Gaining color confidence..

When people are ready to freshen and personalize their spaces, or are moving into a new home, one of the very first things they think about is color, namely paint.  We have a few tips to give you the confidence needed to help take the guess work out of choosing the right color for your next painting adventure.

Getting started..

Before you begin choosing the colors for your space, think about the following:  What sort of mood do you want the space to create?  A serene, restful retreat or an invigorating lively space?  Is this a quiet space or a high traffic area?  What colors do you love?  Soft pastels, bold jewels tones, or earthy neutrals?  What kind of furniture, artwork or window treatments are in the room?  By answering these questions you are on your way to choosing the right colors for your home that you will be happy to live with for many years to come.

When going to the home improvement center or paint store to pick your colors, take a swatch of fabric, a favorite pillow, or a piece of carpet to help you with your color selection. It's easier to use what you have instead of picking a wall color and decorating around it.  Take home several color chips and see how they work there.  Color can look very different at home than it does in the store and you will be better able to tell if the color will work.  You can then start eliminating any chips that don't work for you.

Don't worry if you can't match your colors perfectly to the color chips.  The store can place your sample item in a machine that reads the color to create the perfect color recipe, and waalaa.. your custom color is made! 

 Remember these important principals about color:

 1.  Drying time changes color:  Paint usually dries darker than it appears when wet.  It's best to paint a sample board (poster board works great) let it dry for an accurate color sample.

 2.  Light changes color:  Move the sample board around the room and observe it in natural and artifical light, as well as in the morning and evening light.

 3.  Sheen changes color:  A flat, matte paint will dry darker than the same color in a shiny, glossy finish.  The shinier the finish the lighter it will look.

 4.  Texture affects color:  Smooth surfaces reflect light, a heavily textured surface absorbs light, so a textured wall will appear darker than a smooth wall in the same color.

 5.  Color can affect each other:  Move the sample board around the room next to the other elements in the room to see how it works with the accessories and furniture in the room.

Think about your house as a whole to bring a sense of harmony.  You can achieve this by choosing one color to appear in every room.  By repeating a color on the moldings and door frames, furniture and accessories, or by limiting the color palette to two or three colors and using them in different doses, you can add interest and visual appeal to your spaces.

Follow these tips and you will be ready to beautify your home like a pro!   Get your color confidence on, keep it fun, and remember.. It's only paint!

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