Greet the arrival of spring with a revitalised home colour scheme…

SLOWLY but surely we’re starting to see signs of spring’s arrival. They might be sparse and few and far between, but once the tail end of January has been reached, it’s onwards and upwards. But as the mornings start to brighten and the evenings linger, the return of natural light often asks questions of our interior colour schemes. The return of natural light leaves the home’s interior looking a little stuffy and in need of some replenishing. The addition of some new colour schemes is a great way to welcome spring and phase out those winter blues. So why not pay a visit to your local paint shop? Now is the perfect time to revitalise your home with new colours, pleasant tones and soft shades while you await the return of springtime.

Choosing paint is a bit like choosing wine in that you normally select the one you like best. However, here are a few things worth keeping in mind should you decide upon a spot of painting this autumn. Take kitchens and bathrooms for example: here the choice of paint not only needs to look easy on the eye but will also have to contend with a much higher moisture content then most other rooms in your home.

The general rule when it comes to paints is that a higher shine or “sheen,” will be much more durable. Therefore, high gloss paints, which have the highest sheen, are best for your kitchen as they are not only more durable but are easy to clean as well. Likewise, semi-gloss paints have a little less sheen but are still very durable and would equally suit the high steam and temperature of bathrooms. If you don’t select the correct paint for a kitchen or bathroom you could be left with runny moisture marks on your walls that are far from aesthetically pleasing.

Other paints include matte or flat paints that are the opposite of gloss and they add a much more softened tone to your walls. A good tip here is to assess the layout of your rooms. For example, rooms that face north receive less in terms of natural light. It might be wise here to choose a gloss paint that will reflect more light in the room. In reverse, rooms that face south will get plenty of natural light therefore you could select a more softer matte or flat paint as the room will naturally be much brighter.

Painting your home also requires plenty of preparation. It’s not really advisable to just wake up Saturday morning and decide to start painting. Make sure you have enough sheets to cover furniture, etc. etc. Also make sure you select the correct choice in paint rollers, brushes, trays, and cloths for cleaning up spillage. Make sure are all these essential items are in hand prior to starting. If you follow these simple rules, then selecting the colour you love is the easiest part.