A Colour Guide to Decorating Your Home

It is that time of year when the weather is getting warmer and summer is not far away so no doubt many of you are planning to spend the weekends doing DIY and decorating the house so that it is ready for the sunny season. Although some of you may just have a few little tasks to complete, some of you may be completely redecorating the house or at least one of the rooms.

Here at Kent Blaxill we understand that the entire decorating process can be difficult, from the initial planning and choosing of colour schemes through to the putting together of furniture and even the positioning of wall art!

If you are going to be redecorating this weekend, or even if you will just be planning your decorations, then we have put together a little colour guide for you which tells you what different colours represent, in the hope that it makes the process a little easier!

Red: this is a very intense colour that can easily evoke strong emotions such as danger, power, passion and love. This colour is often avoided in the home because of its association with danger and warning signs, however we think that if used in limited amounts then red can be a good colour for adding energy to a room. Perhaps just use it on one wall, use a pattern that contains some reds, or have a few accessories in red.

Orange: is a rich colour that represents warmth, the sun, energy and joy. It is a softer version of red that will add energy to a room without the chance of it being too overpowering. It is therefore a perfect colour for any room that you want to be happy and warm in, but it is a good idea not to overdo it because it is still a very strong colour.

Yellow: this is the brightest colour of them all and represents summer and happiness. Using yellow can really brighten up a room and create a happy feeling, but be careful and avoid dull yellows as these represent more negative feelings. If you don’t fancy a bright yellow then a light yellow is a good alternative and will bring freshness and cheer to a room.

Arsenic Green from Farrow & Ball

Green: this is a very positive colour that represents many things including nature, fertility, safety and health. It is often used in kitchens because of its association with health and nature, but it is also great for creating a relaxing atmosphere and so works well in living rooms.

Purple: is a colour that has always symbolised royalty and therefore luxury. It is associated with prestige and so is often used in rooms where people are likely to have guests. Lighter purples and pinks are seen as more feminine colours and are perfect for bedrooms.

White: this is very clean and pure and can work well in any room in the house. It is relaxing and positive and best of all it can be accompanied by any other colour so if you are having trouble making your mind up then white is a good choice as you can then choose any accessories and can even add other colours at a later date.

Black: is a difficult colour as it is often associated with evil, however small amount of black used with other colours (especially with white) can look very elegant and can create a unique look.

Silver: this is a very fluid and sleek colour that can look very modern. It has a somewhat feminine quality about it and is often associated with glamour and sophistication. Silver is often found in the smaller bits of decoration such as furniture and accessories, and looks great in smaller amounts.

Gold: is a wealthy, successful colour that creates a feeling of luxury and extravagance. It is rare for large amounts of gold to be used in the home, but small amounts of gold or some gold accessories can look very stylish.

No 237 Cook's Blue from Farrow and Ball

Blue: is a very calm colour that is associated with trust and loyalty. It represents both the sea and the sky and so is used to evoke feelings of serenity. The calmness that comes with the colour blue means that it is the perfect choice for living rooms and bathrooms and indeed any room in which you want to relax.

Decorating isn’t the easiest process, but it doesn’t have to be difficult; thinking of ideas and deciding how you are going to style different rooms should be fun! So whether you are deciding what colour to paint a room (if so see our fantastic range of Farrow and Ball paints) or if you are just looking to make a few changes then we hope our colour guide helps! 

Feature Wall Wallpaper: What to Choose?

In many modern homes people choose to paint most of the walls in a room but wallpaper the final one. This special wall is often referred to as the “feature wall” because it is the one that catches everybody’s attention. We have gathered together some of our favourite Farrow & Ball wallpaper and suggested what colours would match it:

Wisteria Paper

This steel blue background looks beautiful with the white and clay floral pattern. It is a feminine pattern that would work well in either a bedroom or living room. The best colours to match this would be a very pale cream on the other walls, a light brown, or any kind of off-white tones. The background of the paper is dark so will stand out from the rest of the room. However, choosing a plain blue (such as No 280 St Giles Blue) for the other walls would also match it if you prefer stronger colours in your home.

The Bamboo Papers BP2119

This black and white wallpaper from Farrow & Ball is a very unique bamboo pattern. It was initially adapted from a 19^th Century Japanese print which explains how it gives a traditional yet exotic feel. It is very original and would be a talking-point in any home. It would work well with a plain white, but actually matches brighter colours such as “Cooking Apple Green” or “Cook’s Blue”.

Rosslyn Paper (BP 1922)

This is a very pretty pattern which can be used in either a bedroom or living space. It is ideal for a shabby-chic look or if you are creating a very feminine look. It matches Almond White, Ammonite, or other light shades of cream.

Samphire Paper 

One of our newest patterns, this beautiful shade is covered with a very subtle pattern. It looks beautiful in the light. Green is traditionally put with pure white but different shades of green actually work really well together to create a more innovative design.

            "The Silvergate Papers BP803"

If you are struggling to see the pattern, don’t worry your eyes haven’t gone, it is supposed to be very subtle. This classical print has a traditional British look but without being too outrageous. If you want a feature wall but are concerned about it looking out of place in the room then this design is perfect for you. As it is neutral, it matches any colour of paint.

To discover more of our huge collection of Farrow &  Ball wallpapers, please visit http://www.kentblaxill.co.uk/farrow-ball-buy-online/farrow-ball-wallpaper. 

How to Paint like a Professional

Hiring a professional decorator is handy but expensive. Financially it makes much more sense to do the hard graft yourself. Unfortunately it is often quite apparent when a room has been painted by an amateur. However, by following a few simple tips you can paint like a professional: 

Remove the Wallpaper

If you don’t have wallpaper then skip to the next step. Replacing wallpaper with paint is slightly tricky because it can’t just be painted over. Depending on the type of wallpaper that you have, it might simply peel back to reveal the surface underneath, but if the paper is not this amicable then you might want to hire a steamer. Steamers are straightforward to use and simply soften the wallpaper so that it easily peels away. Alternatively you can buy a stripping solution that can be either be sprayed or rolled on the paper to ease its removal.

Clean the Wall

Remove any excess dust or grease from the walls with a duster or a dry cloth. This should not take very long but will prevent any dirt attaching itself to your brush or mixing in with the paint later. Water will suffice; you do not need any special solution to do this.

 

Picking a Paint

Arguably the most exciting stage is when you decide what colour the room will be. There is a whole spectrum of Little Greene paint colours for you to choose from. The company is dedicated to producing eco friendly products so you can feel good about yourself whilst improving your home. Kent Blaxill are Little Greene paint stockists so check out our range if you are looking for inspiration. If you really want to modernise your home then paint one wall a different colour to all of the others so that it becomes a feature wall.

Choosing a Brush

When painting a large room by all means use a roller, but a brush will give you a neater finish. A wall brush is large enough to make painting a big surface area take less time than expected. A trim brush has a straight-cut line so it ideal for corners. In terms of the width of the brush stick to under 2 inches for touching up tiny areas, and 2.5-3 inches for corners; your normal brush can be as much as 5 inches. The paintbrush should be completely clean (ideally brand new) before painting and a high quality brush will prevent strokes

Skirting Boards

Put tape around the door frames and around the skirting boards. The skirting boards themselves should be painted white. Some people choose to do these last but it actually makes more sense to get them done before you prime the walls so that no white ends up over the wall.

Primer Before Colour

Potentially the most boring but arguably the most important stage of painting a wall; filling in any holes before covering the wall with the primer. A tinted primer should reduce the number of coats of paint. The primer will mean that the paint goes onto the wall more easily and lasts longer.

A Stroke of Luck: Technique

Dip the tip of your paintbrush into the paint and tap it against the edge. Don’t wipe the paint against the side as this will immediately make it uneven. If the brush is being used for the first time (which it should be) move it around within the tin of paint so that the brushes loosen up. Paint the edges of the wall first because these bits are the most tiresome, delicate sections so it is a good idea to get them done early. 

Paint upwards towards the ceiling so that paint does not drip, then go over these stokes horizontally to ensure all the area is painted but brush strokes are absent. Draw large “M” shapes with your brush and then colour in the gaps using a mixture of horizontal and vertical movements to avoid streaks. The “M” technique is the approach most often endorsed by professional decorators.  

If you would like to find paint and equipment appropriate for decorating then please visit: http://www.kentblaxill.co.uk/little-greene-buy-online

Reignite your Inspiration: Design a New Office Space

Whether you work from home or if you just do extra bits and pieces outside of the office; it is important to have a space that really encourages you to work. Your study doesn’t have to be a boring area rammed with nothing but paper, instead it should be a pleasant environment that inspires you. Here, we have compiled a list of suggestions that will transform your dull, untidy study into a practical, inviting office.

Step 1: A Good Clear-Out

The first step to improving your study is to dedicate a weekend (it might well take two full days!) to going through everything that is stored there. You will find that the 20 folders you currently have on the shelf are filled with outdated invoices, ancient bank statements, and dull magazines.

Every piece of paper has a use by date:
- newspapers should be binned after 1 week
- credit card statements after 1 month
- prescriptions and bank statements 1 year
- payslips 5 years
- paperwork that has been ignored for 3 years+ can be binned.

As well as the above you will undoubtedly have a drawer dedicated to old pens, pencils, colour pencils, rubbers, sharpeners, paper clips, staples, rubber bands, etc. Most pens will not work, the pencils will not have been used since the kids were babies, and the rubbers are so black that they serve no function. Bin the majority of this and store what remains in one neat box.

Step 2: Repaint the Walls

Redecorating the office is an opportunity to reignite your passion for the job. A fresh new room represents a revived mind that is ready to find inspiration in everything. To begin with think about the colour scheme that you want for the room. A lot of people think that dark blues and grey are serious colours and therefore appropriate for a working environment. However, they can be dull and depressing; not a brilliant source of motivation.

Farrow &Ball paints come in a vast array of colours including very dark reds and purples right through to light, airy magnolias. Look at the rest of your home and think about the rooms that you really enjoy spending time in. If you generally prefer rooms with dark, warm tones such as deep reds consider these tones for your office. A modern twist is to paint one room a dark red (or whichever colour you like) and decorate the other walls in a neutral tone such as cream. Adding wallpaper to one side of an otherwise painted room is very modern. Many Farrow and Ball wallpapers have brilliant patterns that are ideal for feature walls; when one wall is covered in a beautiful pattern and the others remain a plain colour.

Step 3: Storage Space

Hopefully now that you have cleared out a lot of the unnecessary clutter you will have found that there is less stuff that needs hiding away. However storage is always vital to maintaining a pleasant, workable space. The desk is potentially the most important piece of furniture in the room. It needs to be large enough for you to spread out your work. Many desks are now designed with in-built shelving as well as drawers so if you are planning to buy a new desk look out for that.

Ten years ago the thought of binning several folders might have seemed like a distant dream but you need to get up to date. Everybody communicates via email now so you do not need to print much out. Instead ensure that the files on your laptop are as organised as possible and save documents in accessible PDFs. You no longer require shelves brimming with large, overfilled, disorganised files. Moving from paper to virtual will cut the number of files that you have by at least 60%.

Step 4: Lighting

The room needs to be lit in a way that enables you to see all of your work throughout the day. If your study contains a window that provides a lot of light then try to situate your desk as closely to it as possible because natural light is the most enjoyable to work in.

It might be impossible to obtain much natural light depending on which direction the building is facing, or if the room is in the middle of a floor. If this is the case then a couple of very large lamps will be a good idea as well as smaller lamps on your desk.

Step 5: Practical Decorations

Like any room either in a home or at work you will want to decorate it in a way that feels as welcoming as possible. Plants are a good option as they look professional and add colour. If your office is roomy enough then a standing plant is very sophisticated. At home you might want to consider a pin board where you can quickly stick any bits of paper, or a small white board to jot down ideas as they enter your head.

Hopefully you won’t be counting down the hours but everybody needs to be aware of the time when they are working to hit all those deadlines. Choose a large clock and situate it on a wall which is viewable from anywhere in the office. If you are designing a board room then it needs to be in an obvious area so that you can nod at it at the beginning of each meeting.

If you are looking for anymore ideas regarding decorating then please visit http://www.kentblaxill.co.uk/farrow-ball-buy-online to find paints and wallpaper that will inspire you.

Rejuvenate Your Home this January

When you have lived in the same house for a while the decor can become tired or outdated. Redecorating the home can often remain on the to-do list for a long time but a New Year is the ideal time to plan how you want your house to change. Particularly during the winter months when the sunshine is still in hiding, revamping your home is the perfect distraction from the drizzle.

Decorating your house doesn’t have to be stressful; imagining how your home is going to look can be really exciting. The first thing to think about is what sort of atmosphere you want your home to have: do you want a warm, minimalist look created by creams; or a bright red that gives the room atmosphere and personality?

Many homes have one room dedicated to family activities where children might play, while the living room possesses a more formal ambience. Farrow & Ball paints come in a vast array of colours ranging from light neutral tones that lighten up a room, to dark shades that work well as accent colours. If you have a preference for one colour such as cream, you can use slight variations of the shade throughout your home such as off-white and hound lemon so that each room is consistent but slightly different. Obviously wallpaper is an alternative. One wallpapered wall alongside three painted walls is a stylish compromise between the two. Farrow & Ball wallpaper can be matched perfectly with the paints to give the room a modern look. 

Once your colour scheme is decided the final step is to accessorize the room. Add some personality through small accessories such as an ornament or some framed pictures. Accessories don’t have to be expensive, even a bunch of flowers can enhance a room with their bright appearance and aroma. When the decorating is completed you will admire your home as if it is brand new all over again.

Little Greene Paints & Wallpaper

Stylish home decor is something that everyone wants; a comfortable house that looks great is what turns a house in to a home and the most important thing about any home is that everyone is happy there!

Of course everybody has different tastes and what may be the perfect decoration for one person may be another persons idea of hell, which is why having a wide choice of styles and colours is so important.

All home decor begins with the paint, without painted or even wallpapered walls a room will look bare and uninviting. The colour of the walls is what determines the mood and atmosphere of a room, for example a plain white or cream will create an open and airy feeling, whereas a deep red or orange will create a feeling of warmth.

The Little Greene range of paints has an extensive selection of colours so there is something for everyone in their collection. From apple to baked cherry, Spanish brown to deep space blue, with over 200 options to choose from every colour, mood and style is covered with this range. 

 

The paint is made using an Eco-friendly recipe which is formulated with naturally occurring vegetable oil, this ensures that the paint is as natural and environmentally friendly as possible as well as giving the paint a unique finish.

Little Greene paints have depth and character to them; this top quality paint is the perfect choice for anyone about to decorate and is sure to provide the perfect finish to any room. Whether you are looking for something simple and calming and something bold and eye-catching, the fantastic variety of colours guarantees to keep everyone happy!

Of course decorating a room involves much more than just paint, but choosing the colour (or colours) that you want is a good place to start; you are then able to choose everything else around that which will result in your perfect room that you will be overjoyed with. 

At Kent Blaxill, we also stock Little Greene wallpapers. With over 40 unique designs available, either to compliment the Little Greene paint range or on their own, you can create truly spectacular interiors.

Earthborn Paints - Environmentally Friendly Paints

Eco-Friendly Paints

Being environmentally friendly is becoming increasingly important to us in all aspects of life. From organic fruit and vegetables to, recycling and non-toxic household cleaning supplies, there seems to be a natural alternative to all our conventional products. Earthborn paint will extend environmentally friendly values to your home decor. Often referred to as ‘green’ paint, organic paint or eco paint, Earthborn Claypaint has been designed to be healthier for you and to have less of an impact on the environment.

The processes involved in manufacture, packaging and distribution of non eco friendly products, including paint, can be harmful to the environment. With Earthborn paints, the ingredients are completely natural and non toxic either to you or to the environment.  No oils or acrylics are used which means that Earthborn paint is odourless and won’t give off harmful gases. In addition, Earthborn believe that distributing their products through stockists like Kent Blaxill is the more environmentally efficient method. It’s better for us to receive a bulk order at our base and have it ready and waiting for delivery or collection, than for Earthborn to individually ship every order individually.

Earthborn Claypaint 

Earthborn Claypaint has been awarded the highly respected Ecolabel Flower Symbol for its completely green credentials.  The range of is completely organic and VOC (volatile organic compounds) free, chemical compounds which are harmful to health. The ingredients in conventional emulsion paint not only have an environmental impact because of the gases that they give off, but are potentially carcinogenic and can aggravate allergies and asthma; Claypaint is the ideal alternative.

When you compare Earthborn eco-friendly paints with traditional chemical paints, the quality is equally as high, if not better.  In addition to a quality finish, that is durable and easy to apply, 

Claypaint is competitively priced so you don’t need to pay a premium to combine high performance with being environmentally friendly.

Claypaint gives a unique ultra matt finish which covers excellently and can be used on lime plaster, lime wash or lime rendered wall, as well as newly plastered surfaces. Its special formulation is highly breathable and therefore allows air to the surface beneath. The full range of 37 standard colours all have moisture absorbing properties that will reduce the likelihood of condensation and mildew, so as well as looking stylish throughout your home, they are particularly suited to kitchens and bathrooms.

Earthborn Stockists 

For a wonderfully stylish range of wall and ceiling paints look no further than Earthborn Claypaint. You’ll see how you can combine superior quality, coverage, ease of use and durability, safe in the knowledge that won’t harm you or your family, and are kind to the environment.  Kent Blaxill are proud to be Earthborn stockists and will be happy to provide further information or advice if required.