Ralph Waldo Emerson once quoted that “a house is made with walls and beams. A home is built with love and dreams.” This begs the question of what actually makes a colourful home. 

To answer this question, it is easy to find information and inspiration from websites, magazines or even your friends. These sources will help you understand how you can manage a colourful home. We have curated a list of tips you should follow when attempting to make your home more colourful. 

Image of house colour options

Get Inspiration and Start Planning

Current interior design trends that are featured in magazines and websites may inspire you to make the decision to paint your home yourself. One way of ensuring you’re fully inspired and motivated to paint your home, consider colour consultants. 

There is a lot you need to think about when painting a residential home. From brushes, rollers, paint types and finishes to identifying areas that won’t be painted, you should always consider planning:

  • Purchases you need to make.
  • What happens before you paint.
  • What happens while you paint.
  • What happens after you have finished painting. 

Purchases:

It is recommended that you test different possibilities on a foam board, if you have not already decided on a colour, and see not only how it looks it the space, but how it interacts with the lighting. 

Possibly the most important consideration is the amount of paint you purchase. Per 400 square foot, one gallon is generally considered sufficient. 

Lastly, you must know whether your current paint colour is water or oil based. If you don’t know, you can test this by rubbing a white cloth soaked with alcohol on the wall. It is water based if the paint transfers onto the cloth. 

To ensure there is little volatile organic chemicals in your paint, try to buy an eco-friendly brand for your DIY project.

Tools:

  • Use polyester or nylon bristle brushes for water-based paint and natural (hog or ox hair) for oil-based paint.
  • Use foam brushes for window castings or painting mouldings.
  • For precise and smooth application, use flagged brushes. 
  • A ⅜ inch nap roller or less works best for wood.
  • For heavy texture, time and coat reduction, use larger naps.

Before Painting: 

  • It is important to remember that paint doesn’t stick to dirty walls, so ensure that you thoroughly clean surfaces with soap and water – this includes the ceiling.
  • Do not cover your floors with plastic to ensure you don’t slip. Instead, scattered newspapers or cloths to protect against splatters and drips.
  • Remember to fill holes with spackle.
  • If you want a consistent colour around the room, mix your paint cans together. 

Image of a collection of paint brushes

While Painting:

  • Invest in a quality edger instead of wasting time with painters tape.
  • Make use of 2-inch angled-sash brushes. You simply hold them like a pencil to paint the corners of your room.
  • To help the paint from the rim drip back into the can, use a hammer and nail to poke holes every inch or so. 

After Painting:

  • It is a good idea to wash the walls with soap and water immediately after painting if the walls are water-based.
  • Use paint thinner or mineral spirits to clean oil-based paint off of your brushes to avoid dried paint.
  • Wrap moist paint brushes in plastic or waxed paper and hang them upside down.
  • To avoid hatbanding, ensure you roll your brushes as close as possible to the cut-in areas.