Home Decorating: Paint Colors

Choosing the right paint colors can sometimes be confusing. There are dozens of shades just of white, not to mention the rest of the rainbow. Plus, how can you get a good idea of how your room will look from that 2"x2" sample? Here are a few ideas to get you started: And remember: don't be afraid of a little color.

The Color Wheel

Professional designers use the color wheel (pictured above) to help them choose paint colors that will go well together. It's a tool you can easily use too.

• Complementary Colors – Colors that are located opposite one another will add contrast and drama to a room. Choose combinations, such as yellow and violet or pink and green for such as look.
• Mono-chromatic Colors – Shades of the same color, such as plum, violet, and lavender add interest while staying with one color scheme. Use colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel.
• Similar Hues – Colors that are next to one another on the color wheel (called analogous colors), such as yellow and orange and blue and purple offer a more subtle contrast than the opposite colors.

In addition to using the color wheel, here are some commonly accepted color facts to help guide you in choosing your paint colors:

• Light and pastel colors generally make a room seem larger and more open.
• Dark and vibrant colors give a room an intimate and cozy feel, but also make a room seem smaller.
• Cool colors – blues, greens, and soft purples – give a room a relaxed and calm ambience.
• Warm colors – yellows, reds, and oranges – give a room a sunny and cheerful appearance.
• Regional differences affect paint color choices, particularly exterior paint colors. For instance, New England homes favor blues, grays, and greens, whereas Southwestern homes are best painted a sienna or beige color.

It's not difficult to find a store that sells paint. Seemingly every corner store has a paint section. But, how do you find the paint store that best suits your needs? Consider the following choices:

• Big Box Retailers – Major DIY retailers, such as Lowe's and Home Depot, have special paint sections with a variety of paint products, painting accessories, and kits for applying specialty paint treatments. These stores offer attractive pricing and will mix your paint to order, but design help is limited. Also, most larger retailers have contracts with certain paint manufacturers, so all brands will not be available at every store.

• Specialty Paint Stores – Specialty paint stores, such as Sherwin Williams, offer more personalized assistance. They sell only their own products, generally in a "good," "better," and "best" brand. Salespeople are well-versed in the latest colors and paint techniques and are happy to offer assistance.

• Other Outlets – Other paint stores include the neighborhood hardware store and lumber yard. Although the selection is often less extensive than a "big box" store, it's convenient to be able to buy your paint at the store around the corner.

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