| Paint is one of the most affordable and easiest | | | | of pickin your colors. 3. When decorating with |
| ways to change a room. But choosing the right | | | | paint you should know that some paints look |
| paint colors for your home can seem like an | | | | differently in different lights; then look closely at |
| overwhelming task. Paint, accessories, fabric, | | | | the natural light exposure the room has. The |
| furniture, and flooring should all blend, so take a | | | | amount of natural light and exposure to bright |
| good look at the room you will be working on, | | | | sunlight may influence you towards a choice of |
| preferably before you choose a paint color, and | | | | cooler shades like blues and greens. Less natural |
| decide what will stay in the room, and what you | | | | light may lend itself to warmer shades. So, when |
| may want to move out of the room. The first | | | | selecting your choice of colors make sure you |
| thing you should do when choosing interior colors | | | | check how it looks in daylight and artificial light. 4. |
| for your home, is look around at colors that | | | | Decorate with paint colors that compliment the |
| make you feel good, happy, and relaxed. These | | | | rest of your home, and your things. The color |
| colors are probably already in your home. A few | | | | chosen should especially be compatible with the |
| examples are the colors you love to look at in | | | | fixtures which are difficult to replace easily, for |
| your flower garden, the colors in your jewelry, or | | | | example the fire surrounds, furniture, or carpets |
| pottery, or they can be found in the colors of the | | | | and curtains inside the home. Paint is a lot cheaper |
| clothes in your closet. The second thing you | | | | to change then furniture is, so choose colors that |
| should do is go to your local paint store and pick | | | | compliment what you have, or your money |
| up a color wheel, and or sample cards, pick the | | | | savings in using paint to decorate will go down the |
| sample cards that really catch your eye, and don't | | | | drain. 5. When decorating with paint, get sample |
| be afraid to get as many as you want. Take | | | | cards and hold them up to your walls in all |
| these cards home and look at them at different | | | | different lights, also compare them with swatches |
| times of the day and night, to see how the color | | | | of fabrics for furniture, window treatments etc. If |
| will look when the sun shines in on them, or at | | | | you collect samples of everything from carpet to |
| night when you have lamps turned on, or candles | | | | curtains, and put together a storyboard, this will |
| burning. Study this for several days. Be patient | | | | help inspire your creativity and make sure you |
| when deciding which color feels best to you. | | | | are happy with your final selection, all before you |
| Complimentary colors - are the colors that are | | | | spend any money at all. 6. Before you start your |
| directly across from each other on the color | | | | paint job make sure you have bought enough |
| wheel. Harmonious colors - are the colors that are | | | | paint. This is especially important if you are having |
| next to each other on the color wheel. Like blue | | | | it custom mixed. It can be difficult to perfectly |
| and purple. Tints - are colors with white added. | | | | match colors later, so rather than deal with the |
| Shades - are colors with black added. Saturation - | | | | hassle, know what you need before hand, and be |
| is the amount of color used. The more color, the | | | | sure to get a little more than you think you need |
| more vibrant. Color tone - is the degree to which | | | | for touchups etc. 7. Decorating with paint is fun, |
| it changes. Pastels - use only a hint of color. | | | | but cleaning paint off furniture and floors is not, so |
| Decorating with Paint When decorating with paint, | | | | be sure to clear as many items out of the room |
| Use the following ten suggestions for optimal | | | | beforehand as possible, and use drop cloths to |
| results: g 1. First consider the style or decor of | | | | protect your floor. Also, make sure the room is |
| your home. This will impact the color. Work out | | | | well ventilated throughout your painting job so |
| what sort of look or feel you are going for, | | | | you don't hurt yourself. 8. Decorating with paint is |
| whether it is urban, contemporary, modern or | | | | fairly inexpensive, but you do not want to have |
| traditional. Once you know the look that you like | | | | to do it every few months, or even years, so |
| and what look will work well with the other rooms | | | | spend a little more and make sure you buy a top |
| in your home, the choice of color becomes much | | | | quality paint. Don't use poor quality materials, and |
| easier. So before decorating with paint, pick the | | | | put all your hard work and planning to waste. 9. |
| look you are going for so that the paint you | | | | Prep your walls well before painting, even the |
| choose can help you meet that objective. 2. | | | | highest quality paints do not adhere well to dirty |
| Decide on the mood you want the room to | | | | surfaces. 10. Paint color is one of the most |
| evoke. If you want a light happy feeling, dark | | | | profound and powerful ways to shape our |
| colors will not accomplish that mood. On the other | | | | surroundings. Don't be afraid to go bold, you can |
| hand, if you want a mood that invokes intimacy, | | | | always change your paint later if you find you |
| study, and cuddling up with a nice book in front of | | | | hate it, but chances are you will wish you had |
| a warm fire, then darker colors are perfect. Os | | | | used even more color. |
| pick your mood and you will have a better chance | | | | |