Coverage & Hiding Power

The combination of coverage and hiding Power is essential to a quality paint. Coverage refers to how far a paint will spread. Hiding determines it's ability to cover another colour. A good quality paint spreads easily and hides the existing paint while still wet. This ensures you use the minimum amount of paint to achieve good hide when dry. Together, coverage and hiding power mean a more efficient, less time consuming and less costly paint job.

Adhesion & Scrubbability

Adhesion and scrubbability are important features to look for when choosing paint, especially if you're painting walls that suffer more than the occasional bump or that require frequent cleaning. Proper adhesion means your paint is less likely to chip, crack or peel under these conditions. Scrubbability ensures that it doesn't lose its gloss or colour every time it's washed. Quality paints combine both these features to minimize the need for repainting too often.

Applicability & Splatter

The way a paint goes on tells a lot about its quality. A good paint applies easily, without excessive dripping, running, bubbling or splatter. Along with providing a smooth coat, a paint that applies easily makes the job less trying and probably means you'll need to repaint less often. As well, a quality paint that reduces splatter means more paint on the walls and ceiling, less on the painter, furniture, carpets and floors.

The Psychology of Colour

The power of colour is something that most people are unaware of - in fact, few are unaffected by it. It is quite important that we live with colours that best suit our personalities so that we can enjoy a more content and healthier life. Colours affect people in many ways, depending upon one's age, gender, ethnic background or local climate. Certain colours or groups of colours will tend to evoke a similar reaction from most people - the overall difference being in the shade or tone used. Warm colours include reds, oranges and yellows and create a mood of excitement and warmth, stimulating activity and creativity.

Cool colours have passive, calming qualities that aid concentration and can create a mood of peacefulness and tranquility. Cool shades include violet and blues. Green can be either warm or cool. When it's influenced by yellow, it becomes warm, and when it's influenced by blue, it becomes cool. When choosing colours, it is also important to consider the effect of the lightness and darkness, or value of colours. Lighter colours tend to be more active, and deeper colours tend to be more passive.

So by simply using colour you can enliven the mood or quiet it, add warmth or coolness in a room; brighten or dim it. To ensure colour harmony, choose your colours under the lighting conditions where they will be applied.