Paint Psychology

It's just paint.  That's what I found myself telling my husband and our contractor when I told them I wanted the ceiling of our billiards room painted a deep amber.   Well, I wanted deep oranges, reds and purples in the paint scheme as well - I could understand their fear, their uncertainty, and their flabbergasted expressions when I put my foot down. 

It is just paint.   I find myself telling my clients the same.   Paint is the most inexpensive, yet the most impacting element of any room.  It brings textiles and accessories together, as if they always belonged.   It sets the mood.  It is the single most difficult decision for many people.  They're great at finding beautiful furnishings and they do quite well in selecting different colored candles and cool accents.

Why, then, are they afraid of paint?  Perhaps it's not the paint - maybe it's the prep work (which is the biggest pain in the rear).  Maybe it's the fear of failure.   Perhaps it's shock value - when a color goes on a white wall, self-doubt takes over - get over it and finish the wall, you'll be glad you did.

Whatever the case, it is just paint.  If it doesn't work, you paint over it.   If you don't like to paint, you hire someone.   If you don't have a clue which paint works best in each room, here are just a few tips:

Think of your favorite color - if it's red, starte with painting just ONE wall red, preferably the focal point wall.  Make sure you paint the adjacent walls a complimentary color, such as beiges or browns.

Think of whether you're a beach lover or a woodland lover - these indicate whether earth tones or lighter tones will work best for you.

When you're in a paint store, pick a color.  There are two rules to picking the coordinating colors: up the family or across.  Never pick colors in muted tones and expect them to work with vibrant tones. 

When I work with clients, I tell them to make sure each room "flows."  In easiest terms, that simply means that each room should have the same element of color - whether it's paint, fabric/textiles or accessories. 

Cant' visualize your room full of paint?  Go to Sherwin-Williams.com or BenjaminMoore.com - both have virtual color tools actually help you see what your room can look like in the colors you choose.  

Still can't get it? We'll help.  http://www.simplybeautifulspaces.com/ or http://www.allaboutredesign.com/    By the way, here is that orange and puple billiards room, just in case you were curious -

  Kate