Pick you Winning Color Palette

Pick Winning Color Palettes

You Can Confidently Choose Your Color Scheme

A freshly painted home adds to its value as well as its appeal. Many people find it very difficult to decide what color scheme will be the best to use to paint the inside of their homes. Some people do not trust their ability to match complementary shades. Still others are afraid they may not still like the color palette they chose in several months' time. Others just do not know where to start.

But you can pick a winning color palette for your home by considering a few simple guidelines. What colors do you know you like and usually choose to wear? What color scheme are you usually drawn to? What colors have you already painted in your home?

KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE

Before you head to your local hardware or home improvement store, take some time to think about what colors you like. You can start by investigating your closet. Is there a color that you see repeatedly in your clothes? What shade is your favorite sweater or shirt?

After you have discovered what colors dominate your wardrobe, flip through some magazines you have. What colors catch your eye? Don't analyze the why for the moment; just rip out the pages that appeal to you. If you are trying to pick a color scheme with your spouse, give him or her the opportunity to create a personal color file as well.

Once you have gathered a decent stack of images, go through and try to group them. Maybe you have a lot of warm colors, such as reds and yellows. Perhaps you have picked a more neutral palette. You should start to see some patterns as to what colors appeal to you the most. This is a good place to start when considering a winning color palette for your home. Most decorators recommend using three values of one shade of color in a room: light, medium and dark.

Now, think about the room you want to paint. What color is the floor and ceiling currently? If you don't plan on changing the rug or carpeting, you will want your new color palette to work with what you already have. This also holds true for your furniture.

Another aspect of your room to consider is the rooms that adjoin it. If you aren't planning on repainting those rooms, you will want to select a color scheme that coordinates with their wall colors. Go back to your color file, pick one or two color schemes from it that will work with your room. These do not have to exactly match any existing colors in the room. Your wall color will be a more interesting backdrop for your room if it coordinates instead.

Take Your Time
When you think you have a color palette, make a visit to the paint counter. Find the color palette you were interested in and grab some swatches in shades that are darker or lighter than you think you want. Even pick some that have slightly different tints to them. For instance, if you were thinking of painting your kitchen green, try some swatches that are a bit more blue or a bit more yellow.

Once you are home, look at the swatches in the room you are planning on painting. Try to look at them at different times of day. You may be surprised to see how different the color looks from how it did in the store. The changes in the light of a room throughout the day may also alter how the color looks.

After you have selected a color swatch that works, head back to the paint counter. Now it is time to buy enough paint for a sample. Paint a section that is at least two feet by two feet and wait for it to dry. Not only can paint dry darker than it is depicted on a sample card, but the tint may be slightly different as well. Once you are certain you are happy with your chosen palette—time to paint!

Mood and Atmosphere
Paint can be very helpful in creating a visual illusion in a room. If you have a low ceiling and you want it to seem higher, paint it in a lighter color. Or if you have the opposite concern, you can make a ceiling appear lower by painting it a darker color than the walls. Any of these useful tips can boost the perception of your home's value. Here are some other painting tricks to consider:

• Make a large room appear smaller by painting the walls with warmer or darker hues.
• Give a small room a spacious, airy feeling with the use of light colors on the walls, floors and ceiling.
• Create a focal point in a room by painting one wall a darker shade than the rest of the room, or even a complementary hue.
• If you want a more lively color palette, pair several tones together.
• Use an upholstery pattern you like to select your paint scheme and match your shades(s) to it.

Well, that was fun.  This process can become addictive. Once you do one room and it looks better that you thought. LOOK OUT!! You will want to do more.

As Always “Happy Painting”   

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.      www.kenraderinteriors.com

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