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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Senior Home and Garden Writer

“Yellow is the best colour to lift your spirits but vibrant pink signifies an optimistic outlook on life,” said Olivia Heath of House Beautiful. Some people already know how colours can influence your mood and equally reflect our personality. But when it comes to decorating the home, it is still a daunting task for some to decide on what are the best colours to use to evoke feelings of joy and happiness.

Ever visited a home where colour is used in abundance and then think to yourself, “I want to do the same thing in my house”? You then rush to the nearby paint store or even hardware to find the paint that suits you.

One of the greatest mistakes some people make when decorating houses is cutting corners. Your builder, plumber, electrician and even landscape engineer can then be given the job to paint the house.

We know there are some skilful personalities who various jobs, but it is wise to have an expert in that field.

Again when it comes to painting houses selecting colours for your home can be daunting. Recently married couple Angela and Brian Jonisai agreed that there are simply too many questions—from what shade to choose to how to coordinate the furnishings and fabrics you already own with a new wall colour.

In an interview with The Saturday Herald Home and Garden, colour consultant Felix Mati, of Interior Colour and Design in Ashbrittle said that the colours you live with everyday need to be colours you love, not simply whatever happens to be all the rage in fashion and product design.

“Even if you absolutely love the current trend colours, they are best used in small doses, like throw pillows or fabric patterns, not for repainting your entire home,” he said.

Mati said interior design is not just about creating a home that looks new and current.

“It can also be about preserving the past and respecting the character of an older home.

“If you’re lucky enough to have a house with some time-earned character or an apartment with a certain quirky charm, consider the tips for addressing the issues that need a touch-up while bringing out the best of your home’s past, present and future. You have to paint the walls, ceiling and trim one colour to hide imperfections.

“Often some of the first features that make you fall in love with an older home are beautiful molding, trim and door details built during a different era, when finishing touches carried a certain polish and personality,” he said.  The consultant said a simple coat of paint is your first step to preserving and highlighting these details.  “I typically paint the walls, trim and ceiling one colour, but with a slightly higher gloss on the trim to subtly call attention to it. With this palette in place, a bold shade like dark grey on the doors makes them architectural standouts. Just know your colour of your house is your mood, fashion sense and sometimes we can tell how rich you are,” he explained.