Deciding on colours in which to paint your home is not easy, regardless of whether you are or are not a designer. Colour triggers emotions which makes the selection very personal. Not only we rarely agree amongst ourselves what a particular colour actually is – blue, green or turquoise, we also experience very different reactions to that same colour. It communicates strong messages, setting the feel of space as well as becoming background to everything else. Not to mention, every day - is a new day, and many other unrelated factors impact our experience of that same room.

The solution has to be smart. Our palette has to respond to the ever-changing mood, opinion, season, lifestyle, fashion, likes & dislikes and so and so on.

To start with, WHITE WALLS are not boring, and, white walls cannot fail. There are three reasons why: light, focus and maintenance. White walls reflect the light and make the room feel bigger and lighter. Ceilings feel higher, rooms feel wider, windows feel bigger. It is beautiful when a wall captures one ray of sun and brings the whole space to life. It also highlights the inherent architectural character of the space. Being such a basic colour, white yet brings all details out. Imagine you put a white shirt on, it starts to highlight all other items you are wearing with it. Same applies to all objects in the room: plants stand out, art stands out, furniture is framed with the white background behind. But, finally, it is also very easy to maintain. Even though walls can get dirty in a more obvious way, touching up paint is stress-free.

However, white is not the only clever solution. While white walls is a safe choice, it does not necessarily fulfil the potential that each room might offer. There are many colours that are NEUTRAL enough and yet versatile to adapt well to many different interior features. Take grey for instance. It is a very elegant and sophisticated colour that has many secrets of its own. It can be modern and classy, obvious or not, feature or base. It can also work together with the majority of other colours as a calm but confident backdrop. Interestingly, this colour is amongst very few that are timeless, making it a very attractive choice.

Finally, some more out-there options can be some very natural colours of a DARKER TONE. This is dark blue, forest green, terracotta. These, being natural pigments, are very soothing as our mind subconsciously makes connections to nature which we as humans are intimately linked to. We experience a sense of piece and relaxation, which gives natural tones a lot of confidence in interiors. As far as our reaction to colour goes, studies show that some colours are more calming then others, some inspire creativity and some even make you feel hungry. So, picking the colour can either be theoretical and researched, or based on an instinct. Either way, it will not leave you indifferent.

Once you feel comfortable with colours, you can start experimenting and using more than one colour or even painting asymmetrical shapes, similar to COLOUR BLOCKING. These two later options have to work with the rest of the room more than a single colour application. However, it can bring much interest and uniqueness to the space of any size and proportions.

All in all, whether you choose one, two or three colours, paint is a fun and easy way to creatively re-fresh your home. But, most importantly, it is also an easy one to play with. If something goes wrong and the colour is not working, you can change it in a matter of a brush stroke. It is absolutely worth trying and hopefully you are now inspired to find your hues at your next renovation.

If you are asking questions like: What are the hidden qualities that with little effort will allow you to boost the value of your purchase? How to make the right choice that will keep the property in demand at all times? What are the characteristics that can improve appearance and use of the existing space without remodelling?, then below are the remaining 5 points that will complete your checklist from the last week’s issue:

6. Brick façade rather than render

Having weighted pros and cons of rendered and brick facades, and not taking personal preference into account, terraced houses with brick façades seem to embrace more value than with render. Briefly: Brick is a robust material, which when done properly is maintenance free and withstands all different weather conditions. Risk here is the cost to repair of old brickwork resulting from potentially bad workmanship in the past. With render, there are many more disadvantages. Firstly, it requires more maintenance, which is time and cost. Dirt, water marks, cracks from ground or building movement all are more apparent, and will require renovation or repair. Any defect in the rendered surface would allow moisture to get beyond the building envelope into the structure and cause serious damage.

7. Pressurised plumbing system rather than gravity fed

Typically, you will find a gravity fed system in the majority of houses, however, it might have been changed to a pressurised by previous owners. This would be an advantage in terms of a better water pressure as well as potential cost saving if you are planning internal remodelling (many new plumbing products require higher water pressure to operate). In a nut shell, installation of booster pumps or change of the system to achieve better pressure is an additional expense, whereas an advantage of the mains pressure is that hot and cold water is delivered at the same pressure. In addition, loft space gets cleared and gives an opportunity for a loft extension once the header tank/cold water cylinder (gravity fed system) is removed.

8. Bathroom has an extractor fan for ventilation

Straightforward, yet, very important: helps to avoid mould on the bathroom walls and ceiling in future.

9. See if surrounding properties have loft extensions

Loft extensions can add up to 20% to the property value. Neighbouring loft extentions indicate that there is sufficient head height in the attic of that row of terraces for a loft conversion. However, always check for yourself and keep in mind that roof and floor renovation will take up to 100-200mm of the existing head room. Also, remember to check the roof structure: attic trusses or cut roof timbers. Former might result in a more expensive conversion, so always important to consult with a professional for a more careful consideration of follow-on benefits vs delivery cost.

10. Check for trees or Japanese knotweed in close proximity to the property

Large trees that are in close proximity to the building can cause structural damage as well as block day light and sun light from coming into the rooms. There are guides that suggest minimum distances between the building and certain tree types that should be kept in order to avoid damage occurring from physical pressure of roots on the building foundations (ranges from 3.5m to 20m). Secondly, something that should be completely avoided is Japanese knotweed, which is a type of an invasive plant that grows through concrete and is very hard to remove. It can do substantial damage to your property as well as cause problems and delays in getting a mortgage.

Ultimately, there is a creative solution for every challenge. Existing features and inherent characteristics of the property are key to a worthy investment and a dream home. Always consider more than just how long ago it was redecorated and what furniture fits in the room, as physical qualities of the property can provide unforeseen freedom, flexibility and scope for enhanced value.