The Wonder of Paint: Part 2

***Don't forget our Mr. Linky party on Friday... join the fun and share a picture of something you've changed with the power of paint****

Neutrals Can Be Exciting!

Neutral doesn't have to equal boring.  Sometimes a room can be a little too lively when it comes to color.  Take for instance this beautiful sun-filled room.  Because the windows are in abundance, the room was already naturally bright.  But since it is their main living room, they wanted to soften the color.

With the new neutral wall color, the space feels more warm and inviting.  She still has the pop of color in her rug and couch, which will draw the eye rather than fighting with the strong yellow color previously on the walls.

The new wall color really shows off the hardwood floor, too! 

When deciding on a paint color (especially in a large space) it is worth 2 or 3 trips to the paint store:

1. Select a few paint chips to take home, to see in the light of that room.  

*Make sure you look at the colors in daylight and in the evening with the lamps that will be in the room.

2. Buy a $3 sample size and try it out. (See our patch of beige in the photo above?)

3. Make the final purchase.

It is better to be sure, and have great results like above, than to have regrets. 

The worst feeling in the world is to know you've chosen the wrong color of paint, after the job is completed.  

"How do I know how dark of a color to choose?"

Most paint strips have 6 shades of a color on them: 2 light, 2 medium, and 2 dark.  Unless you are wanting just a hint of color, go for the 2 middle shades.  If you can't decide between those two, choose the darkest of the two because it will look lighter once it covers an entire wall.  Save the last 2 shades for rooms that you really want the color to stand out (like here and here).

The paint color used in this post is: Sherwin Williams' "Sands of Time"

Next time: The Bold and the Beautiful