Photo courtesy of Home Depot.
By L. Bryan Koerber
The use of rich paint colors enhances the beauty of any home by creating a more pleasant, energetic, or restful environment. Color and its strategic use in living spaces evokes a myriad of emotions and can present styles ranging from from subtly sophisticated to boldly dramatic. Painting is one of the most affordable and easiest ways to change a décor, yet many are afraid of considering the full range of hues, shades, and values available.
Many homeowners initially shy away from the use of deeper colors because they are deemed not “safe.” Risk-averse redecorators who are afraid of making a mistake think that off-whites will work with everything. This is understandable, because no one likes to spend a lot of time and money on a project only to have it turn out poorly. To complicate matters, there are literally thousands of color choices and many misunderstood decorating rules. A litany of opinions, ranging from your neighbor’s to the latest color forecast, can make the process confusing, but the “off-white” choice, while being safe, could yield a bland outcome. With a little planning and forethought and the willingness to try color, your next project will yield great results.
Photo courtesy of The Sherwin-Williams Co.
How can deeper, richer colors be used with more confidence? The marketplace has exploded with home decorating ideas, as evidenced by the numerous new television programs, shelter magazines, and Internet sites on the topic. To sort out the confusion, we have found a few steps that will take the guesswork out of the process and calm decorating nerves. Many of the following concepts are detailed in Color Inspiration–A Color Guide for Home Decorating by the color experts at Benjamin Moore & Co. and are shared everyday in retail stores by paint professionals.
What Stays and What Goes?
Start with the basics. Consider the space, and draw up a list of the things that will not change, like the rug, the tile, or the sofa. Next, consider what you would like to change, get rid of, or move within the space. What feeling are you are trying to create? You may, for example, want to make a casual dining room more elegant, or make a den feel cozier. The size and the function of the room will help guide you.
How much is your budget?
Determine how much you want to spend. The budget will affect how many rooms are included in the project, who will do the work, and the deadlines. Line items on the list should include materials and labor as well as new elements like furniture, fabrics, and accessories. The quality of the paint also has a bearing on the cost of a project, because not all paints are created equal. The best quality paints allow for ease of application, true color matches, and years of service. Despite a slightly higher initial expense, they tend to cost less in the long run, so buy the best paint for the project.
Where’s Your Inspiration?
Collect items and ideas that are appealing to you. Magazine articles, for example, provide good ideas. Tear out pages of inspirational rooms from your favorite periodicals and save them. Personal artifacts and keepsakes that will be in the space can also provide ideas. Consider the size, shape, and color of these items to gain direction. Next, determine the colors to which you are drawn. Do you favor warm colors, like reds and yellows, or cool ones, like blues and greens? Do you like a lot of colors, or do you like various shades of the same color? What kind of mood are you going for—energetic or restful, bold or subtle? Keep in mind that a “saturated” color needn’t be bold or bright.
What’s Next?
Think about the harmony and balance in the space. The room’s layout and fixed elements like the placement of doors and windows will play a role in the final product, so consider whether you want to accentuate or deemphasize these elements. With many of today’s open floor plans, another room’s décor may influence what happens in the target space, so consider the flow of color and whether two spaces need to be unified or can stand on their own.
Photo courtesy of The Sherwin-Williams Co.
There are many color tools that help professionals and amateurs alike in the selection process. Chip racks, fan decks, brochures, and large architectural samples can all be used to zero in on a final choice. Additionally, the use of online and CD-based programs that show how colors look together in a “virtual space” have gained popularity. These tools can be relied upon to a point, but they do not take into consideration the type and amount of light in your space and how you perceive it during the day and at night.
Once you have put your color choices together, the best way to see the actual colors in your space is to apply samples to the wall or to a piece of posterboard.
Try painting an entire 2’ x 3’ posterboard with a potential color, so it can be moved and tacked up around the room. Many paint manufacturers market liquid samples that make this step easy. Afraid of the waste? Don’t be. This small step can save a lot of time and money in the long run, and leftover samples can be used in the first coats of a job.
Still need help? If you need further guidance, try visiting a local independent paint retailer that employs career-minded associates, or engage a trusted decorating professional. Your legwork will pay off, because most of the big questions will be addressed.
Color accentuates the beauty of your home’s features and can dramatically improve how you perceive your surroundings. Don’t be afraid to wander away from the “off-whites” in favor of mid-tones or accents on your next project. With a little planning and a little color strategy, your results will be beautiful!
L. Bryan Koerber is the President of Budeke’s Paints & Decorating. Budeke’s Paints & Decorating has four Baltimore-area locations and caters to painting contractors, homeowners, and more. Their products range from protective and decorative paints to faux finishing supplies to industrial coatings. To learn more about the company, visit budekes.com or call 800-338-1868.
*For a free copy of Benjamin Moores’ Color Inspiration—A Color Guide for Home Decorating, email contact@ budekes.com
Contacts:
Benjamin Moore & Co.: benjaminmoore.com
C2: c2color.com
Devine Color: devinecolor.com or 866-926-5677
Glidden: glidden.com or 800-GLIDDEN
Home Depot: homedepot.com or 800-553-3199
The Sherwin-Williams Co.: sherwin-williams.com
