Page 8 - Tips & Advice

We all know that brush control is the best way of getting straight and clean lines but there’s no doubt that masking tape has its uses. From helping to cover hard surfaces and protect them from paint to protecting trim and other surfaces, a good masking tape is a decorating essential. But with so many tapes on the market how do you know which are the best for your needs? In this guide we’ll help you avoid a sticky situation and unmask the best tapes for the job.

General purpose masking tape

First up is your standard general purpose masking tape. This is often the cheapest tape available and can be found in all hardware and painting stores. If you’re looking to protect hard surfaces, would like to cover carpet or other items then this should do the trick. This is not the tape to choose for use on delicate surfaces such as wallpapers, freshly painted surfaces or varnished woodwork. Paint will also

It’s that time of year again, when Dulux announces its colour for the year ahead following research by the colour specialists at Dulux Global Aesthetic Centre. This year represents the 15^th year of Colour Futures which puts together a panel of experts to look at global trends and help pick a colour for the future. 2018’s colour is Heart Wood which is a warm pink and versatile colour that helps to create a range of moods.

The colour is based on the theme “A Welcome Home” which is all able creating a safe sanctuary at home where you can shut out the outside world, relax and feel welcome. Inspired by warmth of natural wood, Heart Wood is a warm and neutral colour with a heather hint. The colour sits somewhere between smoky taupe and dusky mauve and Dulux have matched three different colour palettes with it.

The Comforting Home collection is all about creating a cosy and private space that is welcoming and safe. Colours such as clay and blush

Painting your home is one of the easiest ways that you can inject your personality into your home to create a space that you’ll love. But one of the hardest parts is picking the right colours that will not only match your style but help create the right mood. From feeling warm and cosy to adding a sense of space and light, the colours that we choose can have a big impact on how we feel when we walk into a room. In this blog we’ll take a look at how to choose the right colours for your home and create a colour scheme that works.

Mood board

One of the best places to start is with a mood board which will really help you to find out what you like and get an idea of which colours, styles and interiors appeal to you. One of the best tools for this is Pinterest as there are a huge range of projects that show how other people have used colours in their rooms.

Base colours

Thinking about the colours of existing furniture, flooring and features

Every painter and decorator is different and the tools they swear by are as much about personal preference as they are about experience. From the brands of brushes they use to the type of paint they buy, every trade professional will have their own thoughts on what works best. This being said there are some common and essential painting tools that most painters and decorators couldn’t live without. In this article we’ll take a look at the essential tools and supplies that every painter and decorator should have.

Angled cutting in brush

Sash brushes or angled cutting in brushes are one of the things that help’s to separate the amateurs from the professionals. For walls and ceilings 2 and 3 inch angled brushes are the most common choices with brands like Purdy providing some of the best brushes on the market. For more intricate work and painting trip a 1 inch brush, sash or fitch brush will help make the job easier.

Paint comb

For

Whether you’re just starting out in your career as a painter and decorator or you’ve been doing it for years, good quality paint rollers are an essential tool of the trade. There’s never been as much choice available so in this article we’ll take you through the different options and show you which rollers are best suited to which applications as well as giving you a handy overview of paint roller sleeves.

Roller sizes

Rollers are available in a full range of sizes with the most common ones for wall decoration being 7 – 9 inches. Unlike DIY paint rollers all professional trade rollers use a larger 1.75” roller sleeve which allows more paint to be loaded on the roller. This greater volume helps professionals to spend more time painting and less time reloading their roller.

Below are some of the less common roller sizes and their uses:

2 – 2.5” rollers

These

Ever wondered what separates the professionals from the amateurs when it comes to decorating? Well using the right tools, choosing the right paint, having the right clothing and proper preparation are just some of the things that make a difference between amateurs and professionals.

If you’ve ever watched a professional decorator at work you’ll have noticed that they spend a lot of time on preparation, in fact the actual bulk painting only takes up a fraction of their time. This is because professionals understand the importance of preparation and that by spending the extra time needed means they’ll get a better finish and also be able to paint the room faster.

Preparation

From filling holes and preparing the surface to cutting in and masking off areas, a decorator will use a range of techniques to help get a room ready for painting. As well as this they will also use a variety of tools and supplies to properly prepare the room from

When planning a decoration or renovation project in the home one aspect that is often overlooked is how to clear a room ready for decoration. Whether decorating a single room, an entire floor or during major renovations, it is necessary to create a clear space that is free of furniture and belongings. All too often home owners are tempted to pile furniture into the middle of a room when decorating but this approach does not give the space needed to properly decorate a room.

Properly clearing a room is essential to getting the best results possible for your next decoration job. Whether you are attempting the work yourself or calling in a professional, having a room free of clutter is the first stop in helping you to achieve great results. In order to clear the space properly you’ll need to remove all items from the room that is being decorated and there are a couple of ways to do this.

Using another room in your home

If you are only decorating one room then

There are a lot of homes in the UK that suffer from having unloved and even potentially unused rooms all because they are too dark. This is often the case in inner city terraces where back bedrooms and dining rooms can feel closed in and unwelcoming. Thankfully there are a few simple things that you can do to help transform these rooms and turn them into an enjoyable place to be.

All of these ideas are simple and won’t cost the world so use the steps below to help bring the light into your dark spaces today.

Decorating

Unsurprisingly one of the first steps to help brighten up a room is to decorate the space using light and airy colours. It really is amazing the effect that a lick of paint can have on helping to brighten up a room and make it more inviting. You don’t have to stick with white, as subtle pastel colours also work well and can help transform a room and give it a new lease of life. Natural colours with a hint of colour also work well to

If you’re looking to restore woodwork and remove unwanted paint before decorating then you’ll need to know the best way to strip paint. Whether you are just refreshing your woodwork and looking to take it back to a natural finish or are wanting to tidy up exterior woodwork on the outside of your property, to achieve a professional finish you’re going to need to strip off the existing paint.

Thankfully there are many tools and chemicals available to make your job easier and in this guide we’ll run through how to get the best possible results.

Paint and varnish remover

For most interior painted woodwork the use of a paint and varnish remover will generally be sufficient to remove most of the paint or varnish. As well as chemical removers we also have a range of water based products that have the benefit of being vapour free as well as being able to be easily washed off with water. Paint and varnish removers can be used with scrapers to help

Denim Drift has become the Dulux colour of the year for 2017 with “Blue is the colour of life, of everyday life. It is familiar yet it is new.” From the deepest inky blues to the palest misty blues, this colour spans every aspect of life. Denim blue is set to dominate interior and fashion trends for the year ahead and Denim Drift reflects this simplicity.

Matching colours include five muted and atmospheric tones as well as five brighter hues that are more vibrant. There are also four sub-trends to support the new colour palette which are: New Romanticism, Shared Individualism, The Working Home and Considered Luxury. These colours all take their cues from the colour of the year.

New Romanticism

Featuring natural and lush greens, pale blues and smoky violets the theme for New Romanticism is to connect you to the planet around you. From revamping and restoring furniture to Boho and eclectic fashion, the look immerses you in the natural world and promotes