A father’s love often reveals itself in quiet acts: fixing what’s broken before anyone notices, repainting the walls before the stains settle in, or making sure the home, inside and out, is always in good condition. From ensuring the exterior looks presentable and polished, to choosing durable colours that weather time and storm, fathers are the unsung architects of comfort and care.
This Father’s Day, Nippon Paint celebrates the men who don’t just build houses, they build homes that endure. Let’s honour fathers not just as providers or protectors, but as artists, men who express love through space, colour, and steadfast devotion.
Meet the Fathers
- Ahmad Zabidi Ismail, 64, CEO
A father of two grown children, Zabidi finds pride in the quiet strength of his home’s exterior. For him, maintaining a well-kept and weather-ready facade is more than upkeep; it’s his way of saying, “This is your safe place.”
- Michael Moi, 76, Retiree
Michael built a quiet reading nook for his daughter Sarah decades ago, painted in the soft, calm of Forest Fog. Today, at 34, she still returns to that space to recharge. What began as a corner for bedtime stories has become a lifelong symbol of her father’s quiet love and constant reassurance.
- Prakash Jayakumar, 38, PR Consultant
Now, navigating the joyful chaos of raising a toddler, Prakash recently moved into his first landed home. Guided by Nippon Paint’s Lookbooks, he brought warmth and strength into his family’s new space with Autumn Amber and Steel Storm, a colour story that mirrors his journey from new dad to a father finding his rhythm.
The Spaces They Create
- A Home That Stands Strong
Zabidi’s home stands with quiet pride. Painted in the serene coolness of Aquamarine Mist (NP 2101) and anchored with the earthy calm of Cactus Cream (NP 1817), its exterior doesn’t shout for attention, but it holds your gaze.
“This home is more than just where we live; it’s the first thing my children see when they come back from a long day. I want it to look and feel like a place that’s safe, steady, and cared for,” he says. For Zabidi, maintaining the exterior isn’t just about keeping up appearances. It’s an act of love. “It’s like fatherhood,” he says with a small smile. “You do the work quietly. You make sure things don’t fall apart. They don’t always see it, but they feel it.”
His daughter, Qistina, remembers a night during her university years when that feeling of safety meant everything. She shared, “I was driving home late during a heavy rain. I was exhausted, a little shaken from the drive. But the moment I turned onto our street, I saw the soft glow of our porch light and the striking paint gleaming through the mist. It was like the house was waiting for me.” She pauses, her voice softening. “My dad was standing by the door, umbrella in hand. He didn’t say anything; he just opened the car door and said, ‘Let’s get you inside.’ I’ll never forget how safe I felt in that moment.”
In Zabidi’s world, love is never loud. It’s in the things that last. The walls that don’t chip. The paint that doesn’t peel. The home that always, always feels like a fortress of calm.
- A Corner of Calm, Made Just for Her
Tucked by a wide window at the back of the house is a quiet little reading nook, softly lit, comfortably worn, and painted in the gentle green stillness of Forest Fog (NP 3059). It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of space that seems to slow time down.
Michael created it for his daughter, Sarah, who always has her nose in a book. Back then, she would sit cross-legged on the couch or at the edge of the stairs, wholly immersed in fictional worlds. So, her father cleared out a corner, added some furniture, and painted the walls a soft green. “She needed a place that matched her energy,” Michael recalls. “Quiet. Thoughtful. Calm. That’s why I chose Forest Fog. It’s not loud, it holds space without taking it over.”
Now, at 34, Sarah has a calendar full of commitments and a mind that is often racing with responsibilities. But this corner, this colour, has remained untouched. “Adulthood has a way of pulling you in a hundred directions. Some days, I feel like I’m barely holding everything together,” Sarah shares. “But when I sit here, it’s like I can finally let go. The tone of the walls, that muted green, is still the safest place in the house for me.”
She pauses, eyes scanning the familiar spines on her bookshelf. “It’s not just a reading nook. It’s the quietest way my dad has ever said, ‘I see you. I’ve got you.’ Even now, even after all these years.”
- A Space to Grow Into, Together
Prakash never expected how much a child could change a house, or his heart. Three years ago, when his son was born, the entire world shifted. Suddenly, every decision was rooted in care: how to baby-proof corners, how to make room for toys and tumbling, and what colours to paint the home they were about to grow up in, together.
Recently, Prakash moved his young family into their first landed property. “Finding the right home in today’s market isn’t easy,” he shares. “You worry about location, safety, space, and then you get the keys and realise the real work is only just beginning.”
The blank walls and empty spaces were overwhelming at first. That’s when Prakash turned to the Nippon Paint Lookbooks, searching for inspiration that felt both personal and practical. He chose Autumn Amber (NP 2134) for the warmth it radiates; golden, comforting, alive with energy. Paired with Steel Storm (NP 0522), a cool, grounding grey, the space reflects the emotional spectrum of new fatherhood: from the bold, joyful highs to the quiet, steady presence required every day.
“Home is where we spend most of our time; reading books, making a mess, dancing to silly songs,” Prakash says, laughing. “When he was first born, I was terrified,” he admits. “No manual, no warning signs, just this tiny human relying on me. But now, I see how he’s grown into this joyful, expressive little person and how I’ve grown with him.”
Our home has become a canvas of connection. It’s where giggles are shared and tantrums are soothed. Where fatherhood becomes more than a title, it becomes a rhythm, a way of showing up every single day.
“Some days I feel like I’ve got it all wrong,” Prakash says, “but then he hugs me for no reason. Or laughs at something only the two of us understand. And I remember, this is what strength looks like now. Showing up, even when you’re tired. Building a space that says: ‘You are safe. You are loved.”
A Gallery of the Fathers’ Love Palette
Here are some of Nippon Paint’s other expressive shades, curated to help fathers craft spaces that reflect their strength, warmth, and unwavering love, spaces that protect, nurture, and grow with their families:
For the Bold Protectors
- Pumpkin Pop (NP 2471) & Unstoppable (NP 3072) – Vibrant and enduring, ideal for exterior walls that echo a father’s strength and pride.
For the Growth-Minded Dad
- Jungle Foliage (NP 7636) – A rich green that grounds workspaces and personal retreats for reflective, inspired dads.
For the Timeless Gentleman
- Forest Fog (NP 3059) – Clean, evergreen, and comforting, just like the quiet love that fills a father’s home.
At Nippon Paint, we believe that fathers, like their homes, are built to last. Their love is in the sturdy surfaces, the fresh facades, and the calm corners. Colour is the quiet language they use to show up again and again.
Mr. Tay Sze Tuck, General Manager of Nippon Paint Malaysia, shares: “At Nippon Paint, we’ve always believed that colour goes beyond aesthetics. For fathers, every brushstroke is a quiet promise. Whether they’re creating a safe exterior for their children to return to, or a warm, nurturing space within, we’re proud to help them build homes that speak love in every shade.”
This Father’s Day, celebrate the artist that every father is. Discover the shade that speaks his story. And colour your home with strength, heart, and legacy. Explore the Nippon Paint Colour Card Collection & Lookbooks for you to draw inspiration from for both your exterior and interior painting exploration.
Also read: The Colours of Motherhood: A Palette of Love and Strength
