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By Janene Gaines

House to Homeowner: Color Me Beautiful

Posted 9:20 p.m., January 23, 2008

If your Home could communicate with you the first thing it would say is "Color Me Beautiful". The most dramatic way to change your home without spending a fortune and bring out the personality of the Homeowner and the House simultaneously is with Color. So put your best foot forward and get started on the Color path. Think of your walls as a backdrop to create a Masterpiece. Walls are not the specific focal point, but support for a creation.

So here are some hints to help you set your surroundings:

1. Lighting: Indoor light and natural light have two different affects on a color. So pay attention to what type of light is coming into the room you are painting. A room with a lot of natural light will not have the same color choices as a room with minimum natural light exposure: meaning a room with lots of window versus a room with one or no windows.

1.5 Lighting part 2: FYI, painting the inside of your home is not the same as painting the exterior. There are many different factors to consider regarding painting the exterior of your home.

2. Not a good idea to go to the paint store and bring home a bunch of different color swatches, all that happens is the 3C's: Chaos, Confusion and no Choice.

3. When choosing Color for your walls narrow your choices at home before going to the paint store; this is accomplished by looking at the Colors already in your house. You probably think what Color? The color is already present thru pictures, pillows and your accessories.

4. Once you pick the color get a quart and paint a HUGE square on the wall, don't be wimpy about the application of the paint.

5. To see the True color choice of your swatch you need 2 coats on the wall.

No question, if you don't put two good coats on the wall it’s a waste of time.

6. Get to know the paint people. Find out who is good at color matching. Some folks can match a Color exactly, not everyone can match the color even with the assistance of a computer. Do not accept the comment "We got as close as we could." If the Color match is not close or is way off don't be shy ask the person to try the match again.

7.Consider 2 toning walls or using chair rails. This will help keep you from becoming bored with your color choices.

8. Fad Colors don't use them UNLESS you really, really like them. Only use colors you like whether they are envogue or not. This concept will also help you not become bored later down the road. Color can also be accomplished thru intermixing texture by using faux finishes or wallpaper. Wallpaper is not like "back in the day"....it is exceptional and unfortunately too many times overlooked.

9. Magazine pictures are a guide only. Warning: What you see is not necessarily what your going to get in YOUR home.

10. Color overlap. Use flat white paint to go over color samples and start again. If you use primer you will have to paint the entire wall and not just over the sample. If you change wall colors putting one color directly over another, this will compromise your primary color and it will not match your color swatch.

It may seem complicated picking color, but if you are open to a little guidance then it truly is an easy process. So bring on the color don't be afraid to add personality. Color can show off or embarrass, just be careful with your choices. At Interior Gaines we can provide you with some insight and help you successfully open the door to the World of Color just contact us at 805 795 7244.