Have you ever painted a new wall color, stepped back and thought to yourself, "Oh no! That can't be the color of the paint chip!" It's too dark, too intense, too light, and/or generally not the look or feel you envisioned. Perhaps you decide to paint again. What if you select something you don't like again?
When a wall color is right it creates an instant mood and supports the design of the room. In contrast, if the color isn't a good selection it interrupts the eye, and creates visual chaos and confusion. While it's true that a coat of paint is one of the most inexpensive ways to transform a room, I find most people don't have the basic tools to make good selections.
If you have made a mistake now or in the past, don't beat yourself up. There are literally thousands of colors to choose from. Making exceptional wall color choices takes time, experience, and practice. Below are some recommendations to help you select a show -stopping wall color.
Selecting a Wall Color First
Recently, I was at a local paint store when a retail client asked me if I was a designer. Then she casually asked what color she should paint her bedroom. She was looking at Lavender, Green and Yellow swatches. I asked her about her furniture, bedspread, carpet color and room's style. She looked at me as if to say, "I just want to know the paint color you recommend. What does that have to do with it?"
Everything. There are literally over a thousand shades of lavender. Are you sure you will find furniture, a bedspread, shams and window treatments that coordinate with your lavender wall in a pattern and style you like? It is much harder to build a room around a paint color, rather than selecting a paint color that coordinates with what is already inherent in the room. This point is also true if you have a blank room or are redecorating the entire room. Flooring, carpet, rugs, upholstery and case goods should be determined before you paint the walls.
The Mood of Your Room
You know more about the psychology of color than you realize. Do you want your room relaxing, invigorating, festive, serious, or serene? Once you make your room's mood choice, remember these descriptive words when choosing colors for the room. To me, warm yellow doesn't usually go with a serene mood unless it is a very subtle yellow that feels neutral. I also wouldn't recommend soft blue for festive, high energy mood. Instead I might recommend a punchier, complex, or playful blue.
Is Your Choice Too Dark or Light?
Should you go darker or lighter on the wall? If after you paint you have to convince your friends or family that you painted, you probably have a tendency to go too light on your walls. If this seems to be your tendency and you are losing color nerve by the minute, move down the color swatch darker one to two steps. The impact of intensifying your wall color might make a color believer out of you.
On the flip side, if you frequently change your wall
color in the same room because you grow tired of it's intensity, you may be selecting too much color on the walls. The more intense a wall color, the faster your eyes will grow tired of it. If want a wall color with more staying power, pick your intense color favorite, and move up the color swatch two to three hues lighter.
Copying a Wall Color
Unless you are changing everything in your room, don't select an exact wall color you love from a magazine, friend's house or furniture showroom's accent wall. Instead, duplicate the general color palette's idea, understanding that the exact color has to coordinate well with your room's lighting, architecture, furniture and upholstery. The wall color that matches best in your room may be significantly different than the wall color that inspired you.
Selecting Harmonious Colors
If selecting or identifying a color palette for your room scares you, take ideas from your existing fabrics and artwork. Homes tend to flow well when we borrow an element or two from the adjoining rooms. Your wall colors should support one another and not clash. Last, if your room flows to another without a doorway, know that painting with a bold color generally means you need to make another bold color choice in next room.
Just Because They Make the Color on a Swatch, Doesn't Mean it Should Be on a Wall
Be particularly cautious with yellows and swatches with intense hot or cool color. Your 2"x2" swatch multiplied over 1000 times on your walls is going to be much more intense. Intense colors are best in small quantities. If you like the lime green on the swatch, purchase small accessories for your room that carry that color instead. For your wall color, consider selecting a subtle shade of your lime green for the walls instead. (A neutral would be a good choice too.)
Don't Rush Selecting a Paint Color
Making a fast, succinct color decision should only be reserved for those that work in interior color on a regular basis.
Try using an online tool that allows you to upload your own room photographs and then upload a color. Benjamin Moore has a great color tool. Buy a small quantity of the paint, coat a large poster board with the color and place it on the main wall in your room. Pay attention to the sheet at different times during the day. Once you like it in all lighting situations, move it to other walls in the room and repeat the process.
Consider a Professional
Sometimes narrowing down thousands of color choices and second-guessing yourself can be exhausting and time consuming. This is especially true if all you want to do is get the living room/kitchen/guest bedroom painted before (insert special occasion here.) Call a design professional that has the experience and color confidence to help you narrow down your options to one perfect color. In the Portland, Oregon area, Angela Todd Designs offers color consultations starting at $225.
Here are resources of local companies that sell small samples of their paint. They also offer paints with low VOC that are odorless and good for your family and the environment.
This Sunday, June 22nd I will be on air in Portland, Oregon with Brian Bushlach the host of the "Home and Wealth Show" on KXL 750Am. Brian owns Integrity Mortgage Planning and is a trusted subject matter expert in building wealth in the Portland, Oregon market. I love his informative blog too.
For most of us, our home is one of the largest investments we will make in our lifetime. Whether you are staying in your home or looking to sell in the next few months, it is a good idea choose home improvement projects that will increase and add value to your property.
What improvements and additions sell homes? Brian and I will discuss how to make your remodeling and redecorating dollars pay you back when you sell your home.
It must be my Midwest roots, but as far as I am concerned one of the simplest pleasures in life is sitting outside. My cool glass of iced tea in hand, I am transported to another time listening to the wind whistle through the trees, the songs of the birds, with my golden retriever at my feet.
Do you have an outdoor space that is comfortable, functional and calling to you to sit and relax? It doesn't take much space or time to create a great outdoor space. As a matter of fact, a small nook, porch or deck is easy to transform into a personal outdoor paradise.
Start with taking inventory of what you have inside and outside - Distressed wicker, wood and iron furniture look great outside. Do you have an old bakers rack you aren't using anymore? If the pieces you select don't have unity, consider spray painting a few of them to tie in the look. Here is a great article on reusing, repainting, and restyling furniture from home, garage sales and flea market finds.
Layout your furniture so conversation is easy when you might have a guest or two. Place tables so every seat has a place for a book or beverage. If you have a few like items and some mismatched items, separate the pairs to bring together the overall composition. Experiment with more than one layout - even design professionals don't always like their first floor plan.
Consider options for shade - If the area isn't shaded or covered, consider an umbrella and/or panels made of outdoor fabric. A shaded area can bring the hot summer temperature down as much as 15 degrees, making your outdoor space bearable when temperatures soar.
Adding life to your oasis - Potted plants are a must for an outdoor living area. To create potted creations that look like the pros, consider scale, color and texture. Potted plants that you are planning to place on the ground should be large in scale. If you do want to place them at floor level create a tiered effect with other pots. Think in odd numbers. Leave the smaller pots for your table tops. Your overall color scheme should be consistent in the plants and flowers you select, but do vary the color saturation particularly in the foilage. Also, remember to vary the leaf sizes, textures and height of the plants. If you are lacking inspiration, I love the artistry of the potted plants at Al's Garden Center. Spend an hour or so walking the potted section of the nursery and borrow some ideas from the pros. I would also recommend paying attention to perrenials versus annuals. The potted plants on my covered deck come back year after year. It is a less expensive and a greener way to grow. If you get busy like I do, consider an irrigation drip system. It is also kinder to the environment and low maintenance.
Bring in indoor design elements - Consider a sisal or bamboo area rug to ground and define the space. Is there a place to hang wall art and create a focal wall? Set up a small water fountain to add a soft sound element to the space, and consider artwork that works with the spaces style and will wear in outdoor elements. Next, look for outdoor pillows and cushions to balance the color and add comfort to the space. Outdoor fabrics are outstanding these days.
Planning for evening - To plan for evening gatherings in your space, consider (you guessed it) lighting. If you already have an overhead fixture, install a dimmer on the switch. Home Depot has dimmer switch options from Lutron starting at $20. Ceiling fans with outdoor lights are functional in the daytime and nighttime. (Lamps Plus alone has over 100 outdoor use ceiling fans with light kits.) Candle chandeliers on a pulley system make a great statement and beckon visitors too. Uplights placed strategically will shine through your potted plants or trees and dance light on a wall or structure. Bring in candle lanterns, tea lights in groups, and hurricane vases. I recommend at least three light sources, even for small spaces.
Follow these steps, and create another 'room' in your Portland home worthy of entertaining - at least two months out of the year.
Incidentally, I wrote this post on my laptop's wireless connection this morning while lounging in my little outdoor space.
I've enclosed a picture of my golden retreiver Kashmir, enjoying the weekend with me.
Do you want to know how your remodeling or construction project could be more sustainable, green or environmentally friendly?
Oregon's Metro has created a new region-wide Green Building Hotline for residential and commercial projects. The hotline answers questions to find the latest green materials, renewable energy, storm-water management as well as financial incentives offered statewide and federally.
The hotline is available to real estate agents, residents, business owners, developers, builders, contractors and designers. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm at 503-823-5431 or online at www.portlandonline.com/osd/greenbuilding
Chances are good that your home office is one of the least esthetically pleasing rooms in your home. If you are like most homeowners, you probably spent as much time decorating your home office as your utility room. As a matter of fact, most people's utility rooms and home offices have a lot in common.
They lack personality
Disorder and clutter are a constant battle
They are utilitarian in nature
The color and décor of the room (or lack thereof) doesn't support the room's use
I don't know about you, but I spend a lot more time working in my home office than I do in the laundry room. Halleluiah! Did you know your working environment has a large impact on your productivity, creativity and energy levels? For many of us it also effects our perception of our personal success and our confidence level. Clutter and an uninspiring space can wreck havoc on your business goals.
Convinced you need to do address your home office's look? I hope so! Below are some design tips to get you started.
Clean up your clutter and get organized - If you can't/won't/or don't want to/ do it yourself, stop feeling frustrated about it! Call an expert like Brandi Kajino who will customize an organizational plan that is personalized to you and your workflow. You don't have to be great at everything; you just need to know who to call.
Establish a floor plan that addresses function and flow - A home office floor plan gives you quick, easy access to items you need on a daily basis. A good floor plan is also compatible with your type of business. For example, my home studio includes a work area to layout floor plans, fabrics and surface materials. What is unique about your business and workflow? Your home office should address these needs. Here is a great, free tool for laying out your home office floor plan.
Start your home office interior design with something that inspires you - Begin with a piece of artwork, an area rug, a lamp, an accessory or an upholstered chair that speaks to you. Then build the room's style and palette based on what you love and what you already have.
Choosing wall colors for a home office -Please trust this experienced opinion: It is easier to find a wall color to match an item than find items to match a wall color. Pick your inspiration piece and general style before you paint the walls! Next, follow these tips for selecting a great wall color.
Just because they place a color on a swatch doesn't mean it should ever be on a wall.
If you want something in your office to "pop", don't match the walls to that item.
Use a tint, tone or shade of a color in your palette, instead of an exact match.
Unless you are experienced with wall colors, know that colors are more intense than they seem on a small color chip. You might want to move down the color card a shade or two lighter than your first choice.
Complex neutrals with a touch of color are very vogue these days and are here to stay for some time. A room can be interesting without the walls screaming color. It will also have longer staying power before you grow tired of it.
Although painting is inexpensive, it is time consuming and painful to re-do! If you aren't sure of your choice, hire a designer for a color consultation. I offer them starting at $125.
Establish a focal point for your home office - A focal point is the first thing you see when you enter a space. It is necessary in all design, and many home offices don't have a natural focal point like a fireplace, or a large bank of windows with a view. If your focal point is your desk (most of the time it is), give it visual impact by hanging grouped artwork, placing a bookshelf behind it, or installing a specialized wall treatment made of wallpaper, fabric or a decorative mural. You can also add an area rug or drop a chandelier to ground the space.
Include sufficient lighting in your floor plan - Lighting is the most overlooked area of designing a room and it has a large impact on the finished project. At a minimum you need at least two sources of light - most designers would argue three. In addition to your overhead light, consider a desk lamp. If you have extra seating, try a floor lamp or a table lamp next to the chair. If you have a bookshelf, installing lighting inside will give a great effect. Use an uplight for large trees and watch the leaf pattern dance on your walls and ceiling. Express your personality and style in your lighting. If a banker's desk lamp isn't your style, pick something that is you.
Encourage yourself every day - This suggestion looks different in visual form for everyone, but it is important for you to consider what inspires you. For some, a piece of artwork of an exotic place they vacation is a motivator. For others, it's a whiteboard or corkboard with goals, client thank you notes, and a mission statement. Some of us are motivated by family photos or fresh flowers each week. I have also found some like to declare their business with their logo or business name. You can also place an inspirational quote that speaks to you. Wallwords can customize a decal for you inexpensively. You can place your creation on glass, mirrors, and painted walls. Visual encouragement helps remind you of your accomplishments and goals on a daily basis.
Follow these easy tips to transform your utilitarian home office into a personalized space that inspires you every time you enter. If you need help creating an exceptional space this Portland Oregon interior designer would be delighted to help.
Cal Johnson from Burnt Lizard Media just finished a video shoot for me and compiled it with my design portfolio. You can view the design video on YouTube. The design video will also be posted on my interior design web site within the next couple of weeks. We'd love for you to post any comments you have about the video on this blog.
Portland Oregon Interior Designer, Redesign and Home Staging professional, Angela Todd, shares information about home improvement, remodeling, redecorating and preparing a home for sale.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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