© Bree Fenell
You know those people who seem to have great taste without even trying? You're about to become one of them. Here, Matthew Johnson of Matthew Johnson Painting shares his best insider tips and tricks of the trade. Matt has been painting homes for over 18 years in the Bass Coast region and has seen decorating fads and trends come and go, we find out what's important to make sure you don't have a decorating disaster!
Start with your colour scheme
For a head-to-toe makeover, the first step is creating a palette. “I work with the client to understand their basic colour scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room,” The colour scheme here is really simple and neutral allowing for many different furniture choices throughout the property.
Put your favourite pieces front & centre
If you truly love something, you’ll want to put it on display. Use and enjoy your antiques and unique finds, especially in the rooms you spend the most time in. In this unique outdoor living room the client had a passion for their memorabilia. We worked out the best colour combinations that would make their collection pop, enhance the natural light and create an appealing space that can be used all year round.
Create height with strong verticals
By creating strong verticals you can create height. Large mirrors are a great addition to a room because they add scale. Choosing your furniture carefully is paramount when space is a consideration. Low-slung furniture is common in many beach homes to encourage the room to appear taller. Here the client has created a tiled feature wall that helps to divide the space, reflect light and create that perceived height.
Give windows & trims a splash of colour & contrast
Window & door trims are often an overlooked opportunity to make a statement. A recent client couldn’t stop talking about their "new" window frames and all we did was prepare them properly and paint them in contrasting gloss. They came up like new. By contrasting colours and paint finishes you can really liven up a tired room and space. This can also work for exteriors creating a completely different look and appearance.
Warm up a room with furniture
Just as important as your colour pallet is understanding the atmosphere you want to create. Many clients who give us the brief of creating warmth, don’t realise that an overly warm paint colour isn't always required, instead the right selection of furniture, flooring and stones can add warmth while keeping the paint scheme light, airy and neutral. It's also important to remember if you are planning to sell your property in the near future, bold colour choices that you may love might not always translate so well to potential buyers. Advice here would be to keep it neutral that way potential buyers can easily visualise their own furniture in the space.
Don't forget the exterior
Probably one of the most striking changes you can make to the exterior of your property can be achieved with the right paints, textures and colours. Choosing a colour scheme for the exterior of your home can be truly transformative and greatly enhance the visual appeal, not to mention the resale value! As with anything it pays to get it right first time with informed choices. We work with clients at every step, with advice on colours, the right paint for the job and climate and most importantly the correct professional application to make the property unique and stunning.
Matthew Johnson lives in Leongatha with his gorgeous family who adore living in the Bass Coast region and all that it has to offer 
It's a family run, owned and operated business, that has been painting homes in Leongatha, Inverloch & surrounding areas for over 18 years. Matthew operates with his team which consists of 10 painters, 6 who are fully qualified and 4 apprentices. Matthew and his crew have extensive experience in all aspects of painting, including domestic, commercial and industrial painting.
As a Dulux Accredited painter, Matthew Johnson Painters & Decorators are professional painters who have been accredited by Dulux as meeting criteria which are indicative of a high standard of performance. 
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Photo used under Creative Commons from jikatu
