Guide - add color to your indoor environment

The four basic ingredients of paint

Paint consists of a mixture of four basic ingredients – pigments, binders, solvents and additives. Pigments give the paint its colour. The binder in the paint binds the pigments together and causes the paint to solidify and adhere to the substrate.

Paint is usually named based on its binder, for example oil paint and acrylic paint. The solvent in the paint regulates its consistency. In the past, mainly organic solvents such as white spirit or turpentine were used. Today, more and more people use water-based paints instead.

From an environmental point of view, water-based paints are a better choice as they do not contain as much solvent as oil paints. The additives in the paint give the color different properties. Which additives are used depends on what color it is and where it is to be used. Examples of additives are anti-mould agents, anti-rust agents and preservatives.

Adapt the color to the environment

Different colors have different properties and are designed for different purposes. Indoor paints are, for example, more adapted to being able to be wiped off, while outdoor paints are designed to withstand, for example, low temperatures, moisture and UV radiation. You should therefore use the right color in the right environment for the result to be as good as possible.

The color of the paint

When choosing which color to use indoors, you should first of all decide what feeling you want to create in the room. Dark colors make the room feel smaller, while light colors make the room feel larger. The same applies when you choose which color to use when painting the house. Dark colors make the house feel smaller, while light colors make it feel bigger. When choosing facade or exterior paint, you should also take into account the surroundings and the style of the house. Don't forget that daylight affects the experience of color both indoors and outdoors. Therefore, it is important that you test paint with the color.

Glossy or matte colors?

When choosing a color, you must also take into account its degree of gloss. Matt colors give less reflections and hide any unevenness. Matt colors are usually used on the ceiling to reduce light reflections from windows. Brighter colors, on the other hand, are easier to wipe off. The degree of gloss is indicated on a scale from 1 to 100, where 1 is completely matte and 100 is completely glossy:

• 1–5 full mat
• 6–10 matt
• 11–30 half-matte
• 31–60 semi-gloss
• 61–90 blank
• 90–100 high gloss

Frequently asked questions about paint

Can paint get old?

The durability differs between different colors, but a rule of thumb is that the color lasts about two years. Some color types can last longer.

How much paint do you need?

Calculate the surface area and subtract the area for windows and doors. Then multiply the total area by the number of strokes needed. Done!