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How to choose paint colour with Alisa & Lysandra

By Olivia Shead โ€ข Leave a Comment

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The impact of colour can completely transform your home during a renovation, but with endless colour palettes, how do you begin to choose the right paint colour for your walls? We show you how!

A&LWallColours

Whatโ€™s light got to do with it?

Ever walked into a room that was big, white and just too bright? Natural light is a must for beautiful interiors, but if it burns your retina itโ€™s time you tone it down. Before you choose a wall colour, you need to make an assessment of the amount of natural light in your space. If itโ€™s too bright, tone it down with neutral hues; shades of grey, and biscuit will compliment almost any decor and can work well with existing furniture. Small rooms on the other hand, call for light walls to make them feel larger,ย but choose wisely because not all whites are the same.

How to choose your whites

With over 180 shades of white paint available onย the market, choosing the right shade can seem like a laborious task, but donโ€™t fret. First you need to determine if your room calls for a warm white, or cool white. Cool whites have a blue or black base added to them and they are ideal for neutralising bright modern rooms. Warm whites have a yellow undertone that can make a room feel cosier, and work well with more classic interiors; but be cautious, because a white with a heavy yellow or pink base can turn somewhat peachy, and letโ€™s be honest, no one wants to go back to 1992! Ourย favouriteย is Vivid White by Dulux.

Jazz up monochromatic interiors

Are you a fan of simple, monochromatic walls? Donโ€™t let others question your colour audacity, because by adding various shades of one hue, you can add a playful depth to your colour scheme.

2015 colour trends

Bringing nature into interiors is expected to be huge this year and the colour spectrum is wide. Living green walls and indoor plants are on trend, and when it comes to paint colour, think rich pine greens, mustard yellows and mineral hues, which will seamlessly introduce a raw earthiness into your space.

If you like light and dark colours in combination, 2015 is the year to marry them up. Embrace charcoal hues with earthy cool whites. Use your darkest colour to accentuate a wall that features artwork, or intricate architecture like an ornate fireplace in a period home.

Craving colour? Vibrant ocean blues, with bright Miami beach pinks and yellows are guaranteed to add brightness and energy to your room. Team these colours with modern, understated, perhaps even more vintage or retro furniture pieces, and accessories such as patterned cushions and throws.ย Nautical blues featuring bold patterns such as chevron and stripes are also popular and the look can be easily applied outside on a balcony or patio.

For something more punchy and elegant, you canโ€™t go past Marsala; the 2015 Pantone colour of the year. Itsโ€™ rich terra rossa colour resembles the soil of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards so this oneโ€™s for the wine lovers. Use shades of Marsala as feature walls, or if it feels too pink, choose a lighter hue of the colour and carry it through with accessories.

Image: Annie Sloan via Interiors Addict
Image: Annie Sloan via Interiors Addict

And lastly, grey is the new black; and we love it because it is so versatile. Think dirty denim, comfort, softness, and easy living. Yes, grey can be all that!

Draw colour inspiration from accessories

When choosing a wall colour, draw inspiration from artwork, or other accessories such as throws, rugs or cushions,ย where you may discover both your main and accent colours. Snap photos, collect samples, or even bring the actual accessories along to the hardware store so you can match the colours. Even if youโ€™re sure you have found your wall colour, itโ€™s a good idea to spend a few dollars on getting sample pots first; then either paint large white cardboard swatches, or add a couple of brush strokes on the wall. Let the paint dry, and inspect in the next 24ย hoursย throughout different times of the day to see how the colour changes with light.

Feature wall dos and don’ts

The days of the random feature wall are long gone, and today’s interiors demand you to be bold, so yes, go ahead and paint the entire room with the colour you love. If you must have a feature wall, ask yourself why you need it in the first place? Feature walls serve as accents, so if thatโ€™s what youโ€™re looking for, make sure you are accentuating the right wall. A wall that features intricate architecture, a fireplace, or a hideaway nook, are more deserving of an accent colour, otherwise you might be drawing attention to the wall that hosts your alarm control panel or air conditioner; not much to admire there, is there?

Primed and ready

Youโ€™re ecstatic with your choice in wall colour and canโ€™t wait to get started, but before you do, consider priming your walls with a coat or two if they are fairly dark or have a heavy yellow tinge. This is particularly important for bright colours, which need a pure white base so that they can reflect their true brilliance.

If your walls are chalky, give them a good wash before priming with sugar soap; chalky walls indicate that the existing paint has started to deteriorate, which is quite common in 1960s fixer-upper properties.

Now, letโ€™s get painting shall we?

Read all the twins’ posts.

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March 3, 2015

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Did you see this cracking little transformation on Did you see this cracking little transformation on @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the finer details on the blog today via link in bio. Particularly love the kitchen refresh using the existing blue cupboards which really weren't doing anything for me before ๐Ÿ˜‚

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How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: Itโ€™s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!โ€

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

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Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno. L Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno.

Located inside a 1912 sandstone villa in Adelaideโ€™s Kensington, this bathroom makeover combines classic and contemporary elements that complement the homeโ€™s original, period features. 

Designed by the homeโ€™s owner @designby_Tahirih, who is a property stylist too, the renovation came sooner than expected after water ingress made the makeover of their only bathroom an urgent necessity!

The whole project cost an impressive $20k, project managed herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

#realrenovations #realhomes #realreno #heartyourhome #renoaddict #freestandingbath #classicbathroom #classiccontemporary #classiccontemporaryinteriors #theinteriorsaddict  #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #homestaging #laundrymakeover #bathroomrenovations #bathroomremodels
Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we find some of the most colourful interiors from my motherland, the UK!

This beautiful lilac kitchen is found in a renovated apartment by @llidesign in a grand mansion block in London's Bloomsbury. You can tour the rest of it on the blog now, via link in bio.

#londonapartment #bloomsbury
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I remember the chair being such a key purchase whe I remember the chair being such a key purchase when I put together my first ever baby room for Seb. I spent many an evening relaxing on mine while pregnant as I tried to get my head around impending motherhood! Not only are glider recliners like the Chelsea fromย @iltuttoย the most comfortable chairs EVER for those many hours spent feeding and settling, why shouldn't they look this good too, am I right?!

Did you love your nursery chair? Did it look this good?!

See more on the Il Tutto Chelsea Glider Recliner Chair via link in bio now.

#feedingchair #nurserychair #nursingchair #reclinerchair #nurseryroomdecor #nursery #nurserygoals #nurserydesign #babyroomdecoration #babyrooms #babyroominspo #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #iltutto #newmumlife
Here's a sneak peek of the kitchen and powder room Here's a sneak peek of the kitchen and powder room to whet your appetite! 

Head on over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest of this gorgeous Sydney reno by @_studio_trio 

Pix by @mareehomer.photography and styling by Jackie Brown.

#interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realreno #housetour #australianhomes #australianhouses #sydneyhomes #sydneyhouses #texturedtiles #kitchenshelfie #kitchenshelves #kitchenshelf #powderroomdesign #powderroomwallpaper #studiotrio #kitchenhooks
There's a LOT of goodness in @sageandclare's lates There's a LOT of goodness in @sageandclare's latest collection Marguerite but the Aida rug has to be my personal fave.

Handcrafted from wool, it features a rustic check design with a rainbow of nostalgic colour. Embroidered edge stitching furthers its handcrafted feel. 

โ€œThis is pure colour joy bundled up in a hard-wearing and happy rug that will lift any room with ease," says creative director Phoebe Bell.

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see more, including Phoebe's 5 faves.

#sageandclare #rugshopping #rainbowrug #tartanrug #checkeredrug #flatweaverugs #statementrug #handcraftedhomedecor #handcraftedhomewares #funhome #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
A DIY dining nook bench seat with storage for $120 A DIY dining nook bench seat with storage for $1200!

After 4 years of saying โ€œa dining nook would be great thereโ€ฆโ€ South Australians @the_groves_abode finally got a quote from a local cabinet maker for a built-in bench seat with storage. When the $4,000 price tag was revealed, criminologist, chronic over-achiever and wannabe carpenter Andrew decided to have a crack at it instead.

And we're so impressed with the end result which cost just over a grand. Read what they did, what they used and how in the blog now, via link in bio.

#diningnook #benchseat #benchseating #builtinbench #upholsteredbench #diybench #diycouple #budgetdiy #bunningsdiy #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #realreno #diningroomideas #breakfastnook #breakfastnookdesign #homediyproject
Mess = stress! Today on the blog, @little_label_c Mess = stress!

Today on the blog, @little_label_co founder Natalie Manoushian is sharing her top tips for a more organised home. I'd love you to share your best tips in the comments too!

"Disorganisation puts barriers in the way. Imagine how much quicker you would get things done if your home or work space ran smoothly. Researchers have found that clutter can actually make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. From the frustration of not being able to find what we need, to the feeling of being constantly surrounded by chaos, a disorganised environment creates brain fog and can lead to procrastination and reduces productivity. It can also trigger feelings of stress and anxiety, making it difficult to switch off, relax and sleep well."

Read the full post via link in bio now 

#littlelabelco #labelling #labellingeverything #homeorganisation #homeorganizationtips #homeorganising #homeorganisation #organisationtips #tidyingtips #homehack #storagegoals #pantrymakeover #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #cupboardstorage
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About Olivia Shead

When she's not writing for Interiors Addict, Olivia is now a TV and radio news producer. She's a journalism graduate of UTS Sydney.

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