Home Improvement Expert Advice

In the hallway, stairs and landing, practicality and beauty have to work in perfect harmony Dulux's
Creative harmony.
Marianne Shillingford, offers her top ten tips to help you get the best of both.....

1.  Cut down on cleaning and create a real statement by painting the bannister rail, and newel post of a
     staircase in Rich Black

2.   Paint the walls in a warm off white teamed with a pate chalky blue which reminds you of a summer
      sky to create a feeling of space and tranquility in an enclosed hallway. Try Natural Taupe 3 and              Mineral Haze 1

3.  Add a bit of individuality to the stairs by painting each step riser in different graduating tones of             warm grey.

4.  Paint window surrounds in Absolute White to help reflect twice as much light as a standard
     white into the hallway.

5.  Choose a tough, easy -to-clean paint with stain-resistant technology, such as Dulux Easycare, on the       walls

6.  Use tough quick-drying paints, such as Quick Dry Satinwood and Gloss, on the woodwork rather
     than the traditional solvent- based ones so the hallway isn't out of action for too long and the house
    doesn.t become full of paint fumes.

7.  Consider using, the same shade on all the walls of the hallway, stairs and landing and just add                 pockets of colour to the places you  often overlook.  such as the end of a corridor or top of the
     stairwell.

8.  On a really busy staircase, consider painting the skirting boards black, It looks great and helps to
     hide any scuffs, and knocks.

9.  If you have them, consider sanding and varnishing existing wooden floorboards. Natural woods
     will work with all other colours you choose and be much easier to maintain and then clean carpet.
     Choose a really tough, quick drying formulation , such as Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze, that will
     stand the test of time.

10.  Avoid random collections of stuff like shoes and clothes by providing a place to put them. Paint
       up a wooden bench with a splash of colour the Red Station  3