Move or Make Over: Make your kitchen pop with some brilliant blues

"Hi Neville, my husband and I recently built a new home and we're moving in shortly with our three kids. The downstairs is bright and airy but I'm struggling to find a colour scheme that will work. I like the idea of using blue tones in the kitchen but going for a more neutral shade in my hallway. We have a new playroom which I will be painting also and would love some colour suggestions."

Paula Dennehy, Bishopstown

Congratulations on your new home, I'm sure it's been a busy and stressful time for you and your family but the fun starts when the paint and brushes come out!

I like your idea of utilising blue shades in your kitchen, blue always adds a refreshing pop of colour to a room, which I love. Crown have a range of blue shades which you may wish to use but I suggest that you select a Kitchen and Bathroom emulsion. This range is ideal for kitchens as it is designed to resist steam and condensation, making grease marks easy to wipe away. Blue shades worth considering for use throughout your kitchen include Blue Light, Blue Mid, Palest Blue and Periwinkle. Sea Spirit is another rich, royal shade that would be perfect on a feature wall.

Whatever colour you choose in the kitchen, it’s important to get the lighting right as you will be spending quite a bit of time in here. Spot lighting and kitchen unit lighting will really set the mood. To augment these, try something creative like a contemporary pendant above your dining table.

When it comes to your hallway, I agree that a neutral shade will keep things looking fresh and airy. I recommend mid-cream shades such as White Light, Beige Light and Cream Light from Crown’s Ultimate range. For a richer beige or coffee shade I would recommend Beige Mid, Cream Mid, Taupe Dark and Cream Dark, also from the Crown Ultimate range.

You can really have fun decorating the playroom. Go for a bright, bold colour scheme! The walls in the playroom should be easy to clean and durable, so try paints from Crown’s Easyclean range, which features washable matt paint which means stains and marks can be easily wiped away, perfect for those with children who have sticky little hands! A beautiful colour to use in a playroom is Just Lemon, a warm yellow shade from the Easyclean range. Yellow is a great colour to use in a playroom as it is gender neutral. Orange Squash, Cheeky Wink and the aptly named Sticky Fingers are also gorgeous bright colours to consider.