Using colour to alter perceptions

Africote recommends rejuvenating rooms and exteriors with a new coat of paint. Usingcolour effectively will make a space look smaller or larger, change the shape of a spaceand draw attention to focal points.

There’s no better or more affordable way to freshen up rooms and exteriors than with a new coat of paint. Painting isn’t difficult and doesn’t require specialised training. All you need is a little patience, practice, and some helpful advice. Recoating your walls in a different colour can change the personality of the entire room without you having to go to the expense of buying new furnishings.

Colour is even more exciting when we realise how it affects the way we see a space. Colour can alter our perception of a room’s size and shape. Different colours and even different values of the same colour have different effects. Lighter and cooler colours tend to recede as they appear further away. Darker and warmer colours advance, in that they

appear to move towards us. We can use this concept to make a space look larger or smaller, change the shape of a space, draw attention to focal points and positive aspects of a space, and hide or minimise the not-so-attractive features.

Be creative with what you already have. Upgrade your existing furniture by either painting it up brightly or stripping it bare and adding a paint technique for a more natural look.

Once you’ve selected your colour, decide on your choice of finish. A matt finish diffuses light, allowing it to hide imperfections on walls. Textured finishes absorb light, creating a sense of richness and depth, but are hard to clean and collect dust. A sheen finish reflects light and can be easily cleaned – this is perfect for high traffic areas.