WHAT EXPERTS THE SAY...
Colour consultants share their views
■ ‘TO CREATE A STRIKING FRONT DOOR WITH A COLOUR THAT LASTS, YOU’LL NEED AN EXTERIOR PAINT THAT HAS A UV-RESISTANT FORMULA AND PROVIDES PROTECTION AGAINST CRACKING, FLAKING AND PEELING,’ says
Sue Kim, senior colour designer at Valspar.
■ ‘IF YOU HAVE A PERIOD PROPERTY, A COLOUR THAT COMPLEMENTS ITS AGE, SUCH AS GREY OR BLACK,
WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME,’ says Jessica Plateo, marketing manager at Craig & Rose. ‘THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT BOLD, UNORTHODOX CHOICES DON’T
WORK HERE, BUT IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH OF A STATEMENT YOU’RE INTENDING TO MAKE.’
■ ‘DARK ORANGE IS A FRIENDLY COLOUR THAT BLENDS WELL WITH MATERIALS AROUND IT, SUCH AS PAVING, BRICK AND WOODWORK,’ says Sandy Clare, creative director at Vintro Paint. ‘ALTERNATIVELY, DEEP PURPLE GIVES AN AURA OF OPULENCE AND WORKS EXTREMELY WELL AGAINST A CRISP WHITE OR A SOFT-GREY EXTERIOR.’
■ ‘IF YOU HAVE A BRICK HOUSE, SHADES THAT WORK BEST SIT OPPOSITE EACH OTHER ON THE COLOUR WHEEL’, Jessica Plateo explains. ‘IF YOU HAVE A HOME WITH RED BRICKS SURROUNDING THE ENTRANCE, THEN A BLUE OR GREEN TONE WILL WORK WELL. IF YOUR BRICKS ARE MORE OF A SANDSTONE COLOUR, WITH A YELLOW TINT, THEN IT’S WORTH CONSIDERING A DARKER COLOUR FOR CONTRAST OR EVEN A RED TONE.’
■ ‘THE BEST WAY TO VISUALISE A COLOUR AND TEST IT OUT IS TO PAINT IT ONTO SOME SECTIONS OF LINING PAPER OR THE BACK OF OLD WALLPAPER,’ advises
Tash Brady, colour specialist at Lick.
■ ‘PINK MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST OBVIOUS CHOICE BUT A MUTED SHADE CAN BE A SURPRISING AND STYLISH SUCCESS FOR A FRONT DOOR,’ says Jessica. ‘YELLOW IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF A COLOUR THAT YOU MIGHT NOT CONSIDER FOR THE INTERIOR BUT CAN WORK WELL ON A FRONT DOOR AS A CHEERFUL, OPTIMISTIC STATEMENT.’
■ ‘ALWAYS SAND DOWN THE SURFACE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FIRST,’ says Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands. ‘IF THERE ARE ANY DENTS OR CHIPS IN THE WOODWORK, USE SOME FILLER AND WE’D ALWAYS SUGGEST USING A PRIMER AND THEN TWO COATS OF YOUR CHOSEN COLOUR FOR BEST EFFECT.’
“Going exceptionally bright or bold for your front door? Then it’s good etiquette to mention this to your neighbours first”
ANNIE SLOAN COLOUR EXPERT