Gemma’s choice: TWO-TONE WALLS
Create an Instagram-worthy paint effect in any room by dividing your walls into two shades of your choice
Why choose one colour when you can learn how to paint two-tone walls? If you’ve fallen in love with a paint shade but don’t want to cover an entire wall, a two-tone wall effect is the perfect solution. The combinations are endless, but a darker shade on the bottom with a lighter colour above will help make your rooms look taller.
Don’t overcomplicate it
Aaron Markwell, colour lead at Coat Paints says, ‘My number-one rule for two-tone paint schemes is keep it simple. Colour-blocking is key. If you’re decorating your hallway for example, do the dado rail, the wall below and skirting in the same colour. Bold colours are best for the bottom half to ground the scheme.’
Stick to the same family
‘The best approach is to use different tones of the same colour, one lighter and one darker,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux. ‘Splitting the wall into thirds gives the best effect, with the section that goes down to the floor in the deepest shade.’
Mark the meeting point
Decide where you’d like your two colours to meet and, using a tape measure, mark this point at regular intervals across the wall. Next paint your lighter colour, then once dry, create a dividing line. Take a length of string longer than the width of your wall and run a piece of chalk along its length. Stretch the string across the wall, lining it up with your pencil marks. Secure the ends with masking tape. Once the string is straight, ping or tap the string against the wall so it leaves a chalk line, then apply masking tape along this line.
Apply the darker shade
Paint your darker shade up to the level of the masking tape, making sure to overlap slightly onto it. Peel off the tape while the paint is still wet to unveil your two-tone wall design. You should have a nice crisp line between your two colours.
MIX PAINT FINISHES TO ADD TEXTURE. TRY MATT ON THE UPPER HALF WITH EGGSHELL BELOW
3 CREATE A COLOURFUL FOCAL POINT
As yellow stands out so well against grey, you can use it to make a fabulous centrepiece. This traditional fire surround has been given a modern twist with a coat of buttercup yellow, filling the room with energy and pulling classic style up to date. White furniture and monochrome art create a sophisticated finish.