’Tis the season to entertain, and who isn’t looking for a quick and easy way to add cheer to tired living spaces? Whether you’re having guests or just want to freshen things up, paint is a simple and economical way to inject a festive feel into your home, according to the experts at DULUX Paints.

Don’t know where to start? Martin Tustin-Fuchs, brand manager, Dulux Paints, offers this advice to get your rooms in the holiday spirit:

Front hall. First impressions are lasting, so wow guests as they arrive with a freshly-painted entranceway. To spice up your holiday decor, paint foyer walls a rich, unexpected shade such as golden yellow, army green or rust red. Applying a pop color on only one element of the hall – the inside of the front door, a unique architectural feature, or a small bench or chair, for example – will also deliver a striking look. Dulux Paints recommends Garnish (90YY 21/371) green, Warm Gold (35YY 59/533) yellow or Cranberry Zing (14YR 10/434) red as welcoming front hall choices.

Living room. Use paint to infuse a traditional feel into a room, or to create an out-of-the-box holiday theme, without changing the furniture. An accent wall or fireplace painted in a festive-yet-enduring color, such as soft red, creates a dramatic backdrop to moss green decorations and ornaments. If you prefer a more edgy look, paint a feature wall a light sea blue and complement it with vibrant red and rich turquoise decorations for a scheme with a vintage vibe. Either of these livable wall colors is not only trendy for the holidays, but will be enjoyed long after the decorations are put away.

Powder room. It may be a small space, but the powder room is big on traffic during holiday time, making it an ideal room to spruce up for the season. Dark and daring colors create a luxurious and intimate mood in a small powder room. Experiment with rich tones and add sparkling accents such as a crystal light fixture, a metallic mirror frame and glitzy accessories to complete the look. Dulux Paints top powder room colour picks are Bejewelled (50RB 14/232) deep purple and Night Tides (10BG 14/296) lush teal.

Dining room. Warm colors such as reds and oranges are good for dining rooms because they are known to encourage social interaction and stimulate appetites. Consider painting an accent wall in one of these shades or go for a dramatic effect by painting all four walls. Changing the walls isn’t the only way to give a dining room a lift with paint, though: Update worn chairs by painting them a vibrant color or a glamorous snowy white. Kitchen. Guests tend to gravitate towards the kitchen, so this room is naturally primed for a holiday paint job. With minimal wall space, kitchens are a good place to experiment with accent colours. For a unique seasonal look, try painting the ceiling with wintry silver tones such as Canadian Sky (30BG 49/047) blue-grey or Frost Grey (30GG 52/011) soft grey by Dulux Paints. You can also add color and warmth by painting a backsplash in roasted-veggie or mulled-wine shades such as Wineberry Red (30RR 12/281) red or Winter Squash (10YY 40/608) orange

“What better way is there to spread joy during the holidays than through colour?” Tustin-Fuchs said. “The best part about painting for the holidays is that not only will you create a haven for this season, but you get to enjoy the decor all year round.” Visit www.dulux.ca for more colour decorating ideas. 

Visit www.dulux.ca for more decorating ideas.