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28 March 2008

Choosing the right colour

It's no easy task choosing a paint colour from a display stand. These tips will make the job a little bit easier.

Collect a few pictures of walls and colours that you like from your favourite magazines.

Go to a paint shop that has a wide variety of samples and get as many paint sample cards as you can of the colours closest to those on your pictures.

Also look at various paints and textures; the same colour might appear slightly darker in a matte finish than in a high gloss enamel.

Take your time – if you’re not sure about a certain colour, take the colour sample home with you and think about it some more.

Try three or four different colours and buy a small tin of each – paint it on loose panels about 1m x 1m in size then look at these samples in various rooms in the house at different times. Take into account the natural light in a room – or the lack thereof – as this can dramatically change the final colour.

Keep in mind the size of the room; a darker colour will make space appear more intimate while the same colour, used throughout the house, will make it appear more spacious.

Be aware of current trends, especially if you are thinking of selling your house.

Ask professional paint specialists for advice; if a colour consultant is available, ask to see a portfolio.

Colours can also be easily mixed if you show a consultant something you like that you cannot find on a colour chart; paint shops that stock various ranges of paint can mix any paint colour across ranges.

If you have to choose between two colours, the light one is usually the safer option.

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