You can rejuvenate your ceramics in a flash with a dash of special paint. Simpler designs, such as spots, stripes, flowers and leaves, are most effective.

You'll need:

Plain-coloured china
Methylated spirits
Ceramic paints (available from craft stores)
Paintbrush

Here's how:

1. Wash and wipe the china to be painted. Then wipe the china with a cloth soaked in a methylated spirits to remove any grease.

2. Work out your design before you begin and mark the china very faintly with a pencil to act as a guide. The pencil marks will disappear when you apply the paint.

3. Mix paint colours with a paintbrush on an old plate and practise painting your design before you begin. This will give you an idea of how much paint you should apply to get the effect you would like.

4. Apply the paint sparingly if painting circles, or in long even strokes if painting stripes. Don't apply paint to an area you have already painted as this could cause paint to smudge or smear.

5. If you're not happy with the result of your design or if you make a mistake, wipe the paint away using a damp cloth, then try again. Finally, leave to dry, or bake in the oven according to the paint manufacturer's instructions. Baked paints will be more durable.

Source: Kitchen Projects in a Weekend (Merehurst)