Montreal, QC, April 2023 – When spring cleaning this year, remember your walls. A fresh coat of paint is the simplest and most economical way to breathe new life into a room. And this season’s grounded, soothing colours are sure to deliver an instant boost.

That’s the message of leading Canadian home improvement retailer RONA – which carries the SICO and Valspar lines of paint, in unveiling earthy pastels as the hottest paint shades for spring and summer, designed to give rooms a lift all year long.

“This season’s colour palette moves away from cold greys towards colour-infused neutrals, such as warmer whites, greiges, beiges and taupes, all with pink undertones,” said Lydia Thammavong, Head Designer, Styles and Trends at RONA. “The new shades deliver warmth, character, and a cozy cocooning effect to a room without overpowering the space.”

“Moving forward, we’ll see people embracing colour more and more, and as a result, living spaces will be infused with a lot more personality,” Thammavong said. “Pastels and brighter shades, paired with warm neutrals and earthy tones, create an invigorating yet soothing and welcoming space.”

Uber versatile, the new pastels emit a feel of nature and are reminiscent of spring, from soft lilac and pink blossoms and sun-kissed earthen planters, to soft green buds and tranquil blue skies, she explained.

RONA’s star paint colours for spring and summer are SICO’s Soothing Violet (6038-21), Coastal Breeze (6199-31) pale sage, Light of Hope (6217-11) soft mint green, and Pilsener (6069-31) pale terracotta, and Valspar’s Gentle Violet (4002-3A), Green Trellis (5006-3C) warm sage and Rising Tide (4008-3A) muted blue-green.

“Nature is still an inspiration, and bringing the outdoors inside a recurring theme, but now we’re witnessing more self-expression and welcoming mid-tones and saturated colours on our walls, driven by nostalgia or a desire for more lively interiors,” Thammavong explained. “After a long winter amid uncertain times, people are craving the outdoors like never before and these colours go a long way in delivering an instant pick-me-up and touch of nature all year round.”

Thammavong offers these tips to infuse a touch of earthy pastels into your decor:

· If you want to add colour to a room, but feel intimidated, begin by painting an accent wall and gradually build up from there.

· You can also inject colour by painting only a section of a wall with a shape – such as a square or circle – or motif like stripes or arches.

· Start by painting a piece of furniture with one of this season’s hot colours to give your room a dynamic focal point.

· Paint only one area of a room in a more saturated colour to add personality to the space. For example, if the walls of your room are beige, consider painting the wall space peeking out from behind an open-back bookcase in a rich, complementary shade.

· Get creative and use the new pastels to add artistic flair to your walls. Instead of a traditional headboard in a bedroom, for example, create the illusion of one with paint.

“Whether you choose to paint part of a wall or your whole room with this season’s colourful tones, it’s important to use high-quality paint to ensure long-lasting results,” Thammavong emphasized.

RONA, for example, offers three breakthrough, ultra-resilient interior paint-plus-primer products by SICO, designed to maximize colour, while minimizing the effort required to apply and maintain the paint. SICO CLEAN SURFACE™ sets a new standard for repelling stains, enabling greasy hand-grime, crayon, wine, juice and coffee stains to be wiped away using standard all-purpose cleaners without the need to scrub. SICO PRESTIGE™ is a stain-blocking ultra-smooth, washable one-coat paint available in 1,000 one-coat hide colours, and SICO ENDURANCE® is specifically formulated to stand up to wear and tear caused by heavy use.

Valspar Signature® Paint and Primer available at RONA delivers ScuffShield™ Technology with remarkable coverage. The 100% acrylic formula provides a “stands up to anything™” film, resisting scuffs and stains. Designed for people who want a paint that holds up to wear and tear while displaying rich, fade-resistant colours, this product is ideal for properly prepared interior walls and ceilings, previously painted or bare drywall, plaster, masonry and primed metal.

Both SICO and Valspar paints are sold in sample sizes at RONA, so you can try them out on your walls before investing in a can of paint, Thammavong said, adding that RONA has paint products for every need.

For more information about RONA’s spring-summer 2023 paint picks, to locate a RONA store near you, or to purchase paint online, visit rona.ca.