Let’s begin by talking about recent trends in home color. There are some very exciting things happening for home interiors… Designers are pushing the boundaries with bold colors and patterns, and their clients are letting themselves be pushed. There are two very different paths people are taking. The first path involves light to medium, cool neutrals that really seem ethereal, almost non-existent. This allows for the focal point to be elsewhere – a great fireplace, colorful artwork, or a beautiful rug.
The other path involves darker neutrals combined with pops of rich, saturated colors, either on the walls or in the furnishings.
The path you choose is really up to you, and your space.
Painting is one of the least expensive design investments you can make. However, before you get too radical and repaint the whole house, start out with an accent wall. To do so, simply pick out a wall that is a focal point in your room – this can be the fireplace wall, or the wall you see in front of you when entering the space. Then find a color you would like to experiment with – maybe it is a color from a rug or piece of artwork. I always suggest to do-it-yourself types to select the color from swatches at night, or when the room is at its darkest and you have the table lamps on. The reason for this is that color needs to reflect light for you to actually see the color. Therefore, the color will actually appear darker at night (when people are in their homes the most). That beautiful shade of marine blue may be stunning in daylight, but it reads almost black when you are sitting in your living room in the evening. That could scare you aware from color forever!
Once you have selected your color, double check it during the day to make sure that it is the right shade. You may find that you need to adjust it a bit lighter. Another point to consider is the finish of the paint. I usually prefer an eggshell finish on walls, especially where there is color (anything besides white or beige). The reason for this is simple: there is a subtle light reflective quality to an eggshell finish. A matte finish will absorb all the light that hits the wall, thus making the color appear to your eye as darker than it actually is.
Below is my “short list” of some colors that I’m a big fan of right now. I should let you know that I only use and recommend Benjamin Moore paints: I like the quality of the paint and finish, and I also find their swatches to be very true to the finished result. The colors below are taken from the Color Preview and Affinity collections. You can purchase these either online, or at your local Ben Moore supplier.
GRAYS:
Nightingale AF-670
Gull Wing Gray 2134-50
Fusion AF-675
Ozark Shadows AC-26
Granite AF-660
Galveston Gray AC-27
OTHER NEUTRALS:
Silhouette AF-655
Cotswald AF-150
Weimeraner AF-155
Glacial Till AF-390
Sparrow AF-720
Hazy Skies OC-48
Pashmina AF-100
Litchfield Gray HC-78
YELLOWS:
Soleil AF-330
Butter 2023-60
Light Yellow 2022-60
REDS / BERRIES:
Moroccan Spice AF-285
Rhubarb 2007-30
Salsa Dancing AF-280
Burnt Peanut Red 2081-10
BURGUNDY / EGGPLANT:
Caponata AF-650
Garrison Red HC-66
New London Burgundy HC-61
ORANGES:
Buttered Yam AF-230
Adobe Orange 2171-30
YELLOW GREENS:
Anjou Pear AF-655
Spring Dust 2150-40
Timothy Straw 2149-40
When looking at colors and color decks, don’t just think about using them as paint colors. Use your color decks to help you create a “color story” or color palette for your room. This includes everything from window treatments to throw pillows, from upholstery to accessories. Color decks and swatches are small enough for you to take anywhere, so when you are shopping for your home, your colors are always with you.
Finally, some people just can’t see color correctly or have trouble recognizing subtle color distinctions. To some, a red is a red is a red – there simply is not a difference. A simple color consultation from a designer can help get you on the right track. It usually takes about 1-2 hours per room, and will cost you $100-200. This is usually a sound investment. You don’t want your spruced up space looking worse than when you started!
Now go throw some color on those walls!
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