What Color to Paint a Room?
We get a lot of questions about what color to paint a room when coordinating window treatments and other fabric accessories such as accent pillows when redecorating a room. Here are some basic tips on how to plan for paint and fabric.
The first step we recommend is to settle on the general direction of the wall paint color. Don’t decide on the exact color, but do decide on whether it is going to be in the green, blue, red, brown, etc. family. We strongly believe that since there are endless paint colors and shades, that it is much easier to find a paint to match your fabric than a fabric to match your paint. Once the general paint color decision is decided, then you need to search for the perfect fabric.
The fabric is where you want to focus your attention at first. Look for fabrics that will work well with your paint color group. When considering your window treatments , you can select fabric colors that will pop off the wall to fabrics that blend for a subtle transition. This is a decision you must make based on personal preference and room style.
Now that you have selected the fabric, it is time to revisit the paint color. Using the fabric swatch, look through the paint chips and narrow the choices. Purchase small sample containers of the three or four colors that you like and test them on the wall. Look at them in different light and with your swatch. One of colors will stand out and your direction will become clear. Your finished room will look great!
We have one last tip on painting a room. What do you do with the ceiling? Traditionally, ceilings are painted white. White ceilings tend to give a more formal look to the room. If you have crown molding on the walls, white ceilings work well. If you are going with a strong wall color and don’t have crown molding, it can be difficult to transition from a chocolate brown wall to a white ceiling. Here is a tip our designers use successfully. Order your ceiling paint in the same color as your walls. However, tell the paint store to only mix in 25% to 50% of the color formula. This will give you a great color match, but greatly reduce the color intensity for your ceiling. You can also do 50/50 blend white/color. When you are done, your room will feel warm and cozy. This technique works in any room in the house especially in kitchens and bathrooms where crown molding is rarely installed. We use it all the time with great results!
Good Luck!
