How to Choose Paint Colours

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Woodie's DIY will show you how to choose paint colours. This is important because colour can not only reflect but effect our moods.

How to do it

Choosing Colours

• Before painting a room it’s important to get some testers to ensure you will be happy with the colour.

• Be sure to brush a nice sized area on the wall approx. 30x30cm, just to give you a good indication of the colour. Don’t forget to let it dry. Then give yourself plenty of time to decide.

• Check how the paint looks on the different walls of the room. The amount of light can differ throughout the room.

• Also have a look at your tester patch in the evening when there is artificial light, once again, to see how it looks in the different light.

Colour Schemes

It is all about selecting the colours that work well together - and well for you. Colours are generally seen in the context of other colours, which means that how you combine them is important. The colours you choose should work together to create balance and reflect your personal style.

• TONING is where you achieve a subtle, understated look by using varying shades of the same colour family.

• HARMONISING is where you use colours, which sit next to each other on the colour wheel, so you can create a beautiful balanced and sympathetic scheme. For instance blues and purples combine for stunning harmonising schemes.

• CONTRASTING is where you use contrasting colours to give a striking, more dramatic result. This is ideal for accessories or a feature wall. This will generate a real wow factor. For instance a yellow will provide a crisp contrast to a rich purple for a dramatic, modern scheme.

Colour Psychology

Colour is a language with many moods. Colour has been proven to have a significant psychological impact on us so it's important take the time to look at your space, and think about the type of feeling you want to create.

• RICH COLOURS would be vibrant, strong colours that are used to create a sense of drama. Vibrant reds for example are thought to excite us, raising the heartbeat and increasing energy in most people. It also increases the appetite so is a popular choice for a formal dining room.

• FRESH COLOURS like blue and green would be crisp and pure, creating a sense of enlightenment and energy to a room. Blues are often seen in schools as they are said to be inspiring. Greens are thought to be calming and are ideal for bedrooms.

• WARM COLOURS are mellow and relaxed and make any room feel cosy and welcoming. Yellow for instance, the 'sunshine colour' can have a positive effect on our moods with its warm and welcoming effects. For this reason it’s a good choice for dark hallways.

• CALM COLOURS are soft and subtle which create a calmer look. Soft greys, taupes and creams instill an air of tranquility into your space.