I took a class hosted by Benjamin Moore at my local Pottery Barn and learned some great tips I think everyone should know. I originally thought it would be a basic class, all about how to paint a wall, but it went so much further! I learned some great information about color in general. These tips are things I have taken from the Benjamin Moore book, "Color Language." I think its free at Benjamin Moore stores, so go pick one up, learn a lot, and start planning your color make over! Color is the cheapest way to reinvent your home, and it takes a weekend to complete. Another bonus, involve your fam and friends- have a painting party and go to town.
Here are the highlights from the book "Color Language:"
1. Know your temperature and how to use it. I'm not talking about your thermostat. Reds, yellows, and oranges are warmer while blues, greens, and violets are usually cool. Warm colors "advance" or "condense" a room while cool colors "recede" or "expand" a room.
2. Lighting makes a huge difference in the perception of your color. When you pick out a color chip from a store, buy a sample of the color (usually a few dollars for a little bucket of the color), and paint a patch on your wall. Watch the patch throughout the day to decide if you really like that color with both the natural and artificial light in your room.
3. There are different ways of combining colors: monochromatic, complementary, analogous, and triad. Monochromatic is a single color used in different shades and hues. If you don't know what "shade" and "hues" really mean, I suggest a quick Wikipedia or google search to familiarize yourself. You'll knock the socks off of the paint sales person when you go in there spewing hues, shades, and tints of a color. complementary are two colors opposing on the color wheel. Any good paint section should have a color wheel available, or you can find a good example online. Think red and green for Christmas for this example. Analogous colors are consecutive colors on the color wheel and triad are colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel. Triad is similar to complementary but are more than two.
4. Consider the "mood" of your room while thinking about your colors and schemes. Are you painting your bedroom? Do you want to feel relaxed and calm in there? Think monochromatic or analogous. Colors that are closer on the color wheel to each other are the most calming combination. If it is a family room, play room, or even kitchen, you may want more energy. This is a great recipe for complementary or triad color schemes.
5. Finally, consider sheen. This is my biggest take-away. I always just went for flat. I never knew there was a reason behind all the other choices! Flat is a great choice, some times. It is also referred to as "matte." This sheen provides a good cover for imperfect walls and most ceilings. It's also easy to touch up. If you are doing a kitchen or bath, soft sheens are a good choice because they are easy to keep clean and are a soft glow. Soft sheens are eggshells, pearl, and satin sheens. Semi-gloss is essential for trims. It is hard-wearing and durable. It reflects light and frames a matte or soft sheen wall well.
There you have it! Now you're ready to give your house that spring make over you have been dreaming about, it's just a gallon away!
No comments:
Post a Comment