One way to achieve the imagery of a new beginning is to re-decorate your surroundings, and a fresh coat of paint on the wall can make even the most mundane rooms come to life again. While this all sounds well and good, there are just so many options to choose from that sometimes, the average paint professional may not be clued up on what the current styles are. 

So we have decided to break it down for you.

Before you can make any decisions, you need to consider what kind of feeling you want to achieve in a room. Start by getting a feel for something that you love in the room, e.g. a piece of furniture, upholstery or a painting that you can’t live without. From this you might be presented with an idea on the type of colour scheme that you want to use in the room or a certain texture. You also need to consider the current state of your wall surfaces. For example, it is hard to get a smooth marble effect on the wall when you have a rough plaster finish at present (although there are options to smooth out the surface). It is also important to take note that your wall will need to be prepared before painting. It always good to ensure that all cracks are filled in and the surfaces are clean.

It is also important to consider if the area is a high-traffic zone and likely to get dirty easily, in which case it would be advisable to go for a more washable or sealed paint product. Be aware when purchasing paints that some products can only be used internally and others are specifically made for external walls, but may be used internally.

Bear in mind that too much of a good thing could be disastrous. If you have metallic wall paper on some walls, steer clear of using metallic paint on the remaining walls. Sometimes, less is more.

Now that we have looked at some of the basic issues, let’s get into choosing a paint that will best suit your lifestyle and the style of your home.

Colour me Purple
Colour can change the feel of a room in an instant. Colour can add character and warmth to a room, or it can make it feel cold and large, depending on the colours that you choose and how best you use it in the space.

For interiors, the more neutral greys and earthy-tones are largely the most popular colour choice, however, accent colours on feature walls in shades of blues, charcoals, deep browns and shades of purple are popular too. Trendy kitchen colours at the moment are shades of green, the most popular being pops of lime green on feature walls.

If you want a more neutral colour scheme in the room, a good idea is to make your walls stand out by using different textures. These textures can be achieved by making use of the several wall features that are available.

Using Trends Wisely
While a sense of expression and self-reflection are key when decorating your home, it is also important to find sense of balance, and the best way to achieve this is though simplicity. Paint your interior walls a neutral colour, and then choosing a feature wall on which to add a brighter colour to reflect your personality. 

Some of the unique and creative ways for home-owners to be creative without being over-the-top is to implement an accent wall and finish it with an interesting texture or product such as a suede or stone finish. 

Choose a feature wall on which a natural stone finish is applied by having a backing paste applied to the wall and the stone is embedded into the paste to create a pebbled wall type look. 

Sell-by Date
One of the key factors when choosing a wall colour or finish is to ensure that the look will not date too quickly. While the more neutral shades of grey are going to be fashionable for a while, paint most of the walls in a shade of grey and then do a feature wall in a colour of your choice. That way if you do get bored with the colour chosen, it will only be a small area that needs to be repainted. 

Let you fingers do the buying
With all these handy tips for you, painting has now been made one step simpler. Why not try buying paint online? Leading paint manufacturer Versus Paint has launched a website that makes purchasing paint on the internet simple, quick and efficient. The websites www.versuspaintonline.co.za and www.paintyourhouse.co.za not only showcase the company’s broad range of colours, but also allow homeowners to send a photograph of their house so that Versus’ team of experts can work out an exciting design and combination for each individual project. 

After a photo has been submitted, the colour suggestions will then be forwarded via e-mail so that customers can choose the ideal colour in the comfort of their own home and order 1-litre samples that will be delivered free of charge. Not only do they have the convenience of shopping online, but also the peace of mind that they have chosen correctly. 

Now there are no excuses to find your perfect colour to colour your life.