FROM OUR EDITOR

Time for a change? Of course it is – spring has sprung! You’re probably coming out of what seems like a long hibernation, your energy is finally on the upswing, and the idea of taking on a new creative endeavour actually feels feasible now. One simple, silver-bullet solution to freshening up your interior is applying fresh colour to your walls. It could be that your current colour reminds you of a period you’d rather forget, or maybe its former glory is fading fast, or perhaps you just want to shake up your design aesthetic a bit!

1. Waste less paint; use a paint calculator (you can find one online).

2. Wash walls first for better adhesion.

3. Ventilate the space and keep the temperature between 15 and 25 C. If it gets too hot, the paint will take longer to dry.

4. Use the W technique for even coverage with your roller. After cutting in with a brush, paint a three-footsquare W shape and then cover it in without lifting the roller from the wall; work your way across the wall in this manner. Be sure to work fast enough so that your paint doesn’t dry while working in the same area. You want to always work wet into wet paint.

5. Avoid leaving marks by removing your painter’s tape a few hours after the final coat, while the paint is still just a little wet.

Need inspiration?

We’ve got plenty. Check out “Elements of Style” on page 30 and “Colour Crush” on page 36, and have fun!

Does that sound like you? Are you ready for a colour change? Here are five pro painting tips.