Selecting Colors
Color & Inspiration
INTRO TO COLOR
It is one of the most important decisions you can make on a project, besides picking a good contractor – so take time.
Dream. Experiment. Explore.
– 01 Find Your Vision
Do your research to find color ideas and inspiration. Look at magazines, go online, take a trip around town or a far-off land.
– 02 Create The Seating
What mood do you want to create for the space? Whether it’s energizing or restful, the color will help determine the room’s mood.
– 03 Take Stock
What are the key elements in your room? Flooring, furnishings, artwork, rugs and other design elements in the room are an important consideration if these are playing a part of the new color design.
What lighting conditions are in the room? Do you have a lot of natural light coming in or do you rely on incandescent lighting of the room? Lighting plays a key role in color selection as color will change in different lighting conditions and throughout the day.
– 04 Test, Test, Test!
Color plays an integral part of the design aesthetic so teasing the color is key. The opportunity to view various colors on the walls under the lighting conditions assists in providing a true reflection of the color in the setting.
Interior Projects
1) Light colors make a room seem larger, while dark colors are best for accenting recessed areas and highlighting details.
2) Use items in a room to provide color hints. Pick a piece of furniture, art or even a pillow for inspiration. Select your color preference and see what other collors work well with it.
2) Connecting rooms should share color elements. For example, using the same color on molding in adjoining rooms unifies an open space.
3) Use light and dark colors to create interest. Attractive architectural features, such as molding and columns, can be emphasized by painting them darker or lighter colors.
4) Consider the home’s flooring. The color of the carpet, tile or hardwood flooring plays an important role in the feel of a room and affects how a color appears.
5) Pay attention to the trim in a room. Painting the trim and walls the same color will remove attention to the trim and make it less noticeable. Using a contrasting color for the trim will give it a focal point, making the room more interesting, and add some dimension to the room.
Exterior Projects
1) For Certain styles of homes, research the appropriate traditional color schemes for time-tested ideas that work
2) Pick a color that compliments the home’s brick, siding, stone or roofing
3) Choose a color scheme that blends with the neighborhood.
If required, check with the homeowners’ association for any color restrictions
4) Because color may appear different depeding on the time of day, paint a section of the house where the body, trim and accent colors can be viewed together. Then check the colors throughout the day to see how they look
5) Pick a color that compliments the home’s brick, siding, stone or roofing
6) Choose a color scheme that blends with the neighborhood. If required, check with the homeowners’ association for any color restrictions