Something that we get asked about fairly regularly, are the paint colours that we’ve used in our home. While we’re certainly no experts in choosing colours, this is how we tend to go about things.
In general we think we have fairly safe colour choices. We’re considering using Azure Sky for the 4th bedroom (that’s currently a room full of junk), which is definitely a break from our usual colour theme, but it’s something we’re going to have to carefully consider.
All of the colours (except Azure Sky) have a slight grey undertone, which we think kind of ties the colours together.
Living Room:
Front Door:
Master Bedroom:
Office:
Guest Bedroom (in progress):
Here are a few things that we’ve learned along the way.
- Always buy a tester and paint a few small areas dotted around the room. Then check the colour at different times of day. You’ll be surprised how the light can affect the a colour! The colour can also look different depending on where it’s painted within a room, so definitely don’t rely on one test patch.
- We like to paint our narrowed down colour testers next to each other – it helps compare them more accurately and makes it easier to decide if one colour is too dark, too light, too blue, ….
- Don’t ignore the surfaces that you aren’t painting like floors and built-in furniture. Make sure you consider them when choosing the colour for your walls.
- In general we tend to go for fairly neutral colours. We like to think they are a good backdrop for some more colourful accessories and artwork – which can easily be changed and switched around to give the room a fresh and new feel.
- We like using different colours in different rooms, but it’s important to consider how the rooms flow together. We have a white hallway, which works as a kind of neutral zone that connects the more colourful rooms.
- All of the woodwork in our home is painted in the same shade of white. We think that it helps create a more coherent feel by having an element that is repeated in every room.
- If you have a piece of art or furniture that you know is going to be in that room, take it as a starting point for your colour theme.
- Apparently there is a rule for 70-20-10 for decorating. 70 % for the lightest, 20% for the second lightest and 10% for the darkest colour.
- Most importantly – choose what you like! It’s your house, so go with what feels right for you!
Do you have a fool proof way of choosing paint colours?
Hi there!
Firstly, just want to say what a great website you guys have got going here! Your blogs and DIY tips have been extremely useful to my fiancé and I during our Victorian house renovation.
We are just about to tackle the cornice and ceiling and your tip on the super grip primer will save us heaps of time…thanks :). What kind of emulsion did you use to paint your cornice and ceiling? We were thinking along the lines of painting skirting, dado, cornice, ceiling the same, an eggshell white or satin, however not really sure if there is a specific paint that one would use on a ceiling..(were new to this painting business…and with all the different types, gloss, matt, satin, primer coat, mist coat….etc etc….confused…!
Thanks,
Luke
That’s so kind of you! Glad we could be some help, Luke!
We’re actually going to be sharing a Painting 101 early next month. For now though, it’s basically up to you! We used standard white emulsion for both our ceilings and cornice. Really though it’s a design decission and depends on wheather you’d like to enhance the cornise or not. I’d recommend painting the ceiling with standard matt emulsion. It’s easiest, usually cheapest and is pretty forgiving compared to anything with a sheen (which tends to show up any imperfections). As for the cornise, it’s really up to you!
Hope that’s some help!
Cx
PS. If you’re painting newly plastered or skimmed surfaces, paint them with a watered down coat of emulsion (about 50/50) first. New plaster will soak up much more moisture and painting it first will make your life much easier!
Hi there,
Thanks for you reply! A painting 101 is a great idea, looking fwd to reading it.
We’ve just finished our 2nd mist coat on all our walls today!! (arms are aching..), but its looking good and I think we have decided to go for a standard matt emulsion on our ceiling and cornice. We actually have a fair amount of the matt emulsion we used for misting, left over, so after checking with the local Dulux Decorating Centre, we will be using the same matt emulsion for our ceiling and cornice, just not watered down as when you mist coat..:)
Cheers
Luke
It’s great so see blogs like this. Getting an insight into the finishes people want and the things they are experimenting with themselves. This helps me with so many things and insight is the major one here. Keep it up!