THERE is no doubt repainting your home will refresh and rejuvenate it, making it look like a brand-new building.
But with thousands of paint colours to choose from how do you know where to start?
Firstly you need to think about how you want your house to look. Do you want a modern look or are you trying to play on some of its character features?
A good idea is to take a drive and do a bit of house spotting, taking pictures of some of the colour schemes and styles that you like.
Once you have an idea of the overall vision it’s time to get some sample pots and put some colour on your walls.
Selecting colours from tiny pieces of cardboard under the fluorescent lights of a hardware store is incredibly difficult. Getting the right one is more pot luck than anything. So it’s vital you get a minimum of three different colours to try.
When painting samples onto your walls, paint a patch at least 500mm x 500mm and apply two to three coats so that you get a true indication of the colour.
Also, it’s a good idea to paint a few different spots on the house to see how the colour reacts in different light conditions.
Grey colours are very modern at the moment. Light or blue greys give a subtle, less dramatic look, whereas dark greys add drama and impact to a house.
If you want a fresh and bright scheme, then whites and light creams are the way to go.
If you want a more sophisticated look, go for a colour such as a duck egg blue or deep beige. When it comes to the trim – doorframes, windowsills and other architectural details – you can go wrong with a crisp white.
Black is also a good option for the trims of your house, but make sure you paint a large sample area of your house before you make your final decision as it ‘s quite a dramatic look.
Your front door can really be an expression of your personality and a way to add a splash of colour to the property.
I like to use a high gloss paint here to contrast the low sheens used on the body of the house. High gloss paint also draws the eye directly to the front door and heightens its impact.
- Charlie Albone is co-host of Selling Houses Australia on Lifestyle channel and runs a business.
Source: www.news.com.au