Interior Paints and Colour Schemes

Go into any of your local DIY stores and you will find a vast selection of different types of paints. Gloss, matt, emulsion etc.

So how do you know which one is best?

Most people will choose Emulsion paint; it is cheap (relatively) and virtually odourless.
There are, however different types of emulsion and which to use depends on the type of finish you want.

Matt Emulsion:
Paint with a matt finish does not have any kind of sheen; it absorbs light- this makes it good for hiding small surface imperfections. Matt finishes are often used on ceilings or in rooms where there is not much activity because a wall with a matt finish cannot be wiped clean very easily. I wouldn't recommend using this in kitchens or children's playrooms, it's a nightmare when they draw on the walls!

Satin Emulsion:
If you're worried about fingerprints and scuffs then a satin finish, vinyl emulsion is an excellent choice - this gives a smooth finish with a velvety shine and can be wiped clean, so is ideal for children's playrooms. Be warned however as it does not hide surface imperfections as well as matt so be careful with the brush marks!

One-Coat Emulsion:
With standard emulsion paint you usually need two coats as this helps prevent a patchy uneven appearance. So if you want to save yourself some time choose an opaque one-coat emulsion- for best results don't spread the paint too far.

New-Plaster Emulsions:
If you're painting over newly plastered walls standard vinyl emulsions are not suitable as they do not allow moisture vapour to escape. New-Plaster emulsions however are specially formulated and so ideal for these types of walls.

What about those unpleasant cracks?
A simple solution to this is to use textured paints, just one coat and the cracks will no longer be visible - in fact a coarse high-build paint can cover cracks that are up to 2mm thick. Please note that on walls where people are likely to lean or rub you should use a fine textured paint.

What about the garage?
Although cement paint is usually used on exterior walls, there's no reason why you can't use it indoors. It's great for cellars, workshops and garages. Cement paint is sold as a powder which has to be made up with water and when dry gives a matt finish.

Gloss Paint:
Because gloss paints reflect a lot of light their finish is very shiny and so isn't recommended for use on walls. However the finish is very durable and can be scrubbed clean, this makes them ideal in the kitchen and bathroom and I highly recommend using gloss on skirting and doors.

Colour Scheme:
When you're decorating this is something that has to be completely spot on- get it wrong and all that effort, time and money is wasted.

Get it right and every time you wake up in the morning, or come home from work you will feel awesome!

So where do you start when choosing a colour scheme?

Atmosphere:
The colours you choose will affect how a room appears to you and how it makes you feel when you enter it.

Warm and Cosy: This is usually how we want our living rooms to feel and possibly the bedroom. What colours make a room feel warm? Colours that are associated with warm things, like fire and the Sun, so a combination of reds oranges and yellow will give this kind of effect.

Cool and Fresh: Using light pastel colours like blue, lilac and green will make a room feel more airy and so give a relaxed atmosphere- if you use soft furnishings it will also make the room feel more welcoming.

Harmonious: Using shades of the same colour in a room, where darker deep tones are used as a contrast, creates a lovely inviting and pleasant atmosphere. It's also a safe approach to decorating as it's very hard to get it wrong by choosing the wrong colours together.

Size of a room and perception:
Other than the atmosphere in a room, think about the size of the room as well.

For example let's say you've settled for a deep red, before you start painting think about how it will change the perception of a room. Warm, dark colours make a room look smaller and the walls appear to advance, whereas lighter colours make rooms feel bigger.

Also, the same applies when painting a ceiling, if you have a low ceiling paint it a light colour- or preferably white- to make it appear further. If you have a narrow passageway without a window, using a light colour will make it appear wider and will reflect more light.

Its not just solid colours that affect how a room is perceived, vertical stripes can make a ceiling appear higher and horizontal stripes make the room appear wider.

Solvent Based Paints:
Also known as oil paints this type usually comes in a high gloss or satin finish.
I would recommend buying the 'one coat' type as with just one coat any previous colours underneath will not be noticeable. Another great thing is that these type of paints last for ages indoors- just use a damp cloth to get rid of dust or finger marks as and when needed.

Acrylic Paints:
These paints are water based which means that they're non flammable and are better for the environment! Also if the wood has been prepared properly the paint will form a tough and flexible coating, it will also dry very quickly-so watch those brush marks. The downside is, as its water based paint, I would not recommend applying it on a damp or humid day as it will not dry with a nice finish- in fact if you do want a nice gloss finish with little effort stick with the solvent based paints.

Of course there are various other types of coatings for wood like varnishes, stains, lacquers- but that sounds like another lens to me!