Play safe when fitting ceiling roses by keeping things light and manageable.

• A decorative ceiling rose is a good way to add interest to a ceiling and it will cover any marks created by the light bulb/s. If you have a period property, you should be able to get a ceiling rose to match the room’s cornicing (assuming it has some).
• Expanded-polystyrene ceiling roses are light and easy to fit. These can just be glued in place, but they tend to be quite small, so for something bigger and more dramatic, go for either solid plaster, which is extremely heavy, or fibrous plaster, which is lighter but still heavy. Plaster roses are so heavy, in fact, that I would recommend getting a professional to fit them, as they could do a lot of damage if they fell down. A much better option for DIYers is hard resin (hard polyurethane) ceiling roses, which are a lot lighter and come in a wide range of sizes and styles.
• To fit one, start by turning off the electricity at the fuse box. Clean the part of the ceiling where the rose will go using a sugar-soap solution, leave to dry, then find the ceiling joists using an electric joist detector or by tapping the ceiling – you should be able to hear where the joists are. If you can’t find any, use screws suitable for hollow walls.
• Fix the rose to the joists in four places, with the screws an equal distance apart so the rose’s weight is evenly distributed. To ensure a neat finish, countersink the screws and don’t forget to drill a hole in the centre of the rose for the light flex. Pull the flex through before fixing the rose in place – you’ll first need to remove the part the bulb screws in to. Apply grab-and-grip-style adhesive to the back of the rose, and fix with the screws.
• Finish by wiping off any excess adhesive, and filling the screw holes and any gaps around the rose with flexible filler. Restore the electrical connection and give the rose at least 24 hours to set before painting it. Some roses come ready for painting; others will need to be primed.

DIY news bulletin

If you’re looking for Christmas presents for a keen or wannabe DIYer, B&Q has 20% off selected JCB power tools and other products until December 22. There’s a good range and they’re a good brand – the 27-piece tool set, currently reduced to £33.58, would make the perfect pressie. See what’s on offer at www.diy.com

Arthouse is launching a new range of wallpapers, available at Homebase. The flower and tree-inspired designs come in both neutral and vibrant colours – perfect for papering a whole room or just one (feature) wall. They have a lovely retro theme, so they’re bang on trend. The wallpapers will be available from December 1, costing between £13.99 and £24.99 per roll. For more information, visit, www.homebase.co.uk

Fancy learning a new skill? West Egg, which restores and sells antique and vintage furniture, is teaching people how to do it themselves. Furniture-painting workshops are run by Louisa Blackmore, the company’s founder, and cover painting, distressing, waxing and other paint effects. The courses are run in Dedham, Essex, and paintbrushes and materials, plus refreshments, are provided. The cost of each day course is £115. Blackmore also does half-day (£75) and full-day (£150) home visits to advise clients how to update and restore their furniture. To book a course or a home visit for you or as a present for someone else, visit www.westegg.co.uk

Ask the expert…

Q: What’s a good way to sharpen chisels, scissors and that sort of thing?

A: I’ve recently discovered Diamond Files, £29.99, JML, which consist of a magnetic holder, a bit like a chisel, and three interchangeable metal and diamond files (fine, medium and coarse), on which you can sharpen tools, scissors, ceramics, knives, glass and more. It’s really easy to use and a lot cheaper than buying new tools.

Seasonal task…

If you have an open fireplace you’re not using, fit a chimney balloon. This inflates to stop cold air coming into the room down the chimney, and warm air from escaping. Chimney balloons can be deflated at any time, so they’re not a permanent fixture.