Judith Sutton ABR CRS IDS PMN ASP IAHSP SRES GREEN
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How to Use Color as an Inspiration in Your Home
How To Choose Your Paint Colors
Tips & Tricks
Invited Guest Contributor: N. Gisborne
Probably one of your first thoughts when decorating a room is: The color.
Choosing paint colors for a room in your home may seem like a difficult task, but it’s really quite simple when you know where to start.
Here are a few designer tips for how to choose paint colors and help you decide on a color palette that will bring you joy……… Every time you enter the room!
Show your color confidence…
TO START, PICK YOUR COLORS LAST!
Here’s the biggest tip of all. Do not pick the color first.
When creating a scheme, the color will be one of the last elements to select. It’s far easier to select paint colors, fabric and finishes that coordinate and harmonize with the elements in the room, than it is to find a room full of harmony to match your color choices.
Leave your paint color selections until you start to develop your scheme, selecting the big-ticket items first: (like the sofa, the bed, and things that you need to work with) and then select colors.
But if you’re already at that stage and looking for some color inspiration and where to start, here are some ideas to start the creative process.
YOUR FAVORITE COLORS
One way to start is to take a look at your wardrobe. It’s very likely that your favorite clothes are in the same color family.
What colors are you drawn to? What color of home décor accessories do you find yourself buying most often…. Blue and white cushions??
Which colors do you associate with the things you love or the places you love to be? Are you drawn to green because you love nature and being outdoors? Perhaps you find aqua and sandy tones soothing because you love the beach.
Choosing colors that you are attracted to will help you to create an environment in which you feel the most comfortable.
If you are drawn to bright, vibrant colors like coral and lime, that doesn’t mean you need to paint your walls those colors. You can have a neutral wall color like grey or cream and add touches of your favorite colors as accents. The beauty of choosing a more neutral wall color is that you can change things up as often as you like with colored accessories.
BE INSPIRED BY AN ITEM THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE
This is key. Is there an item such as a throw, handmade quilt or treasured artwork that you know you will be displayed in the room? Use it as inspiration and pull a color or two from it.
I often use fabric as inspiration for entire schemes, and it’s a great little tip for you if color combining is a little tricky…. The fabric designer has already put in the legwork to create a color palette idea that works together, so use it as inspiration.
VISUALIZE THE ROOM BEFORE YOU START PAINTING
There are many paint companies that offer visualizers (such as Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams) so you can actually see paint on the walls of your room before you commit. It’s a good idea to experiment before you make a color choice. Usually, all you have to do is take a picture of your space and then try various wall colors until you get the look you love.
You could even try mixing the wall colors so you have one vibrant color on a focal wall (where a prominent feature like a fireplace might be) and another complementary color on the other walls.
While virtual is a good choice and can give you ideas, also grab some tester pots. You need to see how the light will affect the paint in your room. Don’t paint patches on the wall, get some lining paper and paint that, then you can move it round the room and observe it at different times of the day. Have fun with your new-found creative skill!
More tips & tricks to follow...stay tuned for more color advice!
And remember- how you present your most valuable asset, your home when selling, will make all the difference in the sale. New help deciding? Call me. I can help you "paint" your way to success!
Adding value for my clients and loving where we live!
Judy@JudithSutton.com
COLDWELL BANKER...GUIDING PEOPLE HOME SINCE 1906
908 803-0472
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