With one month remaining of spring weather now is the time to beat the heat in completing those last-minute projects.
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Ideas on what to do inside and outside may include revamping the old fence, shed or house with a lick of fresh paint. Why not consider changing colours? Repainting your favourite room a new colour can give you a lift for summer.
To help your decision making easier, paint manufacturers are regularly providing paint colour schemes for some inspirational ideas that might just look sensational at your place. Top choices for exteriors this summer are the softer greys and blues, says Taubmans brand ambassador, interior designer Shaynna Blaze.
Spring is also the time to freshen up the bathroom with some quick and inexpensive changes. A new colour palette can instantly transform the look of a tired space, says Reece bathroom business manager Daniela Santilli.
“Take inspiration from the changing colours of the season and make quick upgrades like a fresh set of towels in the a new hue to instantly life the space,” Daniela says. “Adding or updating accessories or furniture is another way to introduce colour and visual impact.”
But before putting paint to board, Shaynna says it’s important to get the balance of colour right by going back to the basics.
“At first glance a full colour wall can appear daunting – so many colours to choose from! The best thing you can do is to stop and think ‘there are only three colours’ – blue, red and yellow. These are your Primary Colours,” Shaynna says.
Every paint colour in a colour wall has come from a mixture of these three. To understand what colours result from mixing the Primary Colours you should refer to a colour wheel.
Mixing two Primary Colours together results in a Secondary Colour, which can be found between the Primary Colours used to create it - for example, adding red and blue together gives you purple. In between the Secondary Colours you will find the Tertiary Colours that come from mixing two Secondary Colours, she says.
Colours such as white, black, beige, ivory and grey are called Neutral Colours as they appear to be "without" colour, though all neutrals except white and grey do come from the colour wheel.
"When you have worked out your base colour there are two simple colour combinations that will get you started when selecting your accessories: Complementary Colours and Analogous Colours," Shaynna says.
“If you want an interior that is going to give a "punch" go for a complementary colour,” she says. “On your colour wheel a complementary colour is the colour directly opposite the one you have chosen as your base colour. Green and red are a classic complementary colour pairing.”
She adds that if subtlety is more your idea of an interior, then stick with three colours side-by-side on the colour wheel – “this is called a analogous colour combination”.
"Deep Water, Hi-C Blue and Lagoon Teal are a perfect analogous colour combination for a calm beachside home. Three colours side by side mean harmony, no matter what the depth of colour is," Shaynna says.
Daniela agrees nature’s colours are a major asset in adding harmony to a space. “Flowers are a pocket-friendly option that will totally transform the aesthetic,” she says. “And bathrooms are a fantastic environment for plants lie orchids, which are suited to low-light rooms. Place them in a small pot on your vanity for a nice touch of colour and daily inspiration.”