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Neutral tones are safe and soothing, but colour is more fun. These simple DIY projects incorporate bold colours without overwhelming a room
This year’s paint colours are rich without being vivid. Imagine your favourite brights toned down with slightly muted greys.
The trend is about the combination of all the colours in a particular space, says PPG Pittsburgh Paints brand manager Dee Schlotter.
“In 2012, we also saw bold colour use, however these colours weren’t used with the ease and normality that we’ll see in 2013,” says Schlotter.
CIL Paints brand manager Alison Goldman says some of the rich jewel tones, like purple, are very versatile.
“The coolest thing about the hot colour purple is it’s the perfect way to incorporate both ends of the trend,” says Goldman. “A lilac hit to a soft grey means you’ll be hip without the hype.”
People look for colours that take away the hectic pace of life and offer some relief, whether it be calming or invigorating, says Martin Tustin-Fuchs, brand director for AkzoNobel, makers of Dulux paint. Colour “helps create an environment where people can feel comfortable,” says the paint expert.
Colour consultant Kora Sevier of K Colour says that this year’s blues, oranges and purples are being welcomed after teetering on the edge of being trendy for the past few years. People are finally more comfortable embracing the stronger, bolder and even darker shades.
“People often end up using neutrals as a safety net,” says Sevier. “Don’t use just one shade throughout your place; punch it up with a darker shade like charcoal grey.”
Darker colours, she adds, will make focal points pop as the eye always falls on the lightest thing in a room. Click through above for ideas on how to apply bolder colours.
Visit a secondhand store or raid your attic or garage for inspiration. Find a wooden lamp base, an old, hideously coloured chair or inexpensive desk and unleash your creativity with a small can of paint and a brush. Super smooth melamine paint will self-level and can typically be tinted in any colour. Make sure you properly prep the piece by giving it a light sanding so that the paint adheres.
Different surfaces require different paints, so match the paint with the medium you are painting, whether it is wood, ceramic or glass.
Visit an art supply store and pick up some inexpensive canvases then grab a few tester pots of your favourite colours. Paint each canvas a different colour then hang them in a row as an easy way to introduce colour blocking. You can go big if you like by buying larger canvases or keep it small by stacking a row of canvases at the end of a hallway.
A fabulous way to incorporate a splash of colour without overwhelming a room is by painting behind an item.Tape off the wall behind an open-backed bookcase and paint the space with one of the year’s hottest colours. When your bookcase is put back against the wall, shots of colour will sizzle behind each open square or shelf.
Originally published in BC Home & Garden magazine. For regular updates, subscribe to our free Home and Garden e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the magazine.