When it comes to painting it’s kind of heartening to know that even the experts can shudder at the thought of preparing the room and pulling out the paint brushes.
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Colour creative director for Taubmans and interior designer Shaynna Blaze admits painting is not one of her fun things to do - on some days! However, having been involved in the painting of more than 150 homes she has a few tips and tricks to help make the task at hand a lot more fun.
“Paint with friends - getting a group together is always easier and more interesting than tackling the project yourself. Then, they know their home will be next on the list of getting a nice new paint job,” Shaynna laughs.
Making any home project enjoyable is what it’s all about, she says. “Like with any job or project, you need to break it down into little tasks, because let's be honest you are not going to make over a room in a weekend as they do on the TV. But it can be done and painting a room is not as arduous as people think it is.
“Do the prep work one weekend - sanding and washing the walls, and buying the paint and tools - and then the next weekend start painting. You will find the job is not as enormous as it first seems and you won't run out of energy part way through it.”
Plan, plan, plan and make painting your home a fun project to do.
- designer Shaynna Blaze
According to Taubmans, in an independent survey of 500 homeowners 77 per cent of respondents were keen to paint a room at home, but had myriad reasons for stalling the project, including: lack of time, not knowing where to start and the desire to spend time doing something they think is more fun.
As part of her work with the paint manufacturer, Shaynna is tasked with helping us change our minds about painting. Her second book Design with Colour and Style has just been released, and as a judge on the popular renovation TV show, The Block, she has the experience to know how long a room makeover can truly take.
“The survey found 65 per cent of people would be motivated to start if they had more time and could do the job with friends or family as it would make the time go much quicker and be more fun. Put on some music, have some snacks to get you through the day then celebrate the end product with a toast,” Shaynna says.
For those who don't know where to start, Shaynna says the best option is to keep it simple.
“If you are not confident about colour, then keep it neutral as there are some wonderful neutrals out now and you can vary their strength in a room to get some contrast and vary the tones. In terms of choosing the right brush and paint, ask for advice in the paint store as they will know which tool will make the job a lot easier for you,” she says. “There’s some beautiful colours out there and painting a room is an inexpensive way of giving your home and you a lift.”
As for what’s on trend this year, “the colour palette is a little controversial,” Shaynna says.
“We have pistachio green, mint and salmon - it’s a very retro look but one that will be around for a while, so if you do introduce these colours into your home, as with any colour, really, think about how they will work with your existing decor and the light in the room.”
The bold, energetic colours of teal, turquoise and emerald greens continue to remain popular, she says, and give a fresh look to a room when teamed with white on the trims.
“Plan, plan, plan and make painting your home a fun project to do,” Shaynna says.