Redecorating is an exciting way to spruce up your living space, and one way to do so without spending money on knickknacks and art is to use paint! How many of us have decided that since it’s a new year, we should redecorate our homes? I know I have. Even just adding an accent color can give a room an entirely different vibe especially if you use Sherwin Williams colors.
Sherwin Williams colors
While repainting your walls is exciting, once you actually begin your project, it can be intimidating. There are a myriad of colors that you can choose â€" so how do you decide?
The following tips will keep you from feeling overwhelmed in the decision-making process.
Apply Patience to the House color picking process
Collecting paint chips is a great place to start, but don’t decide which colors to use until you’ve come up with a color scheme. Paint is available in millions of colors, and it is the most versatile element of your room adornment and the most easily changed. Make all final decisions after flooring and accessories are set.
Bring it all with you!
As you shop, you'll need to refer to your all of your samples constantly. These samples can and should include fabric, carpet, tile, wallpaper, and trim. Bring everything with you wherever you go.
Review all colors
Study a full sample strip of colors. Even if you're not even considering using a darker tone, look at all the colors in the color family carefully.
How do I match my fabric to my color?
If you're working with a print fabric, look at the background color; then use the same color in the paint. For accents throughout the room or adjacent spaces, use deeper or brighter tones.
Trim
Many people select a shade of white or off-white for the doors, moldings, and windows. Brave people may try a lighter shade of their wall color, or even a bright shade for the trim.
Finish the Job
What type of paint finish do you need for your project? Glossy finishes reflect light and are easier to clean, while flat finishes can hide wall imperfections.
What is the perfect paint?
Warm Colors or Cool Colors?
Colors are placed into warm or cool categories. For example, blues, greens, and violet are thought to be "cool," while orange, red, and pink are "warm" colors. Different colors evoke different emotions/reactions in a living space, so choose your warm and cool colors wisely. As another example, blue has a calming effect, while orange is energizing.
“It looked white on the sample!â€
White presents an interesting challenge. Remember, your beiges and off-whites have subtle color, so always compare paint chips to your fabrics and flooring. You’ll need to figure out if you want subtle blue tones, pink tones, yellow tones, etc.
Take note!
Make notes on the back of the paint color cards; write the store name and paint brand, if it isn’t on there already.
Light it up
Look at your paint color in different lighting. Take it outside to see it in natural light, look at it under an incandescent and fluorescent light, and, most importantly, take it inside the room it’ll end up in at different times of the day. Take photographs as the sun goes up and down.
Take your measurements!
Measure your room and bring it with you to the paint store â€" they’ll help you determine how much paint you need for your job. Or, you can hire a painting contractor. Most give free estimates.
There are no stupid questions
You can search online and call paint stores for painting advice; again, talk to your painting contractor if you have one! Make sure you tell the painting professional about your project and goals. Ask for recommendations and ask why they recommend that product.
Special Color Matching
Want a perfect match or a unique color? Your paint store should offer custom color mixing. You bring in a fabric swatch, painting, or other color reference, and have a paint color created to match.
What’s on the ceiling?
Ceilings have shadows on them, so light colors are best. If you want the ceiling to match the wall color, buy ceiling paint one or two shades lighter than the wall color (see your color chip). You can also dilute your wall color with white paint in a ratio of 25% color to 75% white.
Buy a pint!
Buy a pint of paint to do a test patch. Paint a 12 - 48" square on a board or directly on your wall. Look at it all different times of day (just like you did with the paint chip). If something isn't right, get another pint and try again.
Put ‘Em Where They Belong
View paint samples vertically (up against the wall) and view carpet samples set flat on the floor. It helps you to see how it’ll actually look when applied.
Contaminating Color
You have your test sample against the wall â€" is the color you're testing adversely affected by the other colors in the room? Colors reflect one another, so make sure your multiple colors look good at different times of the day.
Watching Paint Dry
Anyone who has experienced painting a room knows that wet paint looks different from dry paint. The important thing is to not panic - let it dry, then check it with your other samples (tiles, fabric, carpet) to decide if it looks right. You can even try bringing in furniture to get the total effect.
Keep your white paint!
Keep your white paint around (carefully sealed in a container, of course)! You can use it to lighten up paint that's a bit too dark. Or, you can dilute your wall color by ¾ and use it on the ceiling; make sure you use the same kind of paint (flat latex, for example), mix it thoroughly, and make enough of the new color to finish the project. You won’t be able to mix more later.
And…breathe
You may need to take a few days to get used to your new room. Change can be overwhelming, but as long as you’ve followed the above tips, you should start seeing the beauty of the room soon, if not immediately. Congratulations â€" you’ve successfully decorated your living space!
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