| |
| |
| Decorating Ideas, Interior Design Tips & Home Decor Ideas |
|
|
|
|
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
 MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Decorate a Large Family Room Dividing the room into different use areas is a great way to break up the space. Obviously a fireplace is a great focal point. Embossed Votive Holder Shade Create the look of a Stained Glass Votive HolderSupplies Needed:Most items can be found in the Scrap booking/Stamping section of your local craft store.Straight-Sided Clear Glass Votive HolderVellumCraft Markers of various colorsHole PunchDecorative StringEmbossing Powder in your choice of colorVersamark Ink PadEmbossing Heat ToolScissorsTape Measure or Ruler1. The Importance of Home Air Filters Many people are not aware that the air inside our homes is five times harmful than the air outside. Because of airtight home and office building constructions, the airborne pollutants are trapped inside, making the contaminated air unable to escape. Dont Just Clean, Organize Instead of cleaning, decorateTrying to maintain both a beautiful interior, and a neat and organized home, can be a daunting endeavor. One of the worst mistakes that you can make when planning the design of your residence is to arrange it in such a way that your decoration actually gets in the way of maintaining tidiness. Persian Area Rugs - Tabriz Rugs are a Fine Choice to Enhance Your Room's Dcor Tabriz rugs are made in the north western part of Iran. The quality in a Tabriz rug is exceptional. Baby Quilts - Traditional Or With A Twist I am not a quilter in the typical sense, but I love making small coverlets and quilts for babies when I am not making wall hangings. All you need is some cute and colorful fabric. Decorating a Childs Room - 8 Simple Strategies to Make You Both Happy! When it comes to decorating a child's room, your approach should be much different from decorating an adult bedroom.For kids, their bedroom is where they play games, read, listen to music, day-dream, or just go to be alone sometimes. Are Candles Safe? I love candles! I have candles of all shapes, sizes and scents in every room of my home. I'm the woman at the local candle shop sniffing every single candle and calling out to her friends "Oh, you gotta smell this one!" So you can imagine my horror, my shock, my disbelief, when my neighbor told me that burning candles could be dangerous to my health! Say it ain't so!The first stage was denial. Choosing Conservatory Furniture Conservatories are such lovely and serene rooms that homeowners want to spend a lot of time in them. However, you cannot enjoy your conservatory very easily without choosing conservatory furniture. Buying Down Alternative Comforters When the frigid winds of winter arrive, many people turn to lavish bed comforters to stay warm. Because of their luxurious feel and unbeatable warmth, down comforters are a popular favorite. Freestyle with Metal and Format: The Milan FuoriSalone 2005 event. This Italian lifestyle project, underlined by the aroma of espresso coffee, is divided into three thematic areas showing different ways of rendering the multifaceted personality of today's ceramic tiles, an irreplaceable part of home decor.The setting is decidedly unusual: the space, occupied by a mechanical workshop for the rest of the year, features a barrel-vaulted gallery facing the entrance courtyard. 5 Ways In Which You Can Make Simple Changes To Your Home Decorating Home decorating, ever wanted to try it, but hesitated because of time constraints or budget concerns. The following ideas will not only give instant results, but more importantly fit into any budget. How to Wash a Down Comforter Few things are as comforting on a cold winter night as a down comforter. Soft and fluffy, down comforters are like a big hug after a long day. Designing Your Kid's Room is Child's Play! Would your child's room benefit from some fresh design ideas and reorganization? Most could, but it can be hard to know where to begin and what concepts to use. Obviously, the age and personality of your child, not to mention your budget, will dictate much of the design concept. The Benefits of Gourmet Picnic Baskets Instead of carrying dinnerware, silverware, beverage containers, and so on, gourmet picnic baskets contain food for the feast. Gourmet picnic baskets are woven baskets, either with an open top or a closeable lid, containing cheese, salami, bread, crackers, olives, vegetables, dips, and desserts like strawberries, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, mints, and so on. "Too Much Stuff" Syndrome or How Decorating and Organizing Can Help Your Sanity This area of home life is different from others in that it involves all the senses and to that degree it is successful, engendering varying emotions. Decorating isn't really a hobby, nor is it merely an activity; it's a driving force of many people to live in comfortable and pleasing surroundings while they regenerate from a stressful world. Southwest Style Decorating Tips When you think of the Southwest, what do you think of? Deserts, cactus, saloons? Well, Southwest style decor can actually combine these visions into a single decorating style. If you're wanting to use a Southwestern decorating theme in your home, a living room or den is a great place to use it. A Brief History of Grandfather Clocks Since the beginning of civilization, humans have searched for a reliable way to keep track of the time. In the earliest days, months, seasons and years were tracked by careful monitoring of the phases of the moon. Color Psychology: The Joy and Pain of Yellow Warm and luminous like sunlight, the right shade of yellow brings cheer to dreary rooms. Some bright yellows, however, cause people pain in interior design. The Allure of Exotic Hardwood Floors Exotic hardwood floors are made up of solid exotic wood that is not grown in North America. These wooden planks are imported from Africa, Australia, Brazil, and the Far East.
|
|
Interior Design Dallas | Home Decorating Ideas | site map Web Design | Search Engine Marketing |
| © 1998-2008 |
