By Christine Kate

Now that you are finalizing the building of that dear home, it is time to think of how you are going to paint your home to make it an enjoyable place. Painting not only adds value to your home, it also protects brick work, walls and is an essential depiction factor. This is in addition to furnishings, which together with paint dictate the mood of the home.

You need to use paint which does not peel or crack easily. Debbie Zimmer, a paint and colour expert with the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute says it is important to ask for guidance in the paint store when you buy your paint on how best and the tools to apply the particular paint you have bought.

The colour of your interior matters

Choosing the colour

While painting is undoubtedly important, you need to be careful which colours you choose. You need to be aware that colours do affect our moods and emotions.

According to Zimmer, your preference for certain colours is very personal, and there is a lot of psychological research into why certain colours appeal to certain character types. Studies show that colours have different effects on our moods and emotions. That is why you need to consider the nature and function of a room before you choose interior colours to use in that particular room.

Brown

This colour gives rooms a casual, natural feel. And like other earthy tones, it is warming. It works well as a feature wall, but will make a room look drab and dull if overdone.

Black

Black has countless emotional and cultural associations. Symbolically, the colour of mourning, black also implies mystery, power and sophistication. This colour can be depressing and cause fatigue. But on the other hand, it indicates inner strength. Experts advise that black can enhance interior colours if used in contrast with bold tones. For example you can use it as a lining patch at the bottom of the walls.

White

White features prominently in interiors of most homes. To many people, white symbolizes purity and innocence. Whether by demand or design, painting your interior white inspires cleanliness and feelings of optimism and hope.

Some people prefer white on their walls while others detest the colour

Blue

Well, you can’t blame blue for being used often. Many people use blue paint because it is refreshing and tranquil. This cool classic also teams well with everything, from white to yellow to orange. You can even match blue with green. Blue represents authority, loyalty and sincerity. It can prompt emotions of serenity, peace and sadness. It is thought to lower blood pressure and respiratory rate and is relaxing.

Red

Red taps into our deepest emotions: courage, love, anger, passion and danger. This vibrant colour works well in dining rooms as a strong formal colour that can also stimulate appetite and aid digestion. On the flipside, red will ramp up your blood pressure and heart rate, so beware if using it in the bedroom. Although it could stimulate passion, it may also induce restlessness and insomnia for some people.

Yellow

Hello yellow, the hap-hap-happiest colour in the spectrum. Yellow is fresh, warm and cheery. It sharpens the memory, encourages conversation and inspires ideas and communication. It is believed to aid digestion and stimulate appetite and circulation.

Paired with its primary partners blue and red, yellow suggests childlike energy. With its complementary colour purple, opposite on the colour wheel, yellow suggests regal formality. It works well in studies or offices or casual family rooms that don’t have a lot of natural light.

Violet

Part warm red, part cool blue, this rich colour exudes sophistication. Purple represents royalty, mystery and majesty. It promotes deep thinking, daydreaming, creativity and spirituality. It is believed to lower blood pressure and soothe the digestive and other organs. Like orange, shades of purple work well on feature walls. Experts advise you go for lighter hues, such as mauve or lilac, in larger spaces. It can be suitable for bedroom.

Green

Green is a clean, cool colour that works well with neutral and bright tones. Green represents nature, fertility and envy. It promotes creativity and peace. It is also believed to calm nerves and reduce stress. As a cool colour, it’s ideal for rooms that attract afternoon sun and heat. For its inspiration, it works well in kitchens. And for its soothing properties, bathrooms or bedrooms.

Orange

Orange is the ideal colour for winter (rainy season in Uganda) because it is warm and inviting. Orange suggests vigour and activity and, like yellow, it is a highly sociable colour that promotes a fun-loving atmosphere. According to www.paitnquality.com, you can team orange with other citrus colours for contrast, or earthy rusty orange tones to set the mood and warm your room/house.

Cream

The majority of people interviewed for this story said they prefer to paint cream outside their houses, and white in the interior. Some people reasoned that white does not attract mosquitoes as do other colours, while cream was preferred for its beauty, serenity and ability to resist dust.

You also need to decide whether to use oil or water paint. Many of those interviewed favoured oil paint because it can be washed when dirtied. Some people prefer water paint though, because it is not flammable like oil paint in case your house catches fire by accident.

However, Zimmer says Latex paints are favoured over oil-based paints by many people for being more environmental friendly “Those labelled 100 per cent acrylic tend to be higher quality. Choose them for the outside of your house because they are very flexible in changing temperatures, and the colour doesn’t fade as much,” she says.

Colours and Your character type

A survey of your wardrobe might also reveal the prevalence of a particular colour in your life. Which colour resonates strongly with you?

Red = aggressive, sensuous, extreme, athletic

Orange = gregarious, active, social, extroverted

Yellow = introspective, innovative, egotistical

Green = traditional, conventional, grounded

Brown = reliable, stable, shrewd, sturdy

Blue = responsible, pragmatic, manipulative, conservative

Violet = spiritual, philosophical, creative

Pink = gentle, friendly, protective

White = idealist, optimist, individual

Black = powerful, aloof, intimidating, worldly, mysterious