60 June 2015 www.womanthismonth.com Colours are magical and tend to have their own mystical energy. They add drama, set mood and can affect your overall wellbeing. How welcoming or not a room, house or even an office is, is largely related to the play of hues in it. The good news is, this energy, if not desired, can be changed with the stroke of a brush. Paint can make a statement with splashes of bold colour or it can be a soft backdrop to a more muted interior. Either way, painting is one of the easiest and least expensive tools in the interior design world that can truly add soul to any space. The marketplace offers so many options of products, finishes, designs, textures, not to forget shades, that the sheer choice can be overwhelming and can even lead to some serious misjudgements. So it’s essential to start with a little homework on the subject, and that’s where, hopefully, we can help. PREPARATION IS KEY Seemingly easy, painting your home, especially if you already live in it, can be a daunting task. However with the right planning this process can be rendered completely hassle free. • Assign a budget to the task and select your products accordingly. Then calculate the quantity of paint required as per your needs. • Choose a colour scheme for each room and make your selection of shades, patterns and textures. It’s always better to do a quick online search before you head out to meet a professional in this regard, then you will have some idea of what you are looking for. • Once you decide on the mood you are seeking, go through the paint samples that fit your palette. Make sure to get samples from a few suppliers so you can see which ones give a greater variety of shades. Many companies, with their qualified consultants, can even help you achieve the right combination for each room before you spend anything on the supplies. So enquire if the paint company provides such services. • When starting out with the job itself, remember it’s a lot easier to paint if nothing’s in your way; so empty the room out or at least as much as possible. When painting the living room, move large furniture pieces to the centre and cover with cloth or plastic. • Clean before you start with the first coat of paint. You may not see it but there is buildup on the walls of dirt, dust and oils from your hands. Removing all this will allow the paint to adhere to the walls. Fill in any nail holes or cracks. You might also want to cover the floor with newspapers, or old cloth. • Test the paint colour by buying a sample and painting a square on the wall. Allow it to dry and observe it in all lighting conditions. • Another point to remember is the finish; it’s not just the colour alone that matters but the finish or sheen as well. High gloss paint finishes are durable and easier to clean, but highlight imperfections in your walls. Alternatively a flat paint finish will hide flaws but is more susceptible to damage. In most instances, an eggshell finish is the best option. LIFESTYLE | home Pick your Palette We’ve all had moments when we picked up an interior design magazine and sighed over the beautiful pictures, wondering how simple colours can add magic to a room. Ankita Mamgain takes you over the essentials of painting interiors.
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