Bringing color and character to your home
The story of color is too big to cover in brief - but you’ll find that paint manufacturers present their products in color-themed sample sheets, with selections of complementary and contrasting colors to help you select your preferred ‘color-way’ for each room.

Types of paint
Before you select colors, decide on whether oil-based or water-based paints are appropriate for the task.

Oil-based
Oil-based paints are often preferred for high-use interior surfaces such as doors, windows and architraves, where durability is important. Oil-based paints or enamels are available in flat and semi-gloss finishes, but they really shine as high-gloss, giving a gleam that’s not possible with water-based paints. Outside, high-gloss, oil-based paints can be used on doors and windows, although gloss acrylics also do the job well. After using oil-based paints, clean-up with mineral turpentine.

Water-based or acrylic
Water-based or acrylic paints are easy to work with and easy to apply. They come as flat, low-sheen, satin and gloss for a range of uses, inside or out. Today’s exterior acrylics have excellent adhesive qualities to all surfaces, are resistant to ultra-violet light and can handle extremes of temperature and weather. Inside, low-sheen acrylics are ideal for living area walls, while satin acrylics work well in kitchens and bathrooms, where the semi-gloss finish has good moisture resistance. Acrylic high-gloss finishes are hard-wearing and scrubbable. Matt-finish ceiling acrylic paint is made with a thicker consistency to enable easier application and good coverage. Cleaning up with water-based paints is a breeze, with no toxic solvents to handle.

Preparation
Surface preparation is the key to a professional result. Time spent in preparing your materials and the surface to be painted is never wasted - on the contrary, you’ll save hours of extra work later on to fix a job that goes wrong because of inadequate or incorrect preparation. Acrylic or enamel, the top coat is only as good as the first - always apply a quality sealing undercoat. This is especially important on previously unpainted surfaces, but wherever you are painting, it’s essential that the finish coats adhere properly - paint over the top of old flaking or powdery paintwork and your job will look good for a while, but you’ll be starting all over again before long.

Undercoating
A couple of undercoating tips: use the same brand as the finishing coat to ensure that the two are compatible; and if you’re using ’self-priming’ exterior acrylics (paints that can be used without a separate sealing coat) consider using an appropriate undercoat anyway, for maximum exterior durability.

Safety
All paints produce fumes that can be toxic or irritating. Paint in a well-ventilated area or, if this isn’t possible, consider using a mask or respirator (an essential item when spray-painting). Safety glasses and gloves will protect you from contact with hazardous chemicals, especially the thinners used with oil-based paints.

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