inside design
B y D av i d J i m e n e z
P
erhaps the single biggest statement in
any room—visually—is made by the
walls. Pick up any magazine or coffee-table
book, and it’s usually the rooms with striking wall colors that we find intriguing,
appealing and inspired. The same can be
said for wallpaper. It’s hip again and the
options range from bold graphics to wonderful textures.
So why is it so hard to bring color and
pattern into our homes?
Sometimes it’s difficult to know where
to start. Choosing between color or wallpaper options can be daunting. I know this
from my own experience. Sometimes the
simplest decorating decisions can become
the most overwhelming.
One of the hardest decisions for me to
make when I purchased my home was figur-
Paint
&Pattern
The easiest way to make an impact
ing out the right colors to paint the rooms. I
knew I wanted every room to be a different
color but also wanted a visual thread among
them that made them all work together.
Harder yet was identifying the right white for
my kitchen cabinets. Who knew it would be
so challenging? I reached out to friends, I
asked interior designers, pored over color
swatches and sampled many quarts of varying shades until I landed on the perfect
white (not too yellow, not too blue). If you
are considering new paint or wallcovering
options for a spring update to your home,
read on, I’ll help get you started. And for the
record, the perfect white is White Dove by
I recently purchased a house and chose a beige
Q
Benjamin Moore.
color for my room because I thought it would be
restful. After filling the room with furniture, the
room looks flat to me. I don’t want to commit to a
room full of color. Do you have some recommendations on how
board or the sofa in a darker shade of the existing
to warm up my room?
color in the room, or try a contrasting color.
Answer:
You don’t have to commit to a full room
Creating a feature wall will add instant drama and
of color in order to give it some much
grounding to a room that feels flat and prosaic.
needed visual punch. For example, a bedroom or living room easily can be reinvented by simply painting the wall behind the head-
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Photo by Aaron Leimkuehler
WheretoBegin
Unless you are starting with a new home, you’ll need to take the
existing carpeting, upholstery and curtains into consideration when
then you might consider a rich color that complements the other
rooms but sets this one apart. Or, if the family room is in need of an
update and you want it to feel comfortable but have some energy,
then a warm neutral palette may be just the thing for you.
choosing your new colors. Keep in mind that decorative accessories
The second question may be a little more challenging. More than
are the easiest and least expensive investments to complement
any other wall treatment, paint color has a way of revealing our per-
your new room color.
sonality and style. If you’re not sure, your closet is a good place to
Start by asking yourself two simple questions:
get a sense for the colors you like the most. Your wardrobe is a great
1. What feeling do I want to have when I walk into this room?
indicator of your palette of choice. If your wardrobe consists of black,
2. Do I prefer brights or neutrals?
white and shades of gray, then neutrals from taupe to shades of latte
The first question may be an easy one to answer and may give
will probably suit you best. If your wardrobe is full of bright colors,
you direction for your color palette. For example, if the color palette
then you’ll probably like the idea of including colors that have a
in your house is mostly neutral but you’ve decided that you want to
burst of energy, ranging from bright pink to chartreuse green, with
make a statement that feels bold yet classic in your dining room,
some chocolate brown to keep things grounded.
Photos by Landon Collis
APRIL 2008
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inside design
Getting
INSPIRED
Creating
AVisual
Thread
There are many sources of inspiration
Whether you are using a palette of neutrals
for room colors. The first place I usually go
or brights, you’ll want to ensure there is a har-
to for inspiration is home decor magazines
mony among them as they reveal themselves
and home catalogs. Pulling tear sheets is an
throughout your home. An artist friend of mine
easy (and inexpensive) way to consider
painted her rooms with a beautiful palette that
many options without the need to purchase
was inspired by the color of egg shells. The col-
a single can of paint. Other good sources to
ors ranged from a robin’s-egg blue to a dusty
consider for inspiration, which may seem
rose pink. It was a unique palette with colors
less obvious, are museums and restau-
that looked terrific together and created a dif-
rants—even items from your own home.
ferent mood as you went from room to room.
Look at pillows, rugs, artwork and other dec-
Similarly, you can be inspired by nature by look-
orative objects for inspiration. A visit to a
ing to stones, seashells or flowers. Or, keep it
paint store is also a great source of inspira-
simple and head for the paint store to look at
tion. Once you have an idea about the col-
paint chips and paint brochures. They can offer
ors you’re interested in, pick up a handful of
a wide range of ideas for great color palettes
color chips. When you get them home,
that will work well together and go far in creat-
you’ll soon hone in on a few you’d like to try.
ing a smart color flow throughout your home.
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inside design
Try It On
For Size
JIGGY
Get
WITH IT
If you decide to be a little adventurous and
want to consider wallpaper, there are wonderful options that range from textures to prints,
When you think you’ve chosen the perfect
flocks and foils. And as with paint, wallpaper
color, you’ll want to head to a paint store
can create a mood, add height and bring
where they can easily color match a tear
warmth to the coldest of spaces.
sheet or an item for you. You’ll want to pur-
Wallpaper can cover minor flaws in the
chase small sample sizes of the color you’re
wall
surface
that
paint
can’t.
interested in (available from most large paint
Additionally, easy-to-clean vinyl-coat-
companies) or buy quarts to do a test patch
ed paper is a great options for kids’
on a wall or on a piece of cardboard. Different
rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
light will affect the color so be sure to look at
For great selection, you’ll
the swatch during the morning, evening and
want to consult with an inte-
night to make sure you’re happy with it. I like
rior designer. They have
to test three or four colors at once to save
access to volumes of wallpaper
time. You’ll undoubtedly find the right color.
options and can easily help edit
choices to suit the specific
needs of your project.
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inside design
Tips
1
Consider the mood you want to create in a particular room. In
general, darker colors make a room appear more intimate, and
lighter colors make a room look larger. The size of the room and the
amount of sunlight a room gets can also affect the way the color
two
looks on the wall.
Most paint stores will help estimate how many gallons of paint
the room is going from a light color to a dark one or vice versa.
4
5.
When painting the window trim, don’t bother masking the win-
dows to keep them clean (there are always inevitable drips). Instead,
paint the window as evenly as you can, and use a razor blade scraper
to remove dried paint later.
If you are planning to add trim to your walls, you can either paint
and primer you’ll need to complete your job.
them the same color for a more contemporary look or choose an
3.
accent color for a more traditional approach. ◆
For better coverage, have the primer tinted to match the paint if
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