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Don't be Afraid of Color

Don’t be Afraid of Color

By Sharon Locke, Lifestyle Designer San Diego

When making selections for a new home, many people choose neutral tones in order to keep their options open when it comes to furnishings. While this is often a wise decision, neutral tones can mean more than just browns and beiges. For example, green can play the role of a neutral color. Green appears in nature as the predominant color in trees, shrubs, and foliage, and can serve as the perfect compliment for practically everything. When used as a wall color, green has soothing properties. On the other hand, green can create a dramatic effect when paired with bright colors. As a carpet color, green can transform an ordinary beige color scheme into a warm, inviting room with personality. Even a dark green countertop made from granite or Caeserstone is an excellent choice for a neutral kitchen, as it provides an attractive contrast to wood-toned or white cabinets

Some basic rules when choosing colors:

Create continuity in areas open to each other. Limit your paint colors, so space flows from room to room. An accent wall can be a fun way to create drama and contrast.

Choose flooring products that compliment each other in both color and texture.

Repeat your chosen color you in accessories or artwork to tie your look together.

Balance dark tones with lighter ones. For example, if you choose a dark color for your flooring, balance it with a lighter, softer tone on your walls. Lighter flooring allows you to use bolder colors on walls.

Remember that lighting always affects a color’s perception. When choosing wall colors, hold the paint swatch vertically to allow you to see how it changes when light hits it. Paint will always look different in a paint swatch than it does on a wall. Try to get a large swatch if possible, or buy a sample quart and make your own.

All greens and beiges aren’t the same! Keep your existing furniture in mind when you match tones, and bring pillows or swatches with you to your design appointment.

Have fun! Buying a new home is a very exciting process, and the design process is the best part!