Gorilla and Mushroom Renovation

One of the most challenging tasks in our renovation so far, has got to be choosing the colours for the home.
When we first got our colour catalogs from the various paint shops, we were thinking... "with so many colours to choose from, we will definately find the ones we like in a jiffy!"
Boy were we wrong! There are so many choices, you don't know where to start!

There are various brands that offer a whole range of colour and finishes for your painting needs. The most popular paint brands are ICI and Nippon. So the discussion will mostly be surrounding these two brands.

Hopefully, sharing our experience, would help you when it is time to make a choice for your colour selection.
After all, the tone of a room, is ultimately set by the paint color.

Tip 1 ALWAYS be Patient
Given the infinite combination of colours available in the market today, it is important that one be patient when sitting down with your partner to select the righ colour scheme that is suitable for both of you. Given the asian context here, there is bound to be some external factors that affect the choice of colours... eg Feng Shui, Budget... etc

It is great to collect colour catalogs but hold off making final choices until the both of you have decided on an overall room scheme. Paint is available in literally an infinite array of colors and is the most versatile element of your room decor. It is the easiest to change, and, comparing to the rest of your renovation needs, is the least expensive. Go thru magazines, blogs and forums to get ideas. Think of what goes into each room, carpets, wallpaper, laminates... before deciding what colours go to which rooms.

Tip 2 Understand your needs
Do you already have kids?
Are you planning your walls with kids in mind?
What kinda mood are you seeking?

Given the different finishes offered by paints today, Medifresh, Anti-bacterial, Washable, Matte... the list is long... one has to sit down and seriously consider the needs of each room to decide on the type of finish one requires in each room. Matte finishes will hide wall imperfections, but glossier finishes will reflect more light.

Colors are often referred to as "warm" and "cool". Orange, red, and pink are considered "warm" colors, while blues, greens, and violet are thought to be "cool." Knowing the theory behind color can help you select the right tone for the feel you're trying to achieve. There is a very good write up on this on the ICI webpage, click on the "Be Inspired" tab... very useful starting point if you are at a loss when choosing a colour scheme for your room.

Alternatively, you can do a google for the colour scheme that you have in mind and you will get a whole range of suggestions with pictures which you could show your partner, that way, both of you are "looking" at the same picture during your discussions

Tip 3 Tried and tested?
More often than not, we will be collecting a few copies of the same catalogs. Like tiles, one can always test the finish to see if it is what you want for your home. If the paints claims to be washable, try washing the particular sample to see if it is really that washable.

Tip 4 Lighting plays a part
Cut the catalog up to create colour strips of your own, and put it up on the wall the colour is intended upon to view them... it will be different from just staring at it when it is laid on the table.

Look at it during the day, morning, evening, and night. Due to the different finishes of the paints, viewing them in the day under natural light, and under the fluorescent light in the night is also very different. So you have to view them under the various conditions to see if that is the colour that you really like... thus the need for Tip 1!

Tip 5 Expect variation in the tones
Colours in the catalogs are just a small sample. The white you see on the catalog is not always the same white you see when painted on the walls. Beiges and off-whites have subtle color, so compare the paint samples to your laminates and floor tiles to determine if a warmer pinkish or yellow-toned white or a cooler, bluer white is best suited for your room.

Light colours tend to look one shade darker when painted on the walls, and dark and bold colours tend to look one shade lighter. So keep this in mind when selecting your colours.

Tip 6 Why? What? Where? How?
You can never ask enough questions when it comes to selecting materials for your home. One can always go to the nearest store for helpful paint advice. Alternatively, you can online and and do a search or post a query on the forums for additional advise as well. Ask about the different paint finishes, sometimes you can even ask about the differences between the different brands. Ask which paint products they recommend, and why they recommend them as such. Get information on specialty paints such as low-odor, stain-killing primers, chalkboard paint, washable paint, and many more.

Visit a few more stores, and ask the same questions again, and you will soon be able to make a better informed choice for the colours in your room.

Tip 7 Colour consultation
If after all the above, you are still not able to make a decision, get a colour consultant to help.
You can engage a ICI or Nippon's color consultant... They will go to your unit, take pictures and use Photoshop to give you a simulation of how the selected colours would turn out.

For ICI, they charge $75 per visit, and for Nippon, I think $110. Both will give you paint vouchers which you can redeem at selected paint shops.

FYI, we were planning to do a combination of two colours for each room, and it help a lot when it comes to selecting the colour combination for each room after the consultation.

A sample of what the consultant did for us...

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