Different strokes
PAINTS : Bored of seeing the same old white and beige walls? Give your home a new look instantly with the help of vibrant colours, writes Swati Kapur .
Colours are available in a thousand confusing shades and varieties, so do not rush through the process of making a choice. Collect paint chips and hold off making final choices until you have developed an overall room scheme.
Discuss ideas but make the final decision only after your rugs, wallpapers and fabrics are finalised. With the help of a decorator, you can design your room on the computer and alter the look and feel as per your wish. When sentiments are attached to a specific object or furniture in the room, coordinate the wall colour around it. Try carrying a piece of the fabric, carpet, tile, wallpaper, etc to match the wall colour perfectly.
Study the colours
You’ll find clues about the underlying tones of different shades of a colour on a full sample strip of coordinated colours. Even if you are not considering using a darker tone, look at all the colours carefully. Decide on the family of colours before you delve deeper into combinations and shades. Often shade cards are not exactly like the finished product, so ask for a sample textured unit of the colour if possible. Or, simply try it on a patch of wall to see the final effect.
Create a focal point
Emphasise your home’s attractive architectural features, such as crown molding or arched window treatments, with contrasting paint — lighter or darker than the wall — or by painting them with a glossy finish. You can also make one wall an accent wall by painting it a different colour, giving it a faux finish, adding wallpaper or a border.
Unify the colour flow
You can unify rooms by using a common colour palette. Create distinct spaces by altering the shades and hues within the common palette. Colour can emphasise certain features and underplay others. A long narrow room will look wider if you use a slightly darker colour on the shorter walls and a lighter colour on the longer walls.
You can make a ceiling appear higher by applying a lighter colour or lower with a darker colour. To give a big room a more intimate feel, paint the walls in colours that advance towards you, such as red, gold, orange and brown. To make a small room seem larger, paint the walls in colours that make them appear to recede, such as blue, green or violet.
Light sources
Remember that the colour you choose may look different at various times of the day and night. The warm tones of incandescent lights will have a different influence on the colour than the natural light of day. Once you are aware of how different light sources can affect your colour choices, you can change your room's mood to match the pace of your day.
Why change the colour: Reds and shades of violets for your room signify love. Motifs in gold or a shade darker than the base colour can accentuate the walls for a warm effect. You can then match the linen and upholstery with similar hues.
When it’s needed, it’s needed: There are houses that badly need a change of paint. It’s time you consider other factors like distempering the walls, concealing the wires or getting other masonry work done all at the same time.
Children’s room: A favourite with children and mothers, this room is best done with both children and parents discussing it to get the right result.
Understand your children’s liking for a particular colour, cartoon character or texture and then discuss options in detail. Gone are the days when children were easy to please, by way of a simple pink or blue on walls. A variety of cartoon images in 3D are popular. Wall murals too are extremely popular with children and teenagers.
Soul searching: Your pooja room or any room you use for meditation, exercise, etc needs to resonate either energetic vibes if you are into heavy exercising or absolutely calm you if meditation is what you prefer. Shades of purples and gold are best suited for meditation rooms. Sparkling blue or shades of electric colours can be very rejuvenating.
Other interesting effects:
Wall stickers: Wall stickers are one of the easiest wall decorating ideas to incorporate into children’s rooms, and children love to help apply them.
Stickers can be used as an accent to existing wallpaper and borders or they can be used to create your own unique murals. Though not a good choice for textured walls, they work well on any accent wall, painted wall, tiles, and mirrors.
Wallpaper borders: These can provide just the right touch; accent a mural or fill unused space with colour.
Wallpaper: Wallpaper is another option. You can find wallpaper in unlimited colours, styles, and textures.
Paint effects: These are a fun way to add a splash of colour to your rooms. These can include layering colours, using a sponge to apply patterns with paint, rag rolling and many other creative touches.
Wall stencils: Using wall stencils is an easy way to decorate. Stencils can be purchased from wall décor shops, or you can make them yourself. Projection-stenciling is a technique in which you project an image onto the wall and trace it. This is an option for people who aren't very good with free hand drawing.
Before the final coat:
Make sure your nails and wiring work is all done before the final coat. A chipped off paint or a dug up wall looks shabby next to a beautifully painted wall.
Post the first coat, wait for the paint to fully dry before you lay the second coat.
Never dry the paint with the fan on as it flakes off the paint easily.
Before you get the furniture back in, wait for the wall to dry completely and harden.
If allergic to pain odour, try the organic no smell paints available in the market.
Choose wisely the different paints for exterior and interior walls. Ask for a patch test on a wall before you paint the whole room.
