Colour advice from a paint pro

Which wall should I choose for a feature wall?

If you have a long thin room, paint the two shorter walls a slightly darker tone than the two long walls. The darker colour will appear to come towards you while the lighter colour will move away from you making the room feel more square. In a bedroom, paint the wall behind the bed so that the room feels even when you view it while lying down.

I'm nervous about choosing a new colour palette for my home. Any advice?

When choosing colours for rooms that all come off one hallway, consider the weight of colour.

My furniture is mainly dark wood, what colour scheme should I paint my walls?

Contrast. If you have dark contemporary furniture, such as wenge or walnut, use neutrals. With dark antiques, paint more traditional colours like Gallery Red No.42 or Calke Green No.34.

My home feels outdated. What colours will stay stylish?

Contemporary living is seeing a more sophisticated, urban palette. There has been a move away from yellow based neutrals towards grey ones, such as Shaded White No.201 and Stony Ground No.211. The trend may be a backlash to the years of taupe! Bold use of colour is on the increase as people becoming more confident choosing a decorating scheme. Look out for the use of bright, primary colours. Clean, graphic colour and monochromatic schemes are increasingly popular – try Incarnadine No.248 teamed with Drawing Room Blue No.253, and Wimborne White No.239 for a strong, striking look.

We get bored quickly, any ideas?

Layer different colours in a room to create more interest. Small accents of colour can be changed easily and inexpensively as the mood takes you.

I'd love to bring a splash of colour into my home but don't know how. What do you think?

Introduce colour in small spaces that you don’t live in all the time – like toilets or spare bedrooms. Be brave. Very strong colours work wonderfully in small spaces creating a dramatic and intimate atmosphere, try Chappell Green No.83 for something jewel-like.

Do any colours repulse you?

Matt-finish paint or high-gloss, how do I choose?

Gloss is generally only used on woodwork, though recently it has been used to produce a contemporary look on plain plaster walls – especially effective as a feature wall. For elegant sophistication you cannot beat a gloss front door. For a flat finish, use Oil Eggshell on interior woodwork and Estate Emulsion, which gives a chalky matt finish and unrivalled depth of colour, should be used for walls except in kitchens and bathrooms where Modern Emulsion is more appropriate.

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