E X P E RT A D V I C E

Dulux brand manager Nonkululeko Mcunu offers four handy hints for choosing grey paint:

1 Find inspiration in magazines or online to get an idea of the grey you’d like. Visualise how it will look in your own space against the flooring, furniture, blinds or curtains and accessories. You can also use the fun Dulux Visualizer app, available on Google play and the App store, which allows you to take a photo and do a live visualisation of your space as you apply various colours to the walls!

2 Visit your paint store and spend time looking at the colour cards. Each Dulux card usually has six tones arranged from pale to deep. Select a few that you love and take them home to see how they will look in your space. Make a final selection of at least three greys.

3 Get sample pots of these colours and paint a 1 x 1m area on your wall or on a similar-sized white card/canvas panel if you plan to move the colour from room to room. Be sure to evaluate the colour with the items in the room and keep in mind that a colour may appear stronger on an entire wall than on just a section of it. If this is a concern, opt for a shade or two lighter than your chosen colour.

4 Allow the paint to dry completely for at least 24 hours before checking what it will look like at various times of the day. Don’t forget to observe the paint in both natural and artificial light to get the perfect shade for your space.

Tip When painting your favourite grey over walls that have previously been painted with water-based paint, preparation is key. Ensure the surfaces are sound, clean and free of dust, dirt or grease. Fill any cracks and holes with appropriate filler. Once the walls have been adequately prepared, it’s important to apply Dulux Plaster Primer over the previous colour before applying the top coat – this will ensure a smooth, attractive finish.