58 September 2015 www.womanthismonth.com In addition to protection from the elements, paint, in many ways, provides the same for your walls and furniture as clothes do for your body. Just as you consider the season, functionality and comfort, mood and trends when picking your outfit, similar thought goes into choosing the paint for a particular area or object. How dry or wet will a place be, the scope for creativity, different finishes and textures and, of course, what’s new in the market? Paint technology has come so far that some truly innovative products are available. These high-tech options not only look great but also provide excellent solutions for some specific needs. BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS All bathrooms and kitchens have one thing in common – they get wet. Kitchens have to deal with the added problem of grime that settles on the walls over time. Not all paint types can withstand the type of humidity created by baths and showers or an oily coating. In both cases, it is important to stay away from paints that will tend to develop mould due to excessive moisture. Paint companies have designed special emulsions that can withstand high moisture and temperature conditions. The market is filled with products that claim to be waterresistant or even waterproof and resist the growth of mould and mildew and are hence ideal for these places. And yes, they are, in most cases, effective as they provide a special layer of protection but in addition to getting the right paint, you also need to ensure that there no blockages or leaking pipes. Both bathrooms and kitchens need good ventilation to get the inside air out. A 100 per cent acrylic, water-based paint with soft gloss finish is usually recommended for kitchen and bathroom walls and ceilings. This can provide excellent protection against stains and mould. Ensure the formula has some preservative, which is mildew resistant. Read the paint label for the following properties: stain and scrub resistant, washable, high adhesive strength and you’ve really hit the jackpot if it says anti-bacterial protection as well. KIDS ROOMS This is another area to which paint companies have devoted a lot of research and development, coming up with innovative solutions. One of them is the ‘dry-erase’ type of paint that is both fun and functional, turning the walls and doors into activity zones for the kids with scribbles easily removed. Dry-erase paint can be used to spark creativity, keep track of tasks or to-dos or just be a bit silly. Paint the doors to your kids' bedrooms to post reminders, chores or loving notes of encouragement or make the toy chest just as LIFESTYLE | home Different Strokes There’s an impressive variety of not just paint colours but textures and finishes available in the market. Ankita Mamgain finds out more about special paints for your specific needs.
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