Selecting the right paint does not have to be a daunting task if you choose colors that work best for your spaces rather than focusing on trends, says Karen Luria, owner of Interior Identity Inc. in Alexandria. Simply because the “it” color for 2010 is turquoise does not mean it should be the focal point of your room.
“I believe in timeless design,” Luria says. “People need to think first and foremost about what they want to live with and how long they want to live with it.”
Recommended Stories
However, if you are itching to use the current color trend, Beth Burns, owner of Beyond White, suggests using it sparingly. Burns, a member of the International Association of Color Consultants, believes picking the right color comes down to science.
Color swatches have a number on the back indicating the light reflectance value, which can range from zero to 100. The range you choose depends on how you plan to use the space. A reading room, a space where children do homework or any area where you spend a lot of time should not be too light or too dark because eye muscles have to work harder to adjust to the color in the room.
“When I do homes, I try to stay within a certain range,” Burns says. “For instance, if the LRV is 85, that means that 85 percent of light is bouncing off that wall into your eyes and only 15 percent is being absorbed. If the LRV is 3, that means your room looks like a cave. I try to keep the range between 45 to 75.”
When searching for colors, Luria says to be sure to consider floor materials.
“People don’t understand that the floor has color, whether it’s a wood floor, a tile floor or a floor with carpet,” Luria says. “I work from the floor up. You need to tie [color into] the floor and anything you want to keep in the room.”
Once your have added the floor to the equation, use an accessory, such as a piece of artwork or rug, as a focal point.
“The rug is a great starting point when picking out colors,” says Jean Molesworth Kee, owner of the Painted Room. “Color is the least expense but the most powerful and most controlled element in a room. Get the rug first; you can always tweak the color on the wall. It is much easier to do than trying to find a rug to match a paint color.”
Keep it simple and sleek
Matte wall paint with satin baseboard
Wall decals
Don’t Red dining rooms
Textured walls
Glossy paint finishes.
Chair rails
Natural and artificial light play a big role in selecting a color. Depending on the light source, from florescent to incandescent, or how light shines inside of the house at different times of the day, the color of a wall can change dramatically.
“The light in the room is so important,” Luria says. “Compact florescent lights do a dishonor to color. Which way does the house face? All of those things need to be taken into consideration.”
To ensure a color looks good in every light, paint large foam or plastic boards and move them around the room under various lights at different times of day. Painting color blotches on the wall is a mistake.
“The way our eyes are biologically made, we cannot see too many colors on the wall and see each of them accurately,” Burns says. “It’s simultaneous contrast.”
Don’t forget the ceiling. Many homeowners tend to paint it a basic white without realizing white paints have subtle traces of color.
“Whites have different colors,” Luria says. “Ceiling white has a hint of purple. When light hits the ceiling, it bounces down and changes the look of the other colors in the room.”
Ultimately, Kee says to keep the color selections simple; she uses three colors within a monochromatic palette in her designs.
“A monochromatic palette is pleasing to the eye. You use one shade for your walls, and then you work with lighter or darker shades of that same color,” Kee said. “Throw in a complement color from the opposite of the color wheel. It is the safe way to have a room evolve.”
Luria takes complement colors beyond the walls and incorporates them into furniture, throw pillows, wall coverings and artwork. There are different ways to play with color, Luria says.
“Use architectural features within the interior space to pop out various different things, but do it in a calming manner,” she says.
RESOURCES Beth Burns
Beyond White
703-581-5281
beyondwhite.net Jean Molesworth Kee
The Painted Room
571-214-9093
paintedroom.com Karen Luria
Interior Identity Inc.
703-329-6262 Office
