Colour changes with natural light, artificial light, surrounding materials and the time of day. A shade that feels soft and warm in one room may appear cooler or deeper in another.

Test your shortlisted colours in the space where they will be used. Apply two coats to a large piece of card or use a painted Colour Leaf, then move it around the room. Look at it beside flooring, furniture, fabrics and fixed finishes, and check it in both daylight and evening light.

Try not to make your final decision from a phone or computer screen alone. Screens are useful for inspiration, but they cannot reproduce paint colour exactly.

The exact tools depend on your project, but a useful decorating kit includes:

• Paint in the correct colour, product and finish
• The appropriate primer or undercoat, if required
• Good-quality brushes
• A roller frame, sleeves and tray or scuttle
• An extension pole for walls and ceilings
• Dust sheets or protective floor covering
• Painter’s tape
• Filler and filling knife
• Fine abrasive paper and sanding block
• Scraper
• Sugar soap or a suitable surface cleaner
• Clean cloths or sponges
• Stirring stick
• Step ladder suitable for the task
• Protective gloves, eyewear and dust mask where appropriate

Choose the correct roller pile for the surface: a shorter pile generally suits smooth walls, while a longer pile is more suitable for textured or uneven surfaces.

Ask our team if you are unsure.