Ask the décor experts – how to decide on the right colour scheme

Sané du Toit of Buffeljagsrivier writes: We’re busy selecting paint colours for our small school in Buffeljagsrivier. Which colours are practical for the walls? Our school colours are navy and yellow. Should we paint the roof navy? 

Jenny Moolman, brand manager at Duram Smart Paint, replies: There are so many factors to consider when it comes to selecting the right type of paint, and colour is such a personal choice. For a building, the colour scheme is usually determined by the substrates being painted, complementary materials left unpainted such as wood, as well as features like window frames, eaves and gates and how they will all work together. 

I usually suggest neutral shades such as greys or browns for the exterior of a building, as the look won’t date as easily. You can choose from an array of standard colours in two different finishes – matt and textured – from our exterior paint ranges ArmaGuard, Armatex and Flexiwall.