I want color on my walls but I’m afraid I won’t like the results. What steps should I take to prevent this?
If walls could talk, they’d tell us a lot about ourselves. They are the canvas on which we are free to express who we are — whether it’s bright and cheery, cool and serene, traditional or modern.
One option would be for you to hire a professional designer who specializes in color. This person will help you understand how integral color can be in any room.
Many people are afraid to take the risk of personalizing their home with color. But think about a room with white or light carpet and white walls. What does this convey to you? Is it interesting? Throw in furniture that is heavy and dark or even midtone, and there is nothing that holds the room together. Furniture needs to be grounded with color.
When selecting the right color for your room, consider the depth of the fabrics, floors, furniture and lighting.
When I select colors for clients, I suggest they purchase small sample bottles of paint, then paint a sheet of white poster board with the color. That way they can move the boards around to different areas of the space to see how they react to light at different times of day.
Here are a few other tips for selecting great color:
• There should be some relationship between the colors in adjacent rooms.
• Be aware of the rooms’ sun exposure. If a room gets a lot of sunlight, you could use cooler shades. A room with shade and less light might be best served with warmer hues.
• Do not be influenced by the size of a room. If you want to use a dark color in a small room, you can do so, even though the room may appear smaller.
• Decide on the mood you want to evoke. Explore your reactions to various colors.
Embrace color to brighten up your world. You might also consider interesting wallpaper such as a large- scale pattern or texture such as grass cloth, which is especially nice in a powder room or entry. A large-scale pattern is great when you do not have artwork to hang.
Most important, have fun! Humor is everything when it comes to outfitting your home.
— Denver interior consultant designer Audrey Coggeshall can be reached at 303-564-4058.
To “Ask the Experts” your design and remodeling questions, send e-mail to marina@denverdesign.com. Responses are compiled for Room by the Denver Design District: or 303-282-3226.
