How To Successfully Paint Your Home Without Making A Mess

For a quick(ish) and (relatively) easy way of transforming your home, giving your walls a new lick of paint is unrivalled. It requires less preparation and technical knowledge than hanging wallpaper or laying tiles - and it's easier to switch things up should you change your mind.

In fact, even if you aren't remotely drawn in by the world of home improvement, painting is probably the one task that you might want to attempt yourself.

But before you grab a tin, a brush and a roller - and even before you get paint-happy with testers in every shade of beige - here's what you should know...

How do you choose a colour scheme?

'Think about the overall style of your home as certain colours will suit more of a contemporary or traditional scheme,' advises Cathryn Archer, head of design service at Laura Ashley. The size of your home is also an important factor. 'If you’re working with a smaller space, lighter colours tend to work best as they give the feeling of space,' she adds. 'You can then add complementary accessories to add pops of colour.'

Ideally, you want the colours in your home to feel seamless: go too eclectic in each room and the finished effect will be much like bingeing on a box set of Changing Rooms (if that show ever made it into the DVD era...) To create a sense of cohesion throughout the home, think about how the colours will flow into one another. 'It’s useful to envision how colours will complement the adjacent rooms: choose colours with the same undertones, such as School House White, Shadow White and Drop Cloth,' advises Farrow & Ball's head of creative, Charlotte Cosby. 'This creates a feeling of continuity throughout, and varies drama, as some rooms will be lighter than others, but still feel connected.'

Plus, before getting carried away with the most idiosyncratic of colour schemes, it's also worth bearing in mind your future plans. 'Ask yourself how long you are going to be there? If it’s short-term you want to go neutral as it will be easier to sell,' advises Georgina Burnett, interiors vlogger at The Home Genie. 'If you are there for the long-haul though and want to make it yours, think about the mood you need to evoke in that room.'

What's the best way to work with contrasting colours?

Instagram has us coveting bolder, contrasting colour schemes, but this dramatic look can prove tricky to pull off IRL. 'Contrast is always visually exciting so using bold colours to differentiate between spaces is a great way to create interior theatre,' says Charlotte. 'Dark colours are often paired with white so not to overpower the space but they actually work really well together. For a really bold statement, Preference Red and Hague Blue create a really impressive scheme when used in combination, transforming the most functional areas of the home into talking points.'

Georgina has a handy rule of thumb for contrasting colour schemes. 'Unless you really know what you’re doing, keep it simple and remember proportions,' she advises. 'If you stick to a 60% base colour (walls and floors) and a 30% complementary secondary colour (furnishings) then you can go to town with your 10% contrasting colour in selected items to give the room a zing.'

Which colours work best for small spaces?

It can be tempting to steer towards lighter, neutral colours when you are stretched for space - and that's just fine. However, don't be afraid to try out bolder or darker hues. 'It can be really effective to embrace the darkness of a small space by using a strong, darker colours such as Preference Red or Paean Black to create a dramatic, intimate feel,' suggests Charlotte. 'Strong colours soften a room and are the perfect distraction, making you focus on the style of the room rather than the size of it.'

What are classic colours - and which colours are on-trend?

Creams and magnolias are perennial classics, and, as Georgina points out, 'grey seems to still be very popular, but mixing it with a pop of colour can update it and prevent it from being too bland.'

For a more contemporary, trend-led finish, Cathryn highlights the growing popularity of deep blues. 'One of our best selling ranges at the moment, Midnight Blue, incorporates navy shades,' she says. 'I also think earthy tones - like greens and browns - will grow in popularity.'

What's the best way to use paint testers?

There’s no point committing to a colour in a rush, so spend plenty of time on testers. ‘Look at them in the space at different times of the day, so you can see how they are affected by the light,’ advises Charlotte at Farrow & Ball. For a more authentic finish, Georgina recommends getting hold of a specialist tool like Dulux’s Roller Tester, to give you a better idea of the end effect. ‘You get to see how the paint will really look when it’s rollered onto your wall with an even finish – and you don’t get splodges you have to try and cover up later,’ she explains.

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What you'll need

‘In terms of kit, plastic sheeting is key to protect carpets and flooring, light sandpapers, masking tape, a step ladder, different sized paintbrushes, a roller and roller tray and then a screwdriver if you need to take down any wall hangings,’ recommends Cathryn.

Preparing the walls for paint

Before reaching for a roller and paint tin, you'll need to ensure walls are prepped correctly. First, Cathryn advises making sure that walls are 'clean, dust and grease free.' Then, it's a case of protecting the rest of the room: 'apply masking tape where your floor meets the skirting board to help to stop drips and put down your plastic sheeting,' she adds. It's also worth channeling your primary school art lessons and wearing old clothes that you won't miss if they end up adorned with Jackson Pollock-esque splotches.

Once you are ready to paint, it's advisable to follow a 'top down' rule, painting ceilings and then walls. 'For best results apply two coats of paint - we always recommend four hours drying time between coats,' she concludes.

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