Category: Color

Choosing paint colors can be a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be.

Exterior or interior painting is by far one of the most inexpensive, impressive, and immediate options for changing and refreshing home décor.

Think of color as personality plus in a gallon, quart, or sample size container.  It holds the power to calm, excite, bore and entice- a fascinating concept that reflects our personality and taste.

Color has the ability to infuse a space with decorative drama, calming appeal, or high octane energy.

Several years back before one of our trips out to America’s playground I watched what proved to be a color your world show during Vegas Week on the Travel Channel focused on how environment and interior design affects gamblers.

Color plays a significant role in casino and gaming floor interior design, especially pertaining to the mood and behaviors of gambling guests.

Blue is typically avoided due to the perceived calming effect as red remains a popular color choice for the excitement factor, and purple evokes an intimate, warm, and inviting feeling.

Inspiration is everywhere, and color choices can come from a favorite article of clothing, piece of jewelry, home décor accessory or fabric, or a treasured collectible.

When deciding what color to paint a space, these are a few of the factors I take into consideration:

What is the overall feeling this space needs to convey?

Formal or casual?

Relaxing bedroom or high energy kitchen?

Visual flow and compatibility with the overall color palette.

Texture and sheen, or lack thereof.

Flat matte or soft sheen satin eggshell?

Glosses shine in the vein of durability- the choice range being the easy to clean sheen semi-gloss to the  woodwork, furniture, and high sheen-high traffic friendly high gloss.

Sure, there is both implied and true rules for color selection in interior design and decorating. Smaller spaces appear larger when a lighter color is used.

Lighting

A space blessed with plenty of natural light can support darker color choices.

House & Garden – Photography by Owen Gale

Natural light will accent the prominent tone of the color.

Remember this; the color of the paint you see in the store will not be the color of the paint you see on the walls in your home.

Paint colors will cast different colors at different times of the day based on natural and artificial lighting (basically the same principal as photographing with natural light vs. night shots).

Small space + light colors = open up and say size

Small space + the b&b principal (balanced & bold) = hello, gorgeous!

House Beautiful – Photography by Laure Joilet

Color is not just for walls.

Painting a ceiling with a contrasting color or sheen creates a dramatic focal point that will spread the color love by guiding the eye to the wall color.

W Design Collective

White, beige, black, and brown no longer qualify as the only kids on the neutral block.

Photo by Sandie Clarke on Unsplash

Flawless gray areas have now moved into the classic neutral category.

Bold colors can be the Switzerland of the space, as long as warm and cool shades exist in colorful harmony while balancing the hue.

All things do come together in a space to influence the whole of the look, and when the correct balance is achieved, look out!

Architectural Digest

Small spaces tend to appear larger if lighter colors are used, but large patterns or bold colors balanced with the proper lighting can make a dramatic statement.

Painting is a great way to test the waters and step out of the decorative comfort zone.

Most paint brands have paint samples for purchase.

Behr Etched Glass One-Coat Satin Enamel Paint & Primer Sample

Take the time to purchase paint samples of the color or colors you have narrowed your choice down to.

Apply a couple of coats of the paint to an area on the wall you will be painting, allowing to completely dry.

Turn on the lights, pull back the curtains or open the blinds, shutters etc… and let the light in.

Hold that thought until later in the day when the light will be different.

Now, hold that thought until evening when the light has once again changed.

Tones will come to call at different times of day.

Color shows you how beautiful and right it is for you to live with at any time.