| As an interior designer I get many calls from clients | | | | have a lighter shade of the same color. |
| asking for my professional help on choosing color for | | | | For instance, if you are using a beige/gold color for a |
| their walls. Choosing the right color for your interior | | | | large family room and the hall breaks away from the |
| can make or break the look of your home. Some | | | | family room, you can ask the paint store to decrease |
| people are so afraid of choosing the wrong color that | | | | the color by one shade and now the hall will appear |
| they live in a home with all white walls. I have always | | | | to be the same color as the den when it is painted. |
| told my clients that white walls are a color, they are | | | | Monochromatic can also be used in a bed rooms, |
| white, and you can put up beautiful draperies, | | | | painting the walls a darker color and matching the |
| fabulous furnishings and the room still will not look | | | | bedding and pillows in a lighter shade of that color. |
| great because the walls are white. | | | | Lastly it is always important to keep in mind what |
| The walls have to compliment the furnishings or the | | | | the mood of the room is supposed to be, warm, |
| room just does not work. Now that's not to say that | | | | cool or neutral feel. For instance you may want to |
| I haven't done some dazzling rooms, with white walls. | | | | have a dining room be a warm color, creating |
| The difference is, is that we can choose a white to | | | | intimacy. You could achieve this by painting the walls |
| go with the style of the room, clean crisp and white, | | | | a brick color and adding warm yellows and brown |
| with some beige and black accents, even a splash of | | | | accents. A cool color can create a feel of a larger |
| red. So now that we all can appreciate that white is a | | | | space and a more restful atmosphere. Some of |
| color, let's move on to the right way to choose a | | | | these colors could be cool blue, silvery grey, misty |
| color for your home. | | | | green, ocean hues. Then there are neutral colors |
| The starting point: | | | | which can add balance to a home, connect rooms |
| Color depends on many different factors. When | | | | together, and be more of a backdrop for dramatic |
| buying a new home, I try to tell my clients to spend | | | | draperies or a kitchen that has colorful tile or granite. |
| as much time in the home as possible before | | | | These colors can be buttery yellows, rich cream, or a |
| choosing a color for the walls. Light is very important | | | | barely beige. |
| and can change the look of the color on the walls | | | | I have been working with paint for many years and |
| dramatically. You can have the same color in two | | | | my last piece of good advice is know what kind of |
| separate rooms one that is bright and sunny and the | | | | paint you are putting on your walls. When purchasing |
| other a dark hall, the color will appear to look | | | | paint you want to get good quality paint, especially |
| different in the day light. | | | | when using darker colors. If you invest in good |
| The next step is to determine your style and what | | | | quality paint it will cost you less in time to paint the |
| you like: going through magazines is a great way to | | | | room. Most good quality paint can cover a room in |
| help you get started. If you are working with a | | | | one or two coats, less expensive paint, especially |
| designer this is also a very helpful tool in getting your | | | | darker colors, may take four coats and that is a lot |
| vision across. I keep stacks of magazines in my | | | | of wasted time you are paying someone to paint a |
| studio and find them very helpful. Sometimes it is | | | | room. The other important issue is tints or color |
| difficult to articulate what you may like and a visual | | | | bases. There are many choices, flat, mat, eggshell, |
| can really do the trick. | | | | pearl, satin, semi gloss and high gloss. |
| Gather samples of items that you may be putting in | | | | Semi gloss and high gloss are good for doors, |
| the room: Sofa, rug, flooring, and window treatments. | | | | moldings, fires places and accents like that around |
| If you are starting from scratch, try to pick out | | | | home. Many people used to use them in bathrooms |
| those items first and then match paint, it is much | | | | and kitchens because they clean easier, but in your |
| easier to match the paint to the fabrics than the | | | | better quality paint that is not necessary any more. |
| other way around. | | | | The pearl, eggshell, and satin clean just as well and |
| Now that you have those elements together it is | | | | will not have the glare to it. |
| time to get started. It is very important to have | | | | Eggshell is a nice complement for most colors and is |
| complementary colors throughout your home. They | | | | good with not showing smudges and is washable. Mat |
| can be different colors, but they must complement | | | | is good for rooms that you may want to touch up |
| each other. Many paint stores now offer lists of | | | | with paint often, like a childs room or play room. It is |
| complementary colors, for instance you can use a | | | | very difficult to touch up paint that is not a mat |
| green tone, red tone and yellow tone throughout the | | | | finish, you can almost always see where the touch |
| house, but they all have to be in the same hue. A | | | | up mark is. |
| bright yellow wall will not complement an avocado | | | | Painting can be a challenge, but it is well worth doing |
| color accent, the wall would then need to be more | | | | it in the end. A beautifully painted house is a great |
| golden beige yellow, and the red tone would need to | | | | investment. A home should be a sanctuary from the |
| be more of a tomato red, when using an avocado | | | | outside world, a place to rest, spend time with family |
| green. | | | | and friends, and enjoy. A lovely decorated room can |
| There is also monochromatic color options, using tints | | | | change your mood instantly. A well decorated room |
| and shades of the same color. This works great in | | | | can last for years. I always tell my clients to wait until |
| big rooms leading to a darker hall way. The larger | | | | they have saved their money to do their room or |
| room would have a darker shade and the hall would | | | | home right the first time. |