Choose a Color Scheme For Your Home

When it comes to decorating, choosing paint colors and a color scheme can really be a challenge. Painting Pros, a Chicago residential painting contractor, "there are so many choices you're bound to find the right one, you may end up feeling that there are so many choices you don't know where to start." Many times people choose a unattractive color or too dark trying to be trendy and bold!

The tips here will really help you if you feel stumped by this important choice.

Be Patient

It's great to collect paint chips when planning a room, but hold off making final choices until you've developed an overall room color scheme. Paint is available in literally an infinite array of colors and is the most versatile element of your room decor, the easiest to change, and the least expensive. Get ideas but make the final decision after rugs, wallpaper, and fabrics are finalized.

Coordinate Decorating Samples

When you go shopping, you'll need to refer to your fabric, carpet, tile, wallpaper, and trim samples constantly. Be sure to take everything with you wherever you go. No telling where you might see something wonderful.

Really Study the Colors

You'll find clues about the underlying tones of different shades of a color on a full sample strip of coordinated colors. Even if you're not even considering using a darker tone, look at all the colors carefully. Decide if the family of colors is the direction you're headed with your color selection.

Tried and True Formula for Colors

If you're working with a print fabric, you'll probably be happier if you select the coordinating wall paint color from the background of the print. Use the deeper or brighter tones for accents throughout the room or adjacent spaces.

Trim it Out

More often than not, you'll select a shade of white or off-white for the moldings, doors, and windows. If you're feeling brave, consider the palest shade of color to coordinate with the walls. For a really striking look, try lighter walls and dark tones or bright color for trim.

Choose the Paint Finish for the Job

Consider which paint finish might be best for your project. Matte or flat finishes hide wall imperfections, but glossier finishes will reflect more light.

Here we will learn how to choose a color scheme.

Follow this simple how-to to help you choose a color scheme for your home. Learn to mix colors and fabrics and how to repeat color throughout the room. Read some of the principles of decorating and learn how to use coordinating fabrics and dressmaker details.

1. First, choose a style (formal or casual) and a theme for your room (such as American country, English garden, techno modern).
2. With the style and theme in mind, decide on an 'anchor' fabric that has 3 or more colors.
3. Use the background color from the fabric as a wall color.
4. Pick a mid-toned color from the fabric for flooring and large furniture pieces, which could be a solid or patterned design. Upholstery can also be done in your anchor fabric or coordinating fabric.
5. Use the brightest colors from the fabric for accessories and accents like welting, picture mats, and decorative pillows.
6. Place your anchor fabric in at least three places in the room (upholstery, pillows, curtains, etc).
7. Use coordinating fabrics in other scales (larger or smaller) as accent fabrics on chairs, pillows, cording, and tablecloths.
8. For example, to use an 'anchor' fabric with an American flag design: use white (the background color) for walls, navy (a mid-toned color) on floor, blue and white ticking on the sofa, and red (the brightest color) for accessories and accents.
9. To continue this example, the coordinated prints could be the blue and white ticking stripe, a navy star print fabric, and a red and white mini-check used on chairs, curtains, and pillows.

Tips:

1. Repeat colors evenly throughout the room, and in at least 3 places.
2. Adding dressmaker details in cording and trims is one way to disperse color and add interest.
3. Divide color use to approximately 60% of the room in the background (lightest) color, 30% in the mid-tone color, and 10% in the brightest, accent colors.

Article written by George G.

I hope you found this article useful. Painting Pros is a Chicago residential painting contractor specializing in painting in both the interior and exterior of your home. For more information or request a free price quote visit www.yournewpaint.com