Your house, whether a 6-bedroom penthouse or a studio apartment is your haven, a space where you spend most of your time and cherish what is important to you. It is an extension of your personality and it should reflect that the moment someone enters your house.

Here, we have gathered a collection of wall painting ideas to jazz up boring walls with a little panache and pattern play. So, if you are looking for a quick refresh or a complete room overhaul, our guide will provide you with plenty of inspiration for your home paint and improvement project.

Abstract designs

If you love bold designs, abstract prints on your home walls will inject colour and create a focal point in your room. The best abstract walls are not limited to one colour. Abstract geometric designs are a great way to tie together several colours in your decorating palette.

Stripes

Play with pattern in your house by adding classic stripes to your room. A graphic statement that is eye-catching and timeless, this look is chic and playful at the same time. Go for subtle colours for a light effect and bold colours for a more dramatic look.

Ombre colours

Ombre might look simple but has the power to make any room look bigger, brighter and trendy. You can use this effect on the ceiling moving towards the floor or focus on the floor and move up from there, any design that you choose will make your room memorable for every guest walking through the doors.

Wallpaper

From nature to geometry, fun and creative wallpapers are a great way to jazz up a room without adding any unnecessary clutter, heavy furnishings and décor.

Freehand

If you are feeling crafty and creative, you can come up with a unique design for your walls. For inspiration, you can browse through Pinterest, Instagram and décor magazines. We recommend trying freehand with a pencil first and see if you are happy with the result. Once you are sure about the design, you can paint over it to define it.

Chalk paint

To get your creative juices flowing, paint one of your walls in chalkboard paint. Perfect for grocery lists and a fun canvas for your kids to draw in.

Ceiling

The ceiling of the house is often overlooked. You can create a visually interesting contrast on your walls and make your space dynamic by adding a splash of colour to your ceiling. You can go with muted colours if you want a subtle effect or opt for bright colours if you want something dramatic. If your room is small, choosing ceiling colours in shades of blue will make it look bigger.

The products we choose to bring to our homes create a big impact on our quality of life, be it for the food we eat, the clothes we wear or even the air we breathe. Interior paints are said to be the number one cause of indoor pollution today. Most paints contain chemicals and toxic ingredients that emit harmful compounds, even years after your house has been painted, affecting us and our loved ones— including those furry and four-legged family members.

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that painting professionals are 40% more likely to contract cancer. Exposure to the harmful chemicals found in chemical paints can be mild, like minor allergies or eye irritation or burning sensations. Headaches, dizziness and nausea can also result from exposure to these chemicals. Long-term effects include liver and kidney damage, respiratory issues and cancer. Toxic paints are not just harmful to the human body, but also to the environment. The waste of synthetic chemical industry leaves an immense carbon footprint and non-recyclable waste.

The good news is that you can be proactive and make smarter choices for your home. Are you ready for a new start and a fresh coat of paint that is healthy for both you and the environment? Let’s start by understanding eco-friendly paints:

What are Eco-Friendly Paints?

Describing paint as eco-friendly or environment-friendly means that it does not contain any airborne chemical or gases that can harm humans or the environment. The toxics found in paint are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). In eco-friendly paints, the total VOC content should be less than 5 grams per litre of paint.

Eco-friendly Paints in India

Berger Paints is a leading paint company that has a broad customer base in India. Through its Green Horizon endeavour, the company aims to protect the environment with eco-friendly products. Berger Paints has completely removed lead, mercury and chromium from its formulation, which is toxic to the human body. The company has also reduced VOCs and decreased the content of aromatics so that they have zero negative health impact.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Paint:

• Reduced health risk: VOCs can be dangerous and are known to pose a serious health risk to those who are exposed to the harmful compounds. Continuous exposure to these chemicals can cause lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases. Eco-friendly paints have zero or low levels of these harmful chemicals making it safer and healthier for humans.
• Low odour: If you experience difficulty in breathing or suffocation due to the strong and unpleasant smell of fresh paint in your house, this can be due to high levels of toxic chemicals found in commercial paints. Eco-friendly paints use natural material, thus reducing unpleasant and strong smells from your home.
• Safe for the environment: Chemical paints create non-degradable and non-recyclable waste due to high levels of VOCs. Eco-friendly paints, on the other hand, have zero or very little impact on the environment due to low levels of VOCs.
• Natural materials: Eco-friendly paint is made of natural and non-toxic materials. Common eco-paint components include plant extracts, milk protein, natural dyes and clay that are safe for human exposure.

Eco-friendly paints are no longer elusive and hard-to-find. With paint manufacturers now going sustainable and green, organic and non-toxic paints are available across various brands, shades and colours and finishes. Next time you are looking for paints opt for eco-friendly paints for a sustainable, greener choice.

The conditions for interior painting can be managed in any season. However, when it comes to exterior painting for your home, you have to consider external weather and moisture levels. This means painting the exterior of your home isn’t a type of job that can be done at just any time of the year. After all, we are sure you probably have never seen an exterior paint job being carried out in heavy rains or snow.

In order for your paint to last and turn out perfect, you need good weather conditions. Too hot and it could crack and peel and too cold and it might not dry evenly and fade quickly. How your exterior paint dries is directly related to the outside temperature and conditions at the time of application, which makes it important for you to consider the weather conditions outside when painting the exteriors of your house.

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding to paint the exteriors of your house:

Avoid the rainy season

The southwest monsoon winds bring heavy rains and winds to most of India from June until September every year. The high level of moisture in this season can compromise the paints ability to dry properly and evenly. It is a good idea to avoid rainy days altogether and ensure all surfaces are completely dry before an exterior paint job.

Wait for the ideal weather conditions

Ideally, you should choose a time that gives you warm and dry days. It is also a good idea to look at the weather conditions a few days before and after the paint job. If it rains before the application, it might require a few days to dry completely to carry out a good exterior painting. If it rains right after the application, it might cause fading and discolouration. You also need to consider major temperature fluctuations from day to night. High changes in the temperature will react with the paint and cause cracking and peeling. Early summer and springtime offer the best weather conditions for exterior paint, with minimal rains and fluctuations in day and night temperatures.

Don’t compromise on the quality

An exterior paint job lasts for at least five years, but by using quality paints and ensuring right weather conditions, it can last for over 10 years without a retouch. Berger Paints has a wide variety of high-quality exterior paints and emulsions available; with innovative products and a 10-year warranty that withstands the test of time.

Most of India experiences extreme weather conditions, with the coastal region seeing heavy rains and winds from June to September, bleak winters from November to January and humid and scorching summers from April to June. This leaves a small window for ideal weather conditions for exterior house paint. Make sure you book your exterior painting appointment in advance during this full-season with the paint company.

To conclude, a day with no rain, usual temperature and low wind is your best time for exterior house painting. This ensures a hassle-free paint job and consistent finish that will last for years to come.