Testing Out Your Colours

When choosing a paint colour, the best way to decide what you like and what's suitable for the room you're going to paint is to test a number of different colours.

• Use 1-2 m/3-6 ft lengths of lining paper (plain wallpaper - ideal to be painted over) for each colour. The larger the sample, the better you will be able to judge it.
• Before you apply the paint to the lining paper, write the manufacturer and the name or code number of the colour on the back of the paper.
• Paint the lining paper, taking the colour as close to the edges as possible. Trim off unpainted margins when the paint has dried.
• Stick the samples on the walls and live with them for a while. Look at them in natural light - on both sunny and dull days - and in artificial light, in the darkest corner of the room as well as on the brightest wall. Make sure they work well with the room's carpet, curtains, and furniture.