Do-it-yourself residential painting jobs are pretty common through January – people have more time, the weather is nice and it’s a great time to enjoy a fresh new coat. If you are planning to handle the work yourself rather than contracting a professional painter, keep in mind that preparation is half the job.

Get the right gear, properly prepare the surface and take time to choose a colour scheme that works for you. The last part can be more difficult than it sounds, so here are a few things you’ll want to avoid when deciding on the colour.

Not Thinking about Atmosphere

choose colour according to room atmosphere

Painting your interior has a number of practical and cosmetic benefits, but one that can be overlooked by DIY painters is how far it goes in helping you define the feel or atmosphere of a room. So it’s not just about picking out colours that look good or that you like, it’s also important to think about what the purpose of the room is and how you want people to feel when they’re in it. Some colours, for example, light blues, creams and some yellows are particularly effective in bathrooms. Darker shades may be appropriate in living rooms to help people unwind and relax.

Consider how the colours combine with your furniture and the amount of sunlight in the room too!

Using More Colours than is Optimal

comfortable room colourAnother common mistake is to get overly cute and trying to do too much with the colours you’ve selected and gone a little overboard. A colour palette will generally include 3-4 different shades, any more and you risk having the room look cluttered and uncomfortable. There are always exceptions to the rule but this is a good standard to go off of.

Choosing Colours that Don’t Suit

Choose colour palette

This is a simple one, but all too often you’ll see homeowners trying to invent their own colour palette and a lot of the time it simply doesn’t work. There are a time and a place for experimenting, and you don’t want to play it too safe, but generally, we’d recommend following a colour scheme that you’ve seen used before, or has recommended before. Search online and you can find a host of palettes with colours that work together really well. It’s also a good idea to ask the retailer for their suggestions when buying your paint.

Going Too Bold or Harsh

avoid harsh and bold home colours

An overly bright room with strong, bold colours can be quite uncomfortable to be in; remember that it’s important to make sure there’s somewhere where the eyes can rest. Even if you took the idea of a colourful room, make sure you contrast the bright colours with neutral shades to balance things out. Failing to do so can give a room a chaotic or hectic look and feel, which is what you’re wanting to avoid!

Even if you aren’t planning on using a painting services professional, it can be a good idea to have a chat with experienced and reliable residential painters and colour consultant about your project. At the very least, ample research is a must and with the internet, as a resource, you have no excuse to not be properly prepared. If you have a specific question, keep in mind that there are plenty of home improvement forums at your disposal!