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How to choose the right colour paint

How to choose the right colour paint

You have decided it is time to give your house or one or two rooms a new coat of paint, but is a little bit unsure what type of paint and colour paint to choose. If you read further we’ll give you a couple of pointers that will help you choose the right colour paint.

  • First determine your colour scheme of the room you want to paint by examining your existing colours in the furniture, curtains, cushions, accessories etc. Decide what your favourite colours are and go to your local paint store like www.warriorpaints.co.za to get coordinating colour chips. Bring it home and test it both in the light and at night. Once you have decided what colour looks best, go back to the store to get a quart of paint and test it on a small part of the wall.
  • What colour should I paint the chair rail?
    If you have selected two colour paints and have a chair rail in the room, rather use the darker colour below the chair rail and the lighter colour above the chair rail. This way the lighter colour will dominate the darker colour and create a spacious look.
  • What colour should I paint the trim on the wall?
    If you are trying to disguise unattractive trim work paint the trim the same colour as the walls. But if you want to make a feature out of the trim work or want to add subtle hints of colour to the room paint the trim work a darker colour paint than the wall.
  • Does paint look darker or lighter on your wall?
    Generally, when paint is applied to a larger surface it appears darker. But if the paint is a clean and bright colour it can look even lighter depending on the lighting and surrounding colours in the room.
  • How do you soften a paint colour when you have finished painted but it looks too dark?
    Take a lighter or muted colour than what is on the wall and apply it over the dark colour using paint techniques sponging, rag rolling or colour washing.
  • How does the colour paint affect the size of the room?
    Advancing colours like red, orange and yellow tend to make a room look smaller and ‘jump’ out. Opposed to receding colours like blue, violet or green that makes a room look larger because they ‘stand back’. Darker hues of the receding colours like navy blue make a room appear smaller. If your room is small it is best to paint the walls a white or a light neutral colour.
  • What colour should you paint the ceiling?
    If your ceiling is low and you want to create a spacious effect in the room it is best to paint the ceiling a white or lighter colour. If the room is big and a little impersonal, paint it a medium to dark colour; it will make the ceiling seem lower and create a cosy atmosphere.
  • You get different paint finishes; what is the difference between them?
    • A flat sheen is not glossy and doesn’t show imperfections that easily as a glossy finish.
    • Eggshell or velvet finishes work wonderfully in almost any type room. It is easier to clean than a flat finish and has a little shine that creates a warm atmosphere.
    • Satin or semi-gloss finishes are ideal if you want to accentuate architectural details. It also easy to clean. Rooms to paint with a satin or semi-gloss finish are bathrooms, kitchens, doors and trim.
    • Gloss finishes are shiny, scrubable and easy to clean and is perfect for areas that are vulnerable to get dirt and marks on it like a window sill, the children’s play room, a children’s bedroom, doors and trims.
  • There is oil-based paint and water-based paint. What is the difference and what are their advantages?
    Oil-based paint penetrates wood better than water-based paint (latex paint.) But water-based paint are more often used as it is dries quickly, doesn’t yellow and is easy to clean with water and soap.
  • How do I know how much paint I will need for my project?
    1. Add the widths of all the walls in the room to be painted.
    2. Multiply the sum with the height of one wall from the floor to the ceiling.
    3. Take this number and subtract the total area of your doors, windows etc. to get the exact area of the walls.
    4. Usually a 400 square meter flat surface takes up one gallon of paint.
    5. Keep in mind the number of coats you will be painting.

Now that you know what to take into consideration and what to calculate when choosing a colour paint for your room; you can head on down to your nearest Warrior Paints!

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