Paint colors
Farrow and Ball's Selvedge no.306. A monochromatic paint application approach.
DETAILS
Where — Any surface in your home, really.
Beautiful — Color
What do you see?
A couple of months ago, my boyfriend and I were visiting my family in Tulsa, OK. To escape the summer heat, we decided to entertain ourselves indoors with a game: the infamous Hues and Cues. It’s truly a hilarious pastime—I wholeheartedly recommend it. The laughter came from some people, ahem, Ben and my stepdad Josef, struggling to distinguish subtle color hues. Needless to say, these wonderful men excel in other areas of life, but color distinction is not their strong suit. This made me wonder: How do we view color in our homes? How do we apply our perception of color to the surfaces of our homes? One of the quickest and easiest ways to explore this topic is through paint color. So where do we start?
First, what is color, and how do we approach understanding it? Color theory is a great starting point. It examines how colors affect our emotions and perceptions through different combinations. There are many subcategories within color theory, such as tones and hues, complementary colors, triadic colors, contrast and harmony, and more.
Once we understand the effects of color, we can apply this knowledge to our interior spaces, specifically in terms of paint. In this discussion, we’ll focus on paint colors and their combinations on your walls. Future posts can cover topics like wall textures, painting floors and cabinets, and more.
How do our painted walls affect a space? Consider both natural and artificial light. You’d be surprised—many clients have been—by how a color can appear to change on a wall throughout the day and under different artificial lighting. The sheen of the paint also impacts its appearance, ranging from very flat to high gloss. My first suggestion is to sample, sample, sample! Choose about three colors you want to test in your space, paint large samples on the walls, and live with them for a few days. You’ll be amazed at how they change.
Next, consider how your wall color will interact with your moldings, trims, and ceiling. One of my favorite techniques is to paint all these elements the same color—walls, moldings, trim, and ceiling. Depending on your color choice, this can create a dramatic or calming effect in the space. Alternatively, you can go for the classic look of white moldings, trim, and ceiling with a color on the walls. Another trendy approach is using contrasting trim and walls, but not in the traditional sense. People are now mixing and matching colors in their trims and walls (like a pale pink wall with a muddy green trim) or using a subtle tone on the walls with a bolder tone for the trim. If you choose this approach, study color theory to see how colors will complement each other.
Finally, if you or your painter have a steady hand, adding paint details to your walls can be a fun way to introduce color! I've seen linear outlines around the border of a wall, painting a 1-inch line 12 inches below the trim around the entire room, or even large murals.
Whatever approach you take to painting your walls, do it with confidence! And always remember to make it beautiful!
Design by Megan Gieber. Note the monochromatic paint job.
A room featured in Athena Calderone's Live Beautiful book. Note the black boarder paint detailing.
A space featured in Athena Calderone's Live Beautiful book. Note the high contrast paint combination.
