​solvent-based paints since the 1960’s. 

The reason this switch has been made is simple - the old solvent-based paints as they dried, released large quantities of the solvent into the atmosphere, contributing to pollution levels. Water-based paints on the other hand release mainly water vapour into the air, meaning they are considerably better for the environment, painters and for you! 

Matthew Johnson Painting uses environmentally responsible paints wherever possible. The Dulux range of paints that meet these needs are: Professional Enviro2, Wash & Wear 101 Advanced, and Aquanamel, and the Eco Choice range.

These paint ranges offer low VOCs. This means they are lower in Volatile Organic Compounds, which results in less emissions and less odour! 

Dulux has also been certified by the Greenhouse Friendly Program for both the Professional Enviro2 and Aquanamel ranges as carbon neutral paints! 

So when you are considering your next paint job, think about whether you would be happy to have the Dulux Low VOC paints used at your place, which will benefit not only you, with less odours, but also the environment!

If you're having doubts about your colour scheme, or just can't seem to make up your mind - Dulux have created the perfect app for you. Using state of the art Vr technology it brings the Dulux colour range directly to your own home - making selecting your colours easier than ever...!

Undertaking a decorating job personally will undoubtedly save money, but before donning your old dungarees and wielding a paintbrush, stop to consider why employing a professional can be a wise option. Although hiring a painter and decorator may cost more, it can constitute a real saving in terms of efficiency, expertise and peace of mind.

When selecting a colour, consider the mood of a room. In a bedroom do you want the feeling to be restful and soothing or dramatic and intimate? Soft, cool colours and neutrals usually create a quieter feeling while stronger colours are for drama.
Do you want a dining area to feel sociable and stimulating or appear formal and quiet? Warmer, contrasting and somewhat brighter colors add to a sociable atmosphere; deeper blue-greens and neutrals will give a more formal ambiance.
Do you want kid's rooms to create an active and exciting energy or an orderly and restful feeling? Be careful not to overstimulate your children with intensely bright hues. You may not know it, but some brighter colours can lead to unrest and irritability.

The reason why paint stores have light boxes for you to test paint chips:

• Natural daylight shows the truest colour;
• Incandescent lighting brings out warm tones and yellows;
• Fluorescent lighting casts a sharp blue tone.

So, a strong colour might be too bright and overpowering when used on all walls or next to a large window, but it might be effective when used as an accent wall with indirect light.

It helps to understand the terminology used to describe colour.

• Hue is what we call a colour. Red is the hue; blue is the hue.
• The value of the hue is how light or dark it is.
• Saturation refers to how dominant the hue is. As we go from red to pink, the red hue becomes less dominant.
• Intensity is the brilliance of the colour. The pure colors such as red are more intense than the combined colours such as yellow-green. A stronger intense color usually has a more dominant hue.

If you want a more active space, consider introducing stronger, more intense colour. Even if you want a light-coloured room, choose colours that are slightly more saturated than off-white or light pastel. Very light colour can feel bright and stark when it appears on all surfaces in a room. However, two or more medium-light, closely related pastel colours can create a luminous effect when used in the same room.

A small colour wheel is a great reference tool for modifying and intensifying two or more colours. For example, red and green, which are complementary (opposite) colours, are most intense when used together. You may be surprised at how many combinations function beautifully together, and you may even become attracted to entirely new colour palettes. The colour wheel also illustrates the visual temperature of a colour. Draw a line from the yellow-green mark on the colour wheel all the way down to the red-violet; you'll see that all the colours on the left are warm and the colours on the right are cool.