How to choose the right colour for your walls

Choosing a colour, whether it's paint or wallpaper, can be baffling sometimes. Use our guide to make decision-making a breeze

Whether it's wallpaper or paint, colours look different depending on the amount you can see and the light in the room. Here's how to pick your shade

• Check colours in the room you're decorating, not in store. A colour card only shows tiny amounts so can be deceptive; if in doubt, choose a couple of shades lighter. Use a sheet of white paper to isolate your colour choice without it being affected by nearby shades.

• Buy three tester pots in related colours and paint at least 60 sq cm onto lining paper. When dry (colours often dry a little darker) tack them up, trying them on different walls to check the effect.

• Play around with colours online. Go to Dulux's website on www.dulux.co.uk to try out selections of colours that go together in a virtual room, a bit like painting by numbers.

• If you're picking wallpaper, buy a single roll, and pin or use Blu-Tack to fix lengths to the wall.

• Always buy paints and wallpapers from the same batch. It's better to overestimate, and return unused tins or rolls, than to mix different batches.

• Still not sure? 'Go for Dulux's Jasmine White from the Natural Hints range – a warm off-white that works even in north-facing rooms,' says Ideal Home's style director Sally Denning.

So, you've chosen a colour and have decided on paint – but how do you know which finish to go for?

• In general, this is a simple choice: if you want good coverage and great colour go for hard-wearing acrylic, according to the Paint Quality Institute. There are acrylics for walls and woodwork, and because they are water-based they have less of an odour than traditional gloss and are kinder to the environment.

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