How Can I Choose The Right Colors?
The truth about color is that everyone sees it differently.
You are the one that has to love the colors. As a rule of thumb though, if you feel uncertain then you probably haven’t found the one that’s right for you.
We are in love with the free color swatches that are available at every paint store. Don’t be shy. Take as many of the color swatches as you need.
Check out different stores for color swatches. Each store has different color options. They can be very different. Not every store carries the Disney line, for example. So shop around! Haven’t found a color that you love? Then visit another paint store!Try asking a friend with good taste what their opinion is. And don’t forget to ask your neighbor too (they often tell us what they think while you are at work).
And if you need more options, here’s a hint: you can purchase what is called a color fan. A color fan has all of the color choices in one convenient location. We find this helpful when choosing a color. It can help you to see that, for example, this red is more yellow or that red is more blue.A basic rule of thumb is that any hue of color can be made darker or lighter by shading (adding black) or tinting (adding white).When you look at a paint color strip, the core color is the same;what changes is the amount of black or white that’s been added.
We also love the paint samples for $5-$10 each, depending on where you buy them. Follow our links to check out any current deals. Confused about how this works? This is where you buy a 2 or 3 oz. jar of paint and try a splotch on your wall.This is our first recommendation, to buy some color samples and put a little paint on the wall. And don’t worry, The Finishing Touch II, Inc. can paint right over those splotches.
Remember that you can pick color swatches from other stores, including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, K-mart, Home Depot, etc. Take your color swatch of choice to a reputable paint store and they will look up in their secret manuals (oh, OK they don’t really have secret manuals) how to mix the color. This is not a highly recommended option but does work and is perfectly acceptable to request. To learn more about why this may not be the best option read what Benjamin Moore Paint has to say in their article, “Close Enough Is Not Good Enough”.
Some Friendly Suggestions
It is, in our opinion, best to keep in the same family of colors. Is the color warm or cool? Colors with yellow undertones will seem warmer, while the same color with blue or red undertones will appear cool.The little brochures with examples of which colors go together are an excellent way of making sure that your color choices are in the same family. Highly paid decorators put those brochures together. Utilize them!
And one final opinion. Far too few people choose the bold colors. If you love red or purple or bright blue then you should definitely paint a room that color. Sure, a freshly painted exterior of a home is always nice. But you only get that wow factor when you step out of the norm. Think color! Color is the spice of life! Live happy — paint often!
TREND ALERT FOR 2010!
According to Fresh Home magazine…Combing finishes is the hottest look in paint this year. Want to add subtle highlights to a wall painted with a matte or satin finish?Buy a quart of the same-colored paint, but in gloss finish.Then add stripes, dots or stenciled images using the gloss paint.The effect is magical.In dull lighting, you’ll hardly see the additions, but as you move thought the room, the light will reflect more brightly on the gloss paint at certain angles,making the gloss image suddenly appear.Your goal isn’t two-toned walls, but rather playful use of light on different paint finishes.
