With our energised world becoming more technology focused we all want to ensure our carbon footprint is as small as possible. Crown Paints has created their earthbalance ® range which helps reduce the effect on the environment while painting your home. The product has 22% lower embodied carbon* and is 99% solvent free!

 

If you and your family are environmentally conscious this is the perfect choice for your home. I love the colours that are available in this range, the shades vary from serene neutrals to full coppers that all sit together effortlessly. There are some beautiful combinations that are sure to give your home a new look instantly.

 

For a bedroom, look to a deep blush shade such as Rosy Cheeks on a feature wall in your room and team with Open Air for a modern romantic design. This contrast lends itself perfectly to a vintage style room with distressed furniture and reclaimed art, both of which are more eco-friendly to the environment that mass produced items.

 

Car boot sales, antique stores and auction sites are the perfect place to find pre-loved pieces, many of which require little or no work. Choosing vintage furniture will add depth to your design with little effort as well as being easy on your pocket and the environment. There are plenty of places that sell personal artwork by unknown artists for next to nothing. This is a great opportunity to support local painters, just look for your key design colours in the artwork.

 

Living rooms require a more sophisticated touch, for this look to shades such as Toasted Almond, Lilac Touch, Copper Canyon and Twiglet. Take a classic tone like Toasted Almond mentioned above and combine it with the steely Blue Gravel for a fabulous contemporary space.

 

To add a stylish touch to the room, choose an old or reclaimed armchair and cover with a bright, textured fabric. Period textiles can be sourced from your local antique store or you could use an unconventional cloth like coffee sacks to bring an air of mystery to the room. Be sure to use an intense colour to make the chair the focal point in the room.

 

The final look from this range that I would recommend is for a hallway. I am a big fan of using neutral colours to make an impact in this area of high traffic. Use a darker beige such as Rocky Road with the classic Cotton Field leading upstairs to create an airy, welcoming space in your home.

 

Flooring is an important consideration for a hallway as it has to be durable while adhering to your overall design. In many cases people hide fabulous hard wood floors under carpets, if this is the case you can hire an industrial sander and cover with a coat of Sadolin Extra Durable Floor Varnish for the perfect finish. If your house was built recently, I would recommend a wooden floor. Where possible have a chat with your local supplier to see if you can source the wood from a sustainable forest.

 

There are lots of great lighting alternatives to save electricity that can be used throughout your home to create the ideal ambiance. Candles are the obvious choice for bedrooms and bathrooms if you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere, choose cost effective thick long-burn candles. Battery powered down lighters are perfect for kitchen counters or feature bookcases.

 

While LED light bulbs are now required by law there are still plenty of dated light bulbs in people’s homes so take this chance to make the change.

 

Remember to dispose of paint correctly, consult your local Crown Paints Stockist to ensure this is done safely. There are countless schools and community projects all over Ireland who would be delighted to accept left over paint or equipment so think about them before it’s stored in your garage.

 

Crown is also working with The Carbon Neutral Company to offset the carbon emissions arising from the manufacture and distribution of each can of Earthbalance. 

 

Happy decorating,

Neville