November is here. The days are shorter, the chill has set in, and so has the damp, grey haze.

The experts say we are susceptible to SAD (seasonal affective disorder) because of a lack of sunshine and its vitamin D benefits, but I think it may be caused by spending too much time indoors surrounded by bland interiors and uninspiring walls.

Of all the home improvements on the list, I still think painting is the most economical and time-efficient way to create a big change in your home. Unlike a renovation, you don't need to "seek professional help," and unlike decorating, you won't be burdened with a whopping credit-card bill at the end of the month.

A couple of large cans of paint and a few hours (okay, a bunch of hours) of sweat equity and you can turn your living, dining or bedroom from drab to dynamite.

I'm among a small group of people who actually think painting is fun. But I realize that not everyone shares this passion. For years I've had clients whose eyes glaze over at the very sight of a "fan deck" with more than 2,000 possible colours to choose from — terrified that they will have to dive in and select just the right shade of vanilla, cocoa or red.

I've developed lists of my favourite colours from different companies and circulate them to friends who've just bought a new house and are experiencing paint paralysis. ("Which of the 200 beiges is right for our bedroom?") The right colour can pull a room together; the wrong colour is … just wrong. A few tips:

Flat is fabulous

I've never liked shiny walls. I prefer the chalky, matte look of flat paint. It hides the imperfections of your walls and even helps disguise a less-than-perfect paint job, plus it makes the walls look like velvet.

Until recently, flat paint was tough to maintain as it marked easily and couldn't be washed or wiped. But thanks to modern technology, a matte paint that can be cleaned is now offered by some companies. I've tested Glidden's "Diamond matt" and am pleased to say that it's tough enough to stand up to the sticky little fingers of my 1-1/2-year-old. (It's also working out well with my team of big kids at the office.)

Colour your ceilings

You invest plenty of time considering the right shade for the walls, so why not put some thought into the ceilings? Plain white ceilings are a missed opportunity in my view. Adding cream to an evening space such as the dining room or living room means that when the light from your table lamps or chandelier bounces off the ceiling, it will reflect a warm, candle-lit glow. If you're trying to evoke a fresh, spa-like feel in the bathroom or bedroom, you might want to consider something with just a hint of blue.

Make the mouldings white

There's one question I get asked on every single job: "What colour do we paint the crown moulding?" My answer is always the same, and always will be: plain flat white. You may be installing mouldings made of MDF (medium-density fibreboard), but traditionally, mouldings are made of plaster. When dry, plaster is just plain, chalky, flat, pure white, so that's what I like best. If you use anything other than pure white, you won't be able to see the contrast between your walls and your beautiful coloured ceiling.

Take time with the trim

Great advances have been made in water-based latex paints, but there's still only one way to paint your wood trim, and that's with alkyd paint. Latex may dry faster and smell less, but it tends to show brush strokes and never looks as good as the smelly stuff properly applied. I tend to like the low-sheen finish of eggshell enamel, but I'm convinced that sheen is on the rise. In the 1980s, high-gloss white was all the rage and I think we're headed back that way. If you want to be safe and choose a timeless sheen, you won't ever go wrong with semi-gloss. One benefit of the rise in shine is that higher-gloss paints are more durable than flat — especially on trim.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Disposing of household hazardous waste is a growing concern, so the clever folks at a company called Boomerang have come up with a "green" solution: recycled paint! They've created a collection of 16 interior wall colours (plus interior trim and some exterior paint and stain options). The paint is culled from discarded household paint with 1-per-cent-new tint added to even out the tone. Sold at a discounted price from regular, new paint, it's a guilt-free way to reimagine your environment.

Experiment with graffiti

If your little ones have a tendency to scribble on the walls, why not turn their room into an artist's canvas? Tilano Fresco (www.tilanofresco.com) has just introduced a collection of chalkboard paints in nine colours other than black that cost $5.99 for a jar that will cover 2.5 square feet. Roll a quick coat on any wall surface and create an instant art studio, or apply it to an existing piece of furniture for an ever-changing work of art.

Steer clear of red

Dark colours can add dramatic effect to your home, but aren't always easy to work with. If you are seeking bold, deep and moody, you need to be careful about what company you buy from. In order to achieve rich, dark colours, many companies use a clear base when tinting paint. Seems like a good way to maintain the intensity of colour, but unfortunately, what you gain in tone you lose in coverage. It can take upwards of five coats to get the full effect of your desired shade (and that's a lot of extra time and money). I always avoid clear bases in favour of dark tones in opaque bases. For best results, you might want to try Farrow & Ball's legendary British colours (www.farrow-ball.com). You may think the paint is expensive, but it covers in two coats maximum. (The smaller amount of paint — and shorter application time — needed will more than make up for the extra cost.)

Go for tried and true

If all these tips still leave you feeling flummoxed, see the primer on some of my all-time favourite shades, and where I like to use them. They aren't the most au courant, but it's my signature palette and you just can't go wrong with a sure thing.

Sarah's painting primer

All colours are Glidden or Color Your World, made by ICI Paints, www.icipaints.com

WHITES, LIGHTS AND CREAMS

White whisper — a great choice for walls, ceilings and trim. (It's similar to Cloud white from Benjamin Moore, but I prefer it.)

Natural white — my No. 1 choice for trim

French white — more like the lightest café-au-lait you can imagine, and I love it!

Meeting house — my all-time, hands-down favourite colour (in my house, my office and just about every project I've done)

Eloquent ivory — warm cream for walls and ceilings

Seed pearl — great all-purpose light cream without too much yellow

Light Navajo — the best soft yellow I've found (that doesn't look like lemon meringue pie when done)

Wood lily — pale yellow that is well-suited to bedrooms

Old Navajo — historic candle wax tone that changes in different exposures; very flexible

Oyster white — terrific multipurpose shade for a neutral interior — one shade darker than above

Parchment — a warm neutral well-suited to kitchens and living rooms

NATURALS

Canvas cloth - the best multiuse grey/beige

Basic beige — warm and cozy oatmeal shade

Designer grey — a taupey grey

Fine silver — pale silvery grey for a cool contemporary look

BLUE AND GREEN

Quiet light — subtle, soothing olive-grey

Souvenir — a historic shade of grey blue — great for country houses

Oyster bay — very changeable grey-green tone that looks different in every light — my second-favourite colour of all!

Spider's web — a hint of green ideal for bathrooms and bedrooms

Steeplechase — minty blue/green for spa-fresh rooms and cottages

Publick house — the ideal light denim blue — looks grey on the chip, but blue on the walls

Antarctic ice — pale watery green for a soothing, fresh scheme

Ionic green — one shade darker than above and a perfect complement

Cloud nine and Ethereal — good for kids' rooms, nurseries, and ceilings

Hope blue — blue with a hint of lilac, but not that terrible purple that teens seem to like

Source Sarah Richardson is host and co-producer of Design Inc. on HGTV and principal of Sarah Richardson Design.