Advice from a Colour Consultant on Painting Projects

Choosing colours for your home project can be a difficult decision. It's a highly complex process as there are so many options! Where do you start? What if you get it wrong? What if I waste all that time, energy and money? By having a little insight into how colours work with each other, you'll be able to make your decisions with confidence. It will certainly take away some of the pain - and maybe even save some arguments :)

First of all be aware that deciding on the right colour is the most difficult part of the painting process. Don't rush this stage. It may seem overwhelming at the start, but really it's just a process of elimination.

Allow time to get some inspiration, eliminate some options and always do a 24 hour test so you see the effect during daylight and evening light and how the colour works with your furnishings or outdoor space.

By answering some of the following questions - you'll be on the right pathway.

Interior Projects:

How much natural light is in the room? If there's lots - move towards cooler colours. It not, head for warmer shades.

What sort of mood are you trying to create? Relaxing? Stimulating? High impact? Neutral? Think of the emotions you want to feel in that space.

Do I want the room to appear bigger or more cozy? Lighter colours open up a space, dark colours make a room cozy.

How do I make the 60:30:10 rule work? Understand that 60% of colour in a room comes from the walls/floor/ceiling. Usually a light/muted colour to ground the secondary and accent colours. 30% comes from furnishings. Usually a secondary colour and perhaps a feature wall. 10% comes from accents (cushions, linen, artwork. flowers etc) and is usually the strongest colour.

A room looks balanced when this rule is applied.