| |
| |
|
Interior Decorating 4 You |
|
|
|
Free Backlinks At
|
 |
The Stress-Free Way to Add Color to Your Walls
Looking for the most impact from a small decorating budget? Or are you tired of the 'builder's white' that is still on your walls since the house was built? Painting walls a color other than white can be both exciting and daunting, here's how to do it and get the job done without having an anxiety attack! Painting Walls with Color is Addictive! It's true. Just as many women find that cutting off their long hair releases some hidden desire to cut it shorter and shorter, painting with color can become addictive and you will crave color - bolder and more distinctive. You can take advantage of this common phenomenon by choosing a softer, more muted color for one room and building your confidence. Soon you will be making trips back to the paint store with more confidence and know-how. The truth is, color does not have to be dark or jump out at you to have an effect. Selecting tinted whites (not necessarily pastel) can be a great start. For a bit more drama, choose a tinted beige or gray. These colors, while neutral (beige or tan for warm looks and gray for cool) have hundreds of slight variations in the undertones which can mean more yellow, red, blue or green depending on the light and surroundings. Some paint stores can provide you a 'true gray' color swatch which will be composed of only black and white. Ask for this swatch as it may not be discernable in a sea of color swatches. Compare the swatch to other grays and you will notice that some have hints of lavender, blue or green that may become even more pronounced when you get home. You do want some undertone as this is what gives the room a vibrancy that straight gray could never do, but just be sure it's the tone you want. Trust Your Instinct Do not worry that you aren't coming home with the 'perfect' color. There is no single wall color that is or isn't right for the look of your home. Keeping in mind the look you want - either cool and airy, or warm and cozy - is quite enough to get started. You now have about a thousand colors to choose from. What I've found personally, and friends have confirmed, is that going with your instinct tends to be the best deciding factor. If you are not going to take the time to paint large test areas in your home and view them in different lights (a technique employed by interior decorators) than choose the color that draws you the most. Our experiences confirmed that we were most happy when using the color we originally chose from the swatch or from an object we liked, rather than trying to apply too many design rules to our decision. Many people assume that they should go one or two shades lighter than the color swatch they've chosen assuming the color will intensify on the walls. I've heard decorators both confirm and deny this rule. If you really are torn between two or three, then consider buying test cans of each and trying them out. Otherwise, when choosing color for your own home, you probably won't go wrong choosing the color you like the most. If you still can't decide, than try a program like the one at swatchit: http://www.affprog.com/swatchit/a-12. Using a photo of your room you can view different wall colors before making your choice. Lighting and Color References The only design trick you should likely consider is the lighting coming into your home. Eastern light can wash out colors, so intense colors work well in this light. Western light intensifies color, so toned down wall colors may work best unless you want the full drama. Southern light warms a room while northern light cools. If you don't want your rooms to look like an icebox, then you'll wan to be careful using blues and grays in a northern lighted room. However, using blues and grays with lavender or green undertones may reduce the effect if that is your chosen color scheme. The same with Southern light - yellow and red based colors will intensify and cause the room to sizzle with heat. You may choose green or even use beige with cool undertones, to reduce the effect and still be using warm colors. If the outdoors has a lot of trees or water, you must also anticipate that the green or blue will reflect into the home and affect your color choice. How Color Helps Color is a great way to disguise other design flaws. Even a deep beige or grey can immediately give your room a pulled together look that cannot be easily achieved otherwise. If you have white walls, everything (and I do mean everything) stands out because of the contrast. If you have a home full of designer furnishings or antiques then shades of white may be perfect in highlighting your collection. If, like the rest of us, you are putting together some discount furniture with a selection of special pieces, then you don't want every piece showcased. A darker wall removes the contrast and will cause the eye to view the room as a whole rather than jump from piece to piece. This will also give a cleaner, less distracting appearance to the room. Color also sets a mood. As discussed in reference to lighting, color can give a cool, airy look or a warm, cozy feel. It also adds your personality to the room, giving visitors an instant impression about you. What do your walls say about you? Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance writer avid home decorating enthusiast. You can find great sources for your home or office decor projects at http://www.simpledetailsdecor.com
INTERIOR DECORATING RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS: MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Tuscan Style Decorating - Three Essential If Under the Tuscan Sun left you breathlessly and hopelessly in love with tuscan style decorating you're certainly not alone. The rolling hills and the call of the earth itself seem to have imparted their presence into the psyche of those who either read the book or saw the movie. Conservatory Furniture - Hints and Tips No conservatory is complete without beautiful conservatory furniture to relax in. This article reveals some of the important issues to consider while selecting furniture for your conservatory or sunroom. A Sofa Slip Cover Will Add New Life To Your Tired Furniture! A sofa slip cover may be just what you need to add some life to that old, tired looking couch of your. There are many advantages to owning a sofa slip cover. Transitional Lighting - What Is It? Anyone perusing through the websites looking for lighting fixtures to decorate their homes with may be tempted to choose a style known as Transitional Lighting. The smooth curves and solid foundation of the fixtures of the Transitional Lighting style make it a popular choice with designers today. Upholstery Upkeep Upholstered armchairs and sofas are comfortable and attractive additions to any home. When neglected, however, upholstery can quickly turn into next year's yard sale's featured item. Interior Decorating and Home Decor With Inuit Art from the Arctic North In order to help give a room a classier touch, interior decorators have used sculptures to bring in a mansion or even museum-like feel to a home. This is particularly true for the interior decorating of living rooms, dens, home offices and hallways. A Look at Shiatsu Massage Chairs The term "shiatsu" refers to a form of Asian massage. This traditional massage uses techniques of digging deep into the muscle tissue to ease out knots and relieve tension. Seeking Balance in Your Home Decor In our homes, as in other parts of our lives, we are happier when we live with balance and harmony. Just like the rest of our lives, balance in the rooms of our homes is sometimes hard to create. Powell Furniture - Make Your Kitchen A Gourmet Kitchen Are you looking for that special something to turn your kitchen into a room that dreams are made of? Are you tired of the everyday hum drum, and envision a gourmet kitchen that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family? If so, you can make your dreams come true with Powell furniture.The Powell brand name of furnishings is one of the most sought after brand of furnishings in the United States. An Introduction to Massage Chairs A comfortable recliner is the prime parking spot for many-a-man. Try plopping down in your dad's recliner and see how long it takes for him to make you move. The Value of Antique Wedgwood China Since the company is now slightly over 250 years old, anything made from year one to year 150 is now officially considered to be an antique. Antique certification begins for any item that can be verified to be at least 100 years old and since the Wedgwood Company keeps meticulous records on all of its designs, any piece of Wedgwood can be quickly, easily and accurately dated. Incentives for Proper Home Theater Lighting One of the most crucial elements to consider in building a home theater system is also one of the most over-looked. The lighting used in the room has an incredible effect on the movie viewing experience. Kids Ceiling Fans There are ceiling fans designed especially for children, which have designs made to appeal to the imaginations and interests of young ones. There is a wide selection of children's ceiling fans from many different manufacturers. The Increased Popularity of Granite Kitchen Countertops The popularity of granite kitchen countertops has increased dramatically in recent years, with the media focus on kitchen remodeling and personal incomes rising. Originally the choice for granite countertops was limited to wealthy individuals. Granite Tile Countertops The beauty and warmth of granite makes it an ideal material for aesthetic appeal in home design. Granite has been a popular choice of designers for decades. Roman Shades Made From Fabric Roman shades are a simple and classic way to adorn windows. They are unobtrusive and can block a glaring sun or nosey neighbors. A Hidden Jewel In Home Decorating, The Powder Room Typically a small space consisting of just a sink and toilet, you most likely know them by a more common term "half-bath" or "guest bath.Ever wonder where the term "powder room" came from? It's derived from Victorian times, when women needed to "powder their noses". The Value of Antique Grandfather Clocks These days, everything from ovens to telephones silently mark the minutes in glowing red and green letters, rendering the "tick tock" of the mechanical clock increasingly unnecessary. Digital clocks might be more convenient and accessible, but they will never hold our affection the way a good old-fashioned round-faced clock does. A Guide to Interior Shutters We've all heard of exterior shutters. We see them on houses in every town in the country. How to Kickstart a Good Bedroom Design Project? Dear friends,Any room in your home is primarily a space within walls, floor and a ceiling. When the structure or the apartment gets constructed, the architect and the structural contractor has taken all the care that it is stable and can withstand outside natural forces like, earthquakes, heavy winds, rainfalls, etc.
|
| Home | Site Map | |
| Copyright © 2006 Aesir Web Productions |
