paint color

Paint Chip Swatch Cards Do you have piles of paint chips or swatch cards floating around in the bottom of your purse – or lost somewhere in “that” junk drawer? Maybe you have your paint swatches organized by room in your “dream notebook”.

Anyway you look at it… we love to pick up paint chip cards from the local paint stores. We dream of making choices and choosing just the right color for our rooms.

Below… is a very helpful article that just might help you make “better” paint color choices. With so many to choose from… we can all use a little help.
photo credit: memekode

Paint Swatches – The Secret To Successful Decorating!

By Michael Holland

Paint swatches are your best friend when it comes to choosing paint colors to decorate the walls, furniture and other items within your home. A paint swatch has been designed to show you the many shade possibilities you have if your focus is on one particular color.

For instance, if you wish to paint your room blue possible shades that await you include: azure, cerulean, periwinkle, denim, navy blue, cobalt blue, sapphire, ultramarine, light blue, indigo and hundreds of other hues.

Something else you will notice when looking at blue paint swatches, for example, is that you can choose blue hues that feature tones of green, purple and gray. Therefore, you have plenty to consider when you go color hunting.

The only problem is, with so much to choose from, finding the right shade can be both a difficult and tedious task.

To help you narrow down your decision making when it comes time to stare at the wall of paint swatches at your local paint or home improvement store, the following are some helpful interior painting tips you can keep in mind:

Warm or Cool “ Think of the room you will be painting. Is it an area where you do most of your relaxing, entertaining or eating? For instance, if you are painting your bedroom i a good idea to choose a cool color such as blue or green that encourages relaxation.

On the other hand, if you are painting a kitchen or dining room you may want to use a warm red or orange to help increase appetite and conversation. Warm colored paint swatches include red, yellow and orange, while cool colors are blue, green and purple.

Light – Medium -Dark “ Once you select the main color, you need to decide if you would rather a light, medium or dark shade.

Light shades are a good choice for rooms that are small such as bathrooms, or for rooms that have few or no windows. Light colors also create a more subdued look.

Medium tones provide a more dramatic look and are a better choice for kitchens and large open spaces such as the family room.

Dark tones are not typically used for walls and are more commonly used for painting room accents such as furniture, trim or cabinets. However, dark walls may be desirable in bedrooms or to compliment a theme.

When looking at paint swatches you will notice that the colors featured on each swatch move from dark to light. Notice how different the darkest shade is to the lightest. Depending on if you use the dark or light shade will create an entirely different affect on the room you are painting.

Theme “ Do you have a theme that requires certain colors? For instance, if you are doing a country theme, light yellow and blue are ideal choices. On the other hand, a Mexican theme would require spicier colors such as cinnamon and terracotta. This is something else you need to keep in mind when looking at paint swatches.

Neutrals “ One of the biggest problems with adding color to walls is the color you choose may limit your ability to keep a space versatile. In other words, it is more likely for you to grow tired of a room that has a defined color on the walls than one with a neutral shade. There are plenty of neutral swatches you can consider.

The more specific you are with your color preference the easier time you will have selecting helpful paint swatches.

Click Here To Awaken Your Interior Designer

If you feel that you just don’t have the eye for matching colors or don’t have the time, then you may want to check out the eBook, Awaken Your Interior Designer It gives you 135 ready-to-go paint color schemes along with the paint brands/manufacturers. You also get ideas for which interior paint color combinations are most suited to your decorating style.

About the Author: Micheal is the creator of home-decorating-made-easy.com. Visit his site for more great information about interior paint colors.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=146790&ca=Home+Management

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Choosing paint color in your home can be a daunting task. Many homeowners have no idea where to start and how to tie it all together.

Don’t rely on what is fashionable at the moment. Color styles and fashions change all the time. Stick with your own taste.

You will want to choose colors that will complement and reveal you and your family’s personality. Think about the purpose of the room that you need to choose color for.

Even though a certain color may look good in someone else’s home, it does not mean that it will look good in yours. Even just the lighting alone can change colors and make them appear lighter or darker.

Here are some of the things that you will need to take into consideration when picking colors for a room:

Size of the room - Color can change the shape of a room. if you have a small room, you may want to paint it in a light color tone to make it appear larger. If you have a large room with high ceilings, you can make it more comy and cosy by painting in a darker / warmer color.

Color functions in terms of space ” some colors seem to come forward while others recede. If a room is long and narrow, paint the end walls in a darker shade to visually bring them closer together. Lighter / Cooler colors push the walls farther apart visually. A great option for a boring square room is to paint one accent wall in a darker shade. This gives the room depth and dimension.

Use of the room – For instance, if you have a den or reading room, you would not want to paint it red, because red is a stimulating color. You would want to use a more relaxed and restful color like blue or green. Red or Orange might be nice color choice for a master bedroom. These colors represent passion and excitement.

Here is a list of colors and what mood they represent:

Red – Anger or Love

Orange – Enthusiasm

Yellow – Joy and Happiness

Green – Jealousy or Good Luck

Blue – Peacefulness

Purple – Creativity and Passion

White – Cleanliness

Black – Sadness

Lighting – How many windows are in the room? How much sun do you get in the room? What type of artificial lighting is in the room? Lighting can change paint color and can make them appear lighter or darker.

Before you paint, I would suggest painting a sample board and checking the color in all different lights, during all different times of day. Make sure you like the color at night, just as much as you like it during the day. That can be the deciding factor on what color you choose.

Furniture – What color furnitire do you have? Is it large? Do you have mismatched furniture? Try to choose a wall color that will work with your furniture and not against it.

For instance if you have dark walnut furniture and red accent flowers, you may want to choose a gold for the walls to compliment the other 2 colors. If you have a red couch and red window treatments and red accessories, don’t paint your walls red. You don’t want to have one predominant color.

Accessories – The colors of your prized possessions within a room can be a great inspiration to picking colors. Pick your favorite thing and use it to provide the starting color to which the rest of a decorating scheme is keyed.

Ornaments, flowers, framed artwork – they should conform to the color scheme. If you have an assortment of mismatched objects of unrelated color the room may appear haphazard. Remember it is important to have balance.

Too many colors in a room can create confusion. Limit the use of colors to 3-4 main colors. For instance, if you have an area rug that has lots of beige, browns, and taupes, but just a hint of olive green, you may want to use a lighter shade of that green to paint your walls.

These are just a few ideas to think about when choosing the right color schemes for the rooms in your home. If you are still completely confused, you can always hire a professional decorator or color consultant. Or… get a great book like this one:

Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in Your Home