A fresh lick of paint is the perfect way to instantly make a home feel new, but leaving walls blank afterwards can often make your home look stark rather than minimalist. Therefore homeowners should look at adding an array of decorative hangings to bring blank walls to life.

Here are a few ideas you could adopt:

• Bring in a bookshelf - If you don't want to hang artwork on the walls, a feature bookshelf is a great way to show off ornaments and other decor pieces. Have a little fun and arrange attractive items on each shelf such as vases and books.
• Hang a feature piece of artwork- The beauty of installing a statement piece of artwork is that homeowners only need to hang one to create the perfect amount of visual drama. When paired against a plain backdrop your artwork will shine through, acting as a great focal piece and talking point.
• Add a mirror/s- Ornate/vintage mirrors aren't hard to come by, and they are one of the most inexpensive options that can really make a bare wall pop. Hanging an assortment of different mirrors is a great way to create a unique feature wall, they'll help bounce light around the room, and they'll also create the illusion that the room is bigger!

Q. How can I hang frames/artwork without leaving marks on the wall?

When showing your home, hanging an attractive mix of artwork is a great way to add interest to what may usually just be bare walls. However, the holes and flaking paint that come with removal aren't so pleasing.

Using adhesive disposable hooks is an effective way to hang lighter frames and pictures. These inexpensive strips stick to the wall and feature a solid plastic hook ready for hanging your pieces. They can be found at most hardware stores and certain brands even specify on the packaging how much weight they can comfortably hold and the type of surface they work best on.

Removal is easy and quick, and won't leave a sticky residue or drill holes like other options.

The beauty of installing a statement piece of artwork is that homeowners only need to hang one to create the perfect amount of visual drama.

Q. There are a million paint colours - how do I choose just one?

Choosing the right paint colour is no easy feat, especially when there are so many brands, finishes and colours to pick from.

Whatever the size of your paint project, take a step back and look at your room's existing furnishings and colour schemes. This is the easiest way to gauge which colours will work with what you already have. Secondly, if you're looking to appeal to a wide range of prospective buyers, step away from garish shades such as bright greens and oranges. Stick to calm and inviting neutrals that emit warmth and positive energy instead.

Many paint companies make choosing the perfect paint colours incredibly easy thanks to test pots and colour cards.

Q. How can I dress up my windows?

If your windows are looking a little bare, why not bring the outdoors indoors? Breathe a breath of fresh air into your living space by book-ending your window with a pair of low maintenance and attractive indoor plants. The bamboo palm and fiddle-leaf fig tree are just two options you could choose.