• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australiaโ€™s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      Weโ€™re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
      • Get Your Free Ebook

        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesnโ€™t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • AFTER-kitchenArt Deco: Emma Blomfield shares her own apartment before & after
    • AFTER kitchenFrom run down 1950’s home to modern Australian cottage
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other peopleโ€™s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether youโ€™re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • Exterior-of-BuildingA Sydney apartment for just $260k and Cherie Barber has big plans
    • Living roomOld meets new in Melbourne interwar home renovation
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? Weโ€™re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • Calypso2Choosing flooring: you need to understand undertones! + 25% off
    • Screen-Shot-2023-11-06-at-1.22.04-pmI may have discovered the best Australian Christmas tree decs!
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jenโ€™s a legitimate interiors addict, sheโ€™s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the countryโ€™s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • Humphrey's HotelAre these Sydney’s prettiest bathrooms? The people think so!
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      Weโ€™re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks youโ€™ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • HQxRiverviewFarms-KoreanStylePorkBowl-LR-6Foodie Friday: Hayden Quinn’s Korean style BBQ pork rice bowl
    • Bali-tour2The dream Bali buying trip to source homewares for your business
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Five fast facts about choosing and using paint colour

By Guest Poster โ€ข

FacebookPinEmailTweet

By Cherie Barber

They call it the power of paint, but really what weโ€™re talking about is the power of colour to completely alter the mood and appearance of a place.ย When you change the daffodil-coloured house with red window trim to a modern muted grey with white trim (yes, I did see this recently), or when you rev up a drab interior with a deep-coloured feature wall, youโ€™re changing the way that room or faรงade makes you feel. A colour scheme has the power to make you recoil in horror or lift your spirits.

So letโ€™s look at five fast facts about paint and colour.

Tricks of the mind

Thereโ€™s both an emotional and practical aspect to colour. For example, a large space will feel more inviting bathed in warm colours, and a long, narrow room can feel more ‘square’ if you paint the narrow end in a warmer tone than the rest. Thereโ€™s warm whites and cool whites, just like you get in light bulbs these days. Hint: a cool white will need a lot of sunlight to warm it up.

Colour rules

Warm colours advance and cool colours recede. Which means if you paint the fireplace surround a moody blue, it will immediately leap out at you. Paint it the same neutral beige as the rest of the room and you might struggle to notice it.

The importance of texture

Itโ€™s not just colour that you have to worry about when choosing paint โ€“ the finish greatly impacts the final look. For example, high gloss will show up every flaw, but itโ€™s my favourite for woodwork trims as it makes everything shine and look new. For walls, while the chalky finish of matte (or flat) is the best for hiding imperfections, it doesnโ€™t make for easy cleaning; low-sheen is the most popular choice for living areas.

The significance of sunlight

The level of natural light you get in a room should also be taken into account when choosing colour โ€“ even if itโ€™s just deciding between a warm white and a cool white. If youโ€™re going for a darker shade, it becomes even more important to do a test patch and then view it at various times of the day. Early-to-mid-morning sunlight tends to have slightly blue tones, while afternoon to sunset has warmer tones.

Choosing a colour scheme

So now you know a handful of rules around colour, the burning question probably is: how do I pick a modern colour palette for my home? Well, this is largely where the rules end and personal preference kicks in. Neutrals are always timeless (including shades of beige and grey), or you could be more daring and experiment with popular deep greys and blues, or even Pantoneโ€™s 2017 colour of the year, Greenery.

Cherieโ€™s next 3-day renovating workshop is in Sydney on 19 May.ย 

โ€“Cherie Barber is the director ofย Renovating for Profit, a company that teaches everyday people how to buy and renovate properties for a profit.

FacebookPinEmailTweet

February 22, 2017

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Humphrey's Hotel Are these Sydneyโ€™s prettiest bathrooms? The people think so!
  • Be inspired by Australiaโ€™s best home swimming pools of 2023
  • Australian kitchen dimensions: standard sizes for every last detail
  • The best places to buy Australian bed linen online
  • Brabantia small bin Australian bathroom trends: A pink bath, fluted tiles and more

Follow us on Instagram

Love this one ๐Ÿ˜ The brief was simple โ€“ to de Love this one ๐Ÿ˜

The brief was simple โ€“ to deliver a functional, light filled, beautiful and contemporary family home that honoured the history of the old interwar home, whilst being financially efficient,โ€ says @splinter_society_architectureโ€™s Asha Nicholas.

On the homepage now via link in bio.

#interwararchitecture #heritagearchitecture #heritageaddition #heritagefacade #heritagerenovation #heritagefeatures #splintersocietyarchitecture #doubleheightspace #moodywalls #moodyinteriors #paintedbrick #originalfireplace #heritagefire 

Photos: @sharyncairns
๐Ÿ’ฆ Summer's here and if you don't already have a ๐Ÿ’ฆ Summer's here and if you don't already have a pool, you might be wishingย you did, or planning one for next year!

Funnily enough, I've never wantedย a pool but that may be because I grew up in England!๐Ÿคฃ

The votes are in for Australia's best pools and we have them all on the blog today. Via link in bio.

From tiny backyardย plunge pools to big family pools with slides, acreage pools, Hamptonsย pools, shipping container pools, pools with views, spas and glass windows, pools on sloping blocksย and everything you could think of in between!

Do you have a pool? Do you use it a lot? Do you wish you had one?

#poolgoals #backyardpools #plungepool #plungepools #pooldesign #poollandscape #poollandscaping #infinitypool
#shippingcontainerpool #hamptonspool
At the weekend, Seb asked if he could put a box of At the weekend, Seb asked if he could put a box of drawings out the front of the house to sell and raise money for the homeless at Christmas.

Of course I planned to sneak my own coins into the box when he wasn't looking, but then a lovely passer by left this note and $5 in an envelope "To the artist" and made his day ๐Ÿฅฐ

I want my kids to be kind and empathetic above all else โค๏ธ You bet I'm proud of him for coming up with this idea himself.

And as grownups, let's be the people who leave a note and encourage this sort of thing ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
A or (swipe) B? This divine coloured concrete Jun A or (swipe) B?

This divine coloured concrete Juno bath from @nood_co (available in 21 colours) or this fluted number (available in 1500 or 1700mm length) from @highgrovebathrooms?

Baths are no longer the basic that you choose all your statement tiles and tapware around. Now the tub can BE the statement!

Just two of the new products featured in this week's bathroom roundup, on the blog now via link in bio.

#statementbath #featurebath #bathlover #bathtubgoals #bathtubdesign #bathtubs #freestandingbath #bathroomniche #bathroomtrends2023 #concretebathroom #concretebath #concretebathtub #colouredconcrete #concretebasin #bathgoals #bathtubsofinstagram #noodco #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #highgrovebathrooms
Summer ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿ’ฆ๐ŸŒธ #hydrangeas #hydrangea #aussi Summer ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿ’ฆ๐ŸŒธ

#hydrangeas #hydrangea #aussiekids #aussiesummer #aussiebackyard #trampolines #hydrangealove #hydrangeaflower #hydrangeaseason #sprinklerfun
Victorians, are you still allowed to have gas in y Victorians, are you still allowed to have gas in your home? We share the ins and outs on what you need to know about the new rule in Victoria when it comes to your energy.

The good news is, for most people nothing will change, however if you are planning a new build/renovation that requires a planning permit โ€“ you will need toย speak to your builder toย get your permitย lodgedย before 1 January 2024!

ย Weโ€™re here to answer all your questions with the help of @australiangasnetworks!ย Read more via link in bio now.

ย #cookingongas #gaspower #gasconnection #australiangasnetworks #australiangas #australiangasnetworks #gasappliances #gascooker #gasfireplace #gasbarbecue #gasfire #gasstove #gashotwater #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realrenos
Our ever popular top places to buy Australian bed Our ever popular top places to buy Australian bed linen online post has been updated for 2023! Head to the blog now via link in bio to get some bedroom inspiration!

Whether you liked classic stripes, fun florals, moody linen or cotton covers, we have something for you!

#bedroomstyle #bedlinens #bedroomrefresh #bedlinen #bedroomgoals๐Ÿ˜ #bedroomstyling #bedsheet #bedsheetonline #bedsheetlovers #duvetcover #doona #freshsheets #freshsheet #newbedroom #bedroomstyle #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
The owner of Noosa homewares and furniture mecca @ The owner of Noosa homewares and furniture mecca @coastalvintage, Sally Oulton travels the globe looking for amazing interior finds. And now you can join her on one of her bespoke interior sourcing tours to Bali where youโ€™ll be taken far from the crowds to discover the best homewares and furniture that the Indonesian paradise has to offer. Read all about it via link in bio.

#baliindonesia #balishopping #balishop #balisourcing #balihomewares #balihomedecor #balitrip #balistyle #baliinteriors #baliinterior #baliinteriordesign
Just capturing Mr 5 here before he stops going to Just capturing Mr 5 here before he stops going to daycare and preschool next month and becomes a school boy. All the feels ๐Ÿ˜ญโค๏ธ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Avatar

About Guest Poster

If you have high quality, original, relevant content to share, we might be interested in publishing your guest post on Interiors Addict. Please email [email protected] with your submissions.

More from Expert Tips

How to give your bathroom a makeover without a full reno

New rules for home gas supply in VIC: busting the myths

Dulux reveals how to use its 2024 Colour Forecast at home

How to style a coffee table: interior designer tips

How to serve up a luxuriously affordable home cocktail party

New build ‘wing-woman’ offers unique real estate offering

5 tips to make your en suite extra special

New look courtyard extends living space of inner west home

Free eBook: designers share just one thing to elevate your space

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarFfiona Phillips says

    September 7, 2019 at 10:51 am

    I want to paint skirting boards with high gloss enamel, but I am told it will go yellow. Can you advise a tint to stop this from happening?

  2. AvatarLinda says

    November 21, 2020 at 6:46 pm

    Add a drop of black to the can to stop it taking on a yellow tone over time.

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      November 22, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      Sounds like a great tip!

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2023 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP ยท Log in

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!