The 3 Do's
Color is such an important part of making a home feels great. But it can be a bit scary to make color choices - unless you know a few simple tips. Apply this knowledge and avoid these common mistakes, and you'll feel confident about choosing color for your home.
DON'T...
…choose colors in a paint store. Colors change drastically depending on the light, so they can look very different in your own home. When deciding on colors, make sure to look at them in the space they will be used. By simply painting a large poster board in the color you’ve chosen and hanging it on different walls and living with it for a few days should really help you in feeling sure about the color choice.
...forget the ceiling, it's the fifth wall. A white ceiling may be the best choice, but don't just leave it white by default. A room looks much more finished when the ceiling is deliberately painted to coordinate and harmonize with the décor. Have the painter add a little of the wall color to the white or off white ceiling color to give it a tint of the wall color for seamless harmony.
...ignore accessories. While paint is the most common way to add color, don't forget that incorporating pillows, fabrics, area rugs, and other accessories is a great way to add splashes of color and your unique personality. Remember the “60-30-10 Rule”. 60% is the wall color, 30% is the furnishings color, and 10% is the accent color.
DO...
...understand the psychology of color. Colors evoke reactions in our bodies and affect us physically and mentally. When you understand how colors shape your feelings, you can choose ones that help you feel wonderful in your home. When we painted our master bedroom a soft blue after years of beige and green flowered wall paper, it turned into a calming retreat where we both love to go and relax.
...create flow from room to room. In most homes, you can stand in one room and see other rooms, so there needs to be a smooth continuity. Not all rooms should be painted the same color, but the colors need to work together. Carry elements of one room into another. The easiest way to do this is to paint the moldings all the same color through out the home. To achieve the same flow by painting the same ceiling color as well.
...use inspiration. If you have a large piece of furniture or a treasured accessory, let it awaken your color creativity. The background color in a piece of art can become your wall color; a favorite antique can inspire the color for pillows; a lampshade can become the molding color.
About 20 years ago I told a friend to paint a wall in her kitchen a “delft blue” that matched the blue in her china. Years latter she moved from that home and it has changed owners 2 more times. I recently went into that home and there was the beautiful ‘delft blue” wall! As I sat and had a cup of tea with this new homeowner, she said don’t you like the way this blue wall accents my china? I of course said why yes I do! Evidently each homeowner found favor with the delft blue wall and each had china to go with it! How’s that for an accent wall inspiration?
The most important thing to remember about color is that it should make you feel good!
By Toni Berry at Marie Antoinette Interiors
925-862-9064 or Toni@MarieAntoinetteInteriors.com
http://www.MarieAntoinetteInteriors.com
