Picture credit: Casa Haus
Painting your house is no doubt one of the most important aspects of your home renovations. While the task may seem deceivingly simple (just pick a colour from the catalogue, right?), you might soon find yourself overwhelmed by mind-boggling details that range from picking the right paint finishings, to the ratio and proportion of paints used in each room. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to give you an overview of the most important considerations when painting your home; in no time, you’ll be painting like a pro!
Choosing A Paint Colour
Picture credit: Brit Morin
At the risk of sounding painfully obvious, we’ll just put this out there – the most important thing when picking a paint colour is to choose a colour that you actually love. Don’t feel obliged to chase after trends and “colours of the year” regardless of how tempting the aspect might be. At the end of the day, follow your heart and choose a shade that makes you feel at home.
How do you actually pick out the right colour for your home? One important thing that many homeowners neglect to take into account is the colour of their floors – it is after all, the second largest surface area in the room after the walls. All types of floors would have their own inherent shades, for example, wooden floors may be honey hued – all these would affect your colour choice looks.
Another important consideration is the size of the room and the amount of light it gets. As a rule of thumb, deeper colours are more suitable for bigger rooms with lots of natural light. That said, strong hues could be used in moderation in rooms of any size to increase depth.
Matching Different Paint Colours
Picture credit: Homepolish
After settling on the main colour, how should you go about mixing and matching the rest of the colour palette? The most foolproof way to get started is to pick from a spectrum of complementing tones. Using different shades of the same colour not only keeps things consistent, it also allows you to create visual interest easily.
Next, consider the ratio of each colour used in the room. While we might instinctively try to use each colour equally, do note that in more cases, we can achieve a sense of balance by using one colour more than the other – essentially, picking a main colour and incorporating an accent colour. If you need help in making up your mind on the accent colour, why not turn to your wall art for some useful hints? Picking colours from your existing art pieces can help to create a unified look across the entire room effortlessly.
Buying Paint
Picture credit: Italian Bark
We cannot greater emphasise the important of getting samples and trying out before you buy! First of all, when shortlisting colours, make sure to cut the colour swatch out from the catalogue and place them against a white background so that you can see them independently. This will give you a more accurate perception of the colour.
Next, pick up paint samples and use them on a substantial enough area (we recommend at least A4 size) so that you can get a good representation of how they might look like painted on your walls. Also be sure to check how the colour reads at different times of the day under different light conditions (e.g. natural and artificial lighting) to avoid any unpleasant surprises!
Another reason to get paint samples is to test out different paint finishes in order to find your favourite one. Common finishes on the market include matte, which can be good for hiding imperfections on walls and creating a velvety and luxe look; glossy, which is the most reflective, durable and easiest to clean; and eggshell, which has similar properties to glossy paint, but without the sheen.
The Paint Job
Picture credit: Domino Magazine
If you are planning to DIY your paint job, here are some handy tips for you. First, always be prepared with the necessary tools and make a plan for the work you need completed! Always allocate an ample amount of time so that you don’t end up doing a rush job with lackluster outcomes. In general, it would be wise to start top down, meaning, from ceilings down to the floor. If you are choosing to use wallpapers, they would go up last. For better results, make sure to do at least two coats of paint, and three coats if you are using a dark colour!
