Flamingo's Dream, Roadster Red, Peach Scone, Hot Apple Spice... It's easy to get lost in a sea of paint colour options. Unfortunately, it's not quite as simple to decide which paint colours are best for your home. Though paint colour is really a matter of personal taste and preference, there are a few ways (seven, in fact) to make the decision a bit easier.
Find some inspiration. Flip through a few design magazines, read a couple of decor blogs - there's a plethora of colourful information out there. So much in fact, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Wait for a colour that really strikes you and see if it'll work on your own walls.
Inspiration doesn't have to come from the usual suspects. Maybe it's the colour of your favourite shirt or a hue on the takeout box you ate from at dinner - colour is all around us, so keep a look out for one that could be right for your space.
Bring your source of inspiration into your local hardware or paint store. They should be able to create a paint colour based on your muse (it should be at least the size of a quarter). If you can't physically bring in the colour you love (i.e. the colour of a friend's wall) ask if you can borrow a paint deck (a.k.a. a fan deck) and try to match the colour to one of the chips.
Take a cue from what you already own. Look for a colour that compliments your existing furnishings - it's easier to change your paint colour than buy new furniture! If you have a beige sectional sofa, consider adding some vibrancy to the room with a bold wall colour. The opposite it also true - if you have retro, patterned dining chairs, opt for something neutral on the walls.
The perfect colour for your walls could already be in your living room - take a look at your furnishings and accessories. Consider pulling a colour from a patterned pillow and carrying it over to your walls, for example.
Think lighting. A room's natural lighting is important in choosing an appropriate colour for the space. Generally, a room with lots of natural light - with floor-to-ceiling windows, say - is suited for darker, warmer colours. On the other hand, a space that doesn't get a lot of light - your front hall, for example - may be best painted with a lighter tone.
Take a chip off the 'ol block. A paint chip, that is. Explore your local paint shop and take home any paint colour chips that pique your interest. To avoid getting lost in the whirlwind of colours, try ruling out a few hues before stepping foot in the paint store.
As a rule of thumb, paint typically looks darker on the wall than it does on the chip sample, so consider going a shade lighter that your chosen colour.
Take the chips home and tape them to the walls. Look at the chips at different times of day, as the colour will appear to be different depending on the natural and artificial light in your space. Also compare the chips to your existing furniture to see if the colours work together.
Develop an accent. If you're in love with that bold, vivacious colour but are not sure if it's right for your space (or aren't ready to dive in head first), consider creating an accent wall. Paint one focal wall that great colour and the others a softer hue. It's sure to give the room some punch.
Accent walls are also a brilliant way to highlight a certain feature of your home. Have a recessed nook beside the window? Paint it a darker colour to create separation and draw the eye to your favourite feature.
The finish line. The type of finish you choose for your paint is as important as the colour itself. If you want to hide imperfections on the wall, opt for a flat finish. Be aware that flat finishes are harder to keep clean, however, so you may want to steer clear of them in your kitchen or bathroom. Glossy finishes reflect light and draw more attention to the surface; typically, they're best used on trim.
Speaking of which, don't forget the trim! The staple trim and baseboard colour is white, and for good reason - it creates a delightful contrast and can frame your choice colour.
If you're feeling a tad adventurous or want to change things up a bit, consider painting the trim a more unorthodox (and unexpected) colour. Painting the trim black, for example, can really make a statement.
Another somewhat unconventional idea is to paint the trim the same colour as the walls. Make a slight distinction by painting the walls with flat finish paint and the trim with a glossy finish paint of the same colour.
Whatever trim colour you use, remember that a colour can appear different when paired with another colour. Take chips of both colours and make sure they work well together for wall and trim harmony.
Above all, remember that paint is one of the least expensive changes you can make to a room. Don't be scared to be daring or take a few risks - with a fresh coat of paint, no one will ever know your walls were once Putrid Purple!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaitlin_O'Brien
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Friday, 4 December 2009
Feng Shui - The Importance of Colour Choice
Purple is a powerful and a meaningful color. Some believes it's relation with wealth, stature, religion, dignity, magic, piety and sexuality. It is also believed that it can improve meditation by a factor of ten, said Leonardo da Vinci.
Purple is a combination of a peaceful, calm blue with boisterous, energetic red. It is also connected with royalty and symbolizes nobility, ambition, authority, and luxury. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Some says its relation with wisdom, independence, mystery and dignity.
Meanwhile, study proves that purple were chosen by 75 percent of small children over other colors, while historians agrees that purple was Cleopatra's favorite color. Its association with royalty can be seen on America's Purple Heart Award that was only given to those soldiers who died in war.
In Feng Shui, purple is the only color suitable in any direction. It can be associated with any of the directions as a beneficial color. It can be describe as the "feng shui beige." However, it is not always easy to live with the color purple. Some believes in its power but others do not feel the same.
If you want to improve your health, they say coloring your east wall with purple can help you to be strong. They also say that coloring the east can enhance your child's creativity while the south can boost your child's talent. But if you want to earn more money, paint the southeast wall, or corner of your living room with royal purple. They believe in its ultimate prosperity because it is a color of extremely deep water, thus means bottomless wealth.
Wearing purple clothing or ties is advisable to anyone who deals with money such as bankers or people related to sales to enhance wealth. It can be use in the north, in which it is the direction of water, to bring luck for wealth and prosperity connected with your job and business opportunities. Feng Shui.
Morris E. Brown
Winnipeg Hotels HSC Medical Hospital Lodgings City Wpg Canada
Highway 1 Manitoba Lodging Accommodations
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morris_E._Brown
Purple is a combination of a peaceful, calm blue with boisterous, energetic red. It is also connected with royalty and symbolizes nobility, ambition, authority, and luxury. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Some says its relation with wisdom, independence, mystery and dignity.
Meanwhile, study proves that purple were chosen by 75 percent of small children over other colors, while historians agrees that purple was Cleopatra's favorite color. Its association with royalty can be seen on America's Purple Heart Award that was only given to those soldiers who died in war.
In Feng Shui, purple is the only color suitable in any direction. It can be associated with any of the directions as a beneficial color. It can be describe as the "feng shui beige." However, it is not always easy to live with the color purple. Some believes in its power but others do not feel the same.
If you want to improve your health, they say coloring your east wall with purple can help you to be strong. They also say that coloring the east can enhance your child's creativity while the south can boost your child's talent. But if you want to earn more money, paint the southeast wall, or corner of your living room with royal purple. They believe in its ultimate prosperity because it is a color of extremely deep water, thus means bottomless wealth.
Wearing purple clothing or ties is advisable to anyone who deals with money such as bankers or people related to sales to enhance wealth. It can be use in the north, in which it is the direction of water, to bring luck for wealth and prosperity connected with your job and business opportunities. Feng Shui.
Morris E. Brown
Winnipeg Hotels HSC Medical Hospital Lodgings City Wpg Canada
Highway 1 Manitoba Lodging Accommodations
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morris_E._Brown
The Feng Shui of Color For Your House
Do you feel uncomfortable to live in your own house? It might have any relation with the color of the paint that you have chosen to paint your house. Chinese believes that colors are influencing comfort of our surroundings as well as our mood. Different color has its most appropriate place in your house. Please go on to read this article to get more complete information about the Feng Shui of color for your house.
Feng Shui believes that each color has certain characteristic that might be appropriate in a particular spot but might be inappropriate for other spot. Here are some examples of colors and its characteristics when it is applied in your house.
1. Red
It gives effect of stimulation and dominance. It is also closely related with warm characteristic as well as prosperity. However, this color also symbolizes anger, shame, and hatred. Applying red paint makes your room looks smaller, but it gives bigger looks for your objects or furniture. Red is good to be applied as accent color, but it is inappropriate for dining room, the bedroom for your children, and working room.
2. Yellow
It is closely related with enlightenment and intellectuality. It is stimulating brain and helping digest. The positive characteristics are optimism, mind, and firmness, while the negative ones are hyperbolic and stiff. It is appropriate for front door of your house and kitchen, but it is inappropriate for bathroom.
3. Green
It symbolize grow, fertility, and harmony. It is a relaxing and refreshing color. The positive characteristics are optimism, freedom, and balance while the negative one is envy and lie. It is appropriate for bathroom but inappropriate for family room, playing room and studying room.
4. Blue
Blue is peace and fresh, closely related with spirituality, contemplation, mystery and patience. The positive way aspects are belief and stability, but in contrary it relates with melancholy. It matches for bedroom but inappropriate for family room, dining room and working room.
So what about you? Have you chosen the right color?
Frederic C Padilla has been writing articles in several different topics for nearly 3 years. Come and visit his latest website about cheap exercise equipment which helps people find the best stamina exercise equipment and related information they are looking for.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frederic_C_Padilla
Feng Shui believes that each color has certain characteristic that might be appropriate in a particular spot but might be inappropriate for other spot. Here are some examples of colors and its characteristics when it is applied in your house.
1. Red
It gives effect of stimulation and dominance. It is also closely related with warm characteristic as well as prosperity. However, this color also symbolizes anger, shame, and hatred. Applying red paint makes your room looks smaller, but it gives bigger looks for your objects or furniture. Red is good to be applied as accent color, but it is inappropriate for dining room, the bedroom for your children, and working room.
2. Yellow
It is closely related with enlightenment and intellectuality. It is stimulating brain and helping digest. The positive characteristics are optimism, mind, and firmness, while the negative ones are hyperbolic and stiff. It is appropriate for front door of your house and kitchen, but it is inappropriate for bathroom.
3. Green
It symbolize grow, fertility, and harmony. It is a relaxing and refreshing color. The positive characteristics are optimism, freedom, and balance while the negative one is envy and lie. It is appropriate for bathroom but inappropriate for family room, playing room and studying room.
4. Blue
Blue is peace and fresh, closely related with spirituality, contemplation, mystery and patience. The positive way aspects are belief and stability, but in contrary it relates with melancholy. It matches for bedroom but inappropriate for family room, dining room and working room.
So what about you? Have you chosen the right color?
Frederic C Padilla has been writing articles in several different topics for nearly 3 years. Come and visit his latest website about cheap exercise equipment which helps people find the best stamina exercise equipment and related information they are looking for.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frederic_C_Padilla
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