When you’re interested in
slathering on a couple of new coats of paint to refresh and update your walls,
the shades to choose seem like an insurmountable decision among the nearly
countless choices of paint swatches on display.
If you head to the home improvement store with some inspiration in tow,
that just might help you narrow down your perfect pairing.
Look around. What colors in your everyday environment make
you feel happy, calm, restful, inspired, energized, creative, and so
forth? What colors keep popping up
around your home in your fabrics and décor and clothing? You can hone in on the color families that
you would likely enjoy on your walls by looking to your natural favorites.
But within that sea of shades within a color
category, how do you know which one to pick?
Consider looking to items or digital photos you can take with you to
that paint wall of wonder. Check your
closet. Do you have a go-to layer or top
that always survives the donation cut and works its way into your wardrobe on a
regular basis? Is there a purse, scarf,
belt, piece of jewelry, or pair of shoes that just seems to go with everything
that you love to add to your outfits?
Wear or take that item to the store to hold up and compare to different
paint swatches to find a fitting match.
Take a look around your
bedroom and living area. Look at the sheets, comforter, throw pillows,
blankets, and cushions. Is there a
color, whether a base shade or a pop of color, that would look great on a
grander scale? Take that fabric in to
use for comparison. Check out your decorative pieces. Look at frames, ceramics, trays, candles,
wall art, furniture hardware, storage baskets, glass pieces, book covers,
towels, lamps, and vases. You might find
a color palette that suites your style.
In the kitchen, look at your
dishes, serving pieces, decorative accents, cup towels, soap, trendy paper
straws, and even small appliances. If you really are open to getting creative,
look inside your fridge. Some fruits and
veggies might just hold the key to your next wall color. The same could be said of succulents, herbs, pantry
staples, and snack items.
The phone you carry with
you can also be a wealth of inspiration.
Pull up images of décor, clothing, and rooms decorated by design pros to
hold up next to those color choices to make comparisons. Making a color selection that you are going
to be very happy with is worth feeling a little funny about carrying a random
item right up the color wall with you. You
shouldn’t have to rely on your memory when a side-by-side comparison could be
just what you need to roll on a new coat and roll with the new flow of your
designer home.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star August 24th.
