Shabby Chic Paint Colors and Decor

The great thing about shabby chic paint colors is that it uses paint on everything from the walls to the furniture. This means that you'll be able to create a totally fresh new look in your room for just a couple of bucks. Sure, you'll need to start out with furniture with curved lines and pick subtle hues, but you can easily accomplish this design aesthetic in any room of your home for just the cost of a few buckets of paint and a little elbow grease.

The first step in how to paint shabby chic is to pull out the cream and ivory paint. This is a staple in the cottage style. You can also go for a taupe or gray for a more modern space. You'll want to paint all of your furniture in these light neutral colors. The focus will then be on the curved lines and carvings of the pieces instead of more distracting wood grains. This allows you to take all those old garage sale finds and pieces from college and really turn them into something special. You might want to leave the edges of the pieces black or chocolate brown for a worn effect that still has a big impact.

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Shabby chic colors border on feminine. This may mean using lavenders and rose tones. You can balance a masculine sage green with ivory furniture. Pair a robin eggs blue with delicate accessories to soften the look.

Shabby chic wall decor helps get your theme across. This might be plates or a set of mirrors. You'll want to create a collage of found items on the wall; this may even be architectural elements.

You can create a cottage style without being too extreme. You might just want to paint the doors and trim in your room in order to save on paint and have versatility. This might mean adding a cottage blue or sage green. Then you can layer green and white toile fabrics with striped furniture and porcelain lamps. You can even use a floral fabric on the lampshades.

Cottage paint colors can still have a modern look to them. This keeps your room from becoming predictable or stuffy. Pair a linen couch with a fuchsia accent wall. Then use cottage rose curtains on the wall for a traditional shabby chic style that ties your color palette together. If you want to keep natural wood in the room then soften it with a pickling or white wash effect so it has a more feminine touch to it. This will also breathe life into wood that has become dated or dinged up.

You can draw inspiration from delicate items such as china or crystal to really create a unique color palette. You can mix and match patterns from thrift stores as long as they are in the same color family. This adds interest to an all white room or is just an inexpensive way to accessorize that makes a big impact. Pull out subtle rose, gold or green tones from your plates. Offset the wall color with neutral furniture and lots of crystal in the space so it still has that light and airy effect.

Shabby Chic Paint Colors and Decor

To learn much more about different paint schemes, and Shabby Chic Colors visit Interior Decorating Colors. You'll find this and much more, including the best Tuscany Colors to use.

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Exterior Paint Colors - How To Choose?

"Dupioni"; "Faux bois"; "Intaglio"; "Pulmonaria"... Rare tropical diseases? European politicians? Expensive appetizers?

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Nope, they're paint colors! If you're thinking of painting the outside of your house you might be wondering whatever happened to red, green, and blue!

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Paint Paralysis

The dizzying array of color choices and their associated names are enough to give a homeowner a case of Chromophobia - the fear of colors. How do you decide what color(s) to use when there are so many options?

At a gallon or more for quality exterior latex, you can't afford to make a mistake. And if you don't like the colors, your neighbors probably won't either; colors have public impact - you're not the only one who has to live with them. But a little research and planning can help you get started with the confidence that the final paint job is one that you - and your neighbors - will be pleased with.

Field, Trim, and Accent

An existing house isn't a blank canvas - after all, you're not changing the color of the roof, the brick or stone, and maybe not even the windows (if they're vinyl or aluminum clad). Roofs and masonry walls are large areas of unbroken color and natural starting points for creating a palette.

An exterior paint scheme should be made up of at least three colors: the field - large areas such as walls or roofs; the trim - corner boards, window trim, fascias, rakes, etc.; and accent - specific elements including doors, shutters, and other architectural features.

Field colors make up the majority of what you'll see on the house and will lead you to the choice of trim and accent. Are you trying to make your house look a little more prominent on the street? A lighter field color will make it look larger; a darker color will visually shrink it. "Unattractive" elements - gutters, downspouts, etc., should also be painted the field color to help them "disappear" into the background.

But it's the trim color that can make or break the scheme. Painting the trim the same color as the field can work in some cases, but it can also give the house an "unfinished" or "wedding cake" look. Darker trim - especially around the windows - can cause a "frame" effect, where the windows look like pictures hung on a wall. Keeping the trim lighter than the field is almost always a safe bet.

The accent color is where the excitement is. Once you've chosen an attractive combination of field and trim, make it "pop" with an eye-catching accent color. It's a tool to give life to an otherwise muted color scheme and draws attention to the important features of the house. The front door, shutters, and the windows frames (not the trim) are good places for accent colors. Windows painted with accent and trim colors together can be the most interesting part of the composition.

Choosing a Paint Scheme

The two most important considerations in choosing a color scheme are the architecture of the house and the neighborhood context.

Historic architectural styles, for example, look best in their original color schemes, although these can vary quite a bit. Original Colonial and Colonial Revival homes were often quite colorful on the inside, but less so on the exterior. Often they were painted in a single color for the field and trim, with a second color for an accent. Combined with prominent red brick chimneys and a brick or stone base, the effect is a three-color scheme.

Victorian homes - often referred to as "painted ladies" - sometimes showed off six or more colors of trim and accent. Making that look good today takes the services of a color specialist and a lot of time. But a similar effect can be had with as little as three colors if they're well placed on the house.

The Craftsman style of the early 20th Century sported a darker, earthier color scheme using deep browns, greens, and reds. The current popularity of the style is making more homeowners consider richer color schemes for their homes.

Take cues from the other houses in your area - a house should have its own personality and style, but houses don't look good in "party dress" all the time.

Final Coat

Whether you're comfortable with choosing colors or not, you have several resources that can make the decision much easier. Many paint manufacturers have produced pre-selected color palettes arranged by architectural style or color range that specify compatible field, trim, and accent colors. They're available at paint and building supply stores and most are very well done.

Many paint companies have online paint selection programs that suggest proper color combinations - some even allow you to preview colors on photographs of real houses, or on a digital photo of your own home. Sherwin-Williams.com and Lowes.com both have excellent online tools.

Plan ahead, be bold in your color choices, and use paint company resources. But don't ask for red, green, or blue in the paint store - they won't know what you're talking about!

Exterior Paint Colors - How To Choose?

Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect - Luxury Home Plans

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Interior Design - The Meaning of Colors

We live surrounded by colors, shades and light. Each tone and sometimes we don't even notice it, influences our mood, each color has a meaning and intertwines with our frame of mind. There is nothing arbitrary in this world: it's all harmony. Have you noticed? There are days you feel like wearing black and days you feel like adding color to your life, spicing it up a little by wearing an orange top or a lime green scarf, or a mysterious dark red evening dress. You can choose the colors for your wardrobe according to your mood and change them as often as you like, but you cannot change the colors of a room so easily. When you start decorating a room it is very important that you choose the colors right.

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Interior designers use a color wheel to choose colors and tones that match. You should know that there are active colors (such as red, yellow and orange), passive colors (blue, green and purple) and neutral colors (white, black, gray, beige and brown). It is very important that you know how each of these color groups might influence a room. For example, warm colors tend to stand out; neutrals, as their name suggests are..... neutral; and passive colors calm the atmosphere.

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You should find a way to balance the tones, to create the mood you long for. You want a room full of energy, use orange. You want passion - red is the answer. You want to chill - take blue. So let's see what each color means, for colors are not given the same meaning all over the world.

Red is for many the color of passionate love: a red rose, a red box of chocolates on Valentines Day, a red heart, but in South Africa red means mourning. Red is also the most common color found in national flags. That is because in ancient times flags were usually used on the battlefield and red gave the signal for battle. Red is also the color of blood - red eggs at Easter symbolize the blood of Christ and good luck. Red is good luck also in China, where it is also used as wedding color. If you like red, creating an interior decoration with a Chinese theme is a perfect choice.

Green is the color of nature. You find it everywhere: in trees, grass and even some fruits. It relaxes and inspires. In ancient times green was the color of honor and victory. In Ireland, this is still the color of good luck. Choose an Irish theme if you like dark green. Blue is the most common color used in interior decoration - it relaxes and refreshes, it provides for a feeling of safety. This shouldn't be a surprise: as you know blue is also the color for police uniforms. If you choose blue for your home, you cannot go wrong. But blue is a cold color, so balance it with orange or yellow.

Purple is a royal color. In ancient times purple was difficult to obtain - the color was extracted from Purpura snails. This is also the color of inspiration, so if you are an artist, a room with purple accents might stimulate your mind. As purple is believed to help kids develop imagination, it is often used to decorate children rooms.

Yellow and orange are extremely warm colors. They are usually associated with the sun and with tropical fruits (oranges, bananas, lemons). Both have a positive impact, however yellow could be taken as a symbol of jealousy and deceit and let's not forget that some time ago, in Spain, executioners wore yellow. Take care how you use orange and yellow in interior decorations: both stand out and tend to dominate the room. Black and white are neutral. Both symbolize mourning, each for different civilizations. But hey, almost each color symbolizes mourning for some: red for South Africans, blue for Iranians, purple for women in Thailand, yellow for Egyptians, white for Chinese and Japanese, black for Europeans and Americans. But black and white are both very elegant and, while you should not paint your walls black, you could choose black furniture to give your interiors a feel of opulence and strength. White is purity, kindness, peace and loyalty.

Interior Design - The Meaning of Colors

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Interior Design

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Master Bedroom Paint Colors - Creating the Right Mood to Match Your Decor

In home decorating, color is one of the most important tools you have to create atmosphere. Ideally, you will need to match color schemes to the style of home furnishings and even the architecture of the house. This is because mood is not determined by color alone but is created in the meeting of different design elements.

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For example, the minimalist look characteristically brings together modernist architecture, clean lines, pure forms, natural materials and neutral tones, resulting in an airy, uncluttered feel. In contrast, the mood of the Tuscan look depends on warm, earthy colors. Other decorative styles are also associated with particular color palettes. A color style mismatch will prevent you achieving your overall goal.

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Because color and décor styles require this co-ordination, the furniture, fittings and style of master bedrooms may invite particular color schemes. Rules are made to be broken but simply imposing color schemes on pre-furnished rooms may not create the desired atmosphere. Use a color wheel to create your own color scheme.

Which Mood?

If you are intent on creating a certain mood, first ask yourself if the room and the furnishings will support it. If not, you may need to refurbish. If your furniture is stylistically reasonably neutral, you will be able to utilize most color schemes to create the mood you want.

Colors and Atmosphere

Pastels and Neutral Colors:

These colors are useful to create a sense of space and calm. Neutral colors help create a sophisticated modern look and will go with many different décor styles.

Primary Colors:

Bright basic colors can complement a contemporary room as well as adding cheerful accents to a room featuring cottage furniture. The mood is casual and informal.

Rich and Deep Colors:

Deep reds, greens and purples go well with antique décor schemes and dark woods. Their opulence can create a sensual effect that may be ideal for the bedroom.

Earthy Colors:

Depending on the depth of color, these colors too can help create a warm and sensual atmosphere.

Blue and White:

Blue is commonly chosen for bedrooms because it is a cool, calm color that fosters a sense of serenity and tranquility.

Black and White:

High contrast black and white color schemes suit rooms with unfussy furnishings, producing a cool, sophisticated look.

Browns and Burgundies:

Traditional master bedrooms are often frilly and feminine, perhaps with a 'boudoir' look. Deep, dark colors can create a more neutral or masculine atmosphere and an elegant feel.

Lighting, Color and Mood

If color is crucial to creating atmosphere, it is in turn dependent on lighting, both natural and artificial. Light can bleach or deepen colors and dramatically alter a room's atmosphere of. If using blues in a cool room, choose shades with more warmth. Similarly, if using yellows in a warm room, go for cooler shades.

Colored lights are one way of manipulating mood in a room without necessarily painting and changing soft furnishings. The right light can turn a bedroom that is neutral and cool by day into a room that is full of warmth and sensuality at night.

Master Bedroom Paint Colors - Creating the Right Mood to Match Your Decor

Colors are important. Learn more at ThatPainterLady.com and get practical advice that shows you how to choose paint colors for your home.

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A Guide on Choosing Interior Paint Colors

There are many different factors that go into choosing interior paint colors. Things such as a certain style you are trying to accomplish or trying to match a piece of furniture in the room can all affect the choice you make for the paint color of the room. Even with so many factors that influence the actual color of paint that you may choose, there are certain guidelines that you should follow when picking interior paint colors.

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Don't Rush Into a Paint Color Choice

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Thousands of different interior paint colors are available, so one should not rush into a decision without properly planning it out. Visit your local hardware or paint store and gather paint chips in whatever colors that catch your eye or that you like for the room. Make sure that you get a variety of chips as things can look very different when you get home and look at the color in the room.

When you do get home with your paint chips be sure that you not only just hold them up on the wall, but you walk around with them to compare them with furniture, the flooring, and windows. You want to make sure that the color is well suited to everything in the room that you plan on keeping in the room when you are done remodeling it.

You may also want to ask for opinions from other people on the colors when you have it narrowed down if you are having trouble picking a color. They may see something that you don't.

Make Your Own Interior Paint Color

If you really can't find a paint color that you absolutely love for a room, then you may want to consider making your own paint color. Most paint stores now offer custom colors where they will match a color for you. This means that you can bring in a painting or fabric swatch from your room and have them match a color. Sometimes this may cost you more in the long run, but may be worth it to get the style that you desire from your room.

Choose an Interior Paint Finish

The next step after you have decided on an actual color for your paint, you need to pick what type of finish you want. The finish of the paint will affect the way that the paint looks. It can even make some paint colors look darker or lighter depending on the type of finish that you choose.

· Flat Finish - This type of finish is a matte or duller finish. This is a good type of finish if you want to camouflage imperfections since the light will not reflect off the paint. This type of finish is not the best choice for a room with a lot of traffic as they are harder to clean than other finishes.

· Eggshell Finish - This paint finish has a small shine to it just like an eggshell. Eggshell finishes are popular since they are easier to clean and still have some shine to reflect the light in the room.

· Satin Finish - This finish has a small shine to it as well but with a smoother appearance. Satin paints do well with rooms that have high traffic since they are easier to clean.

· Glossy - This finish is as exactly as it sounds. It has a very high gloss or shine to it. There are also semi-gloss finishes that have a little less shine than a glossy finish. A glossy finish is most commonly used for accessories like trim and doors rather than on a whole interior wall.

Even though the color of a room can be changed quite easily, you want to make sure that you do your best to pick an interior paint color that fits your style as well as is something that is easy on the eyes. When you change the paint color of a room, it can truly change the whole entire look of the room.

A Guide on Choosing Interior Paint Colors

Leon Tuberman has been in the home furniture an interior decorating business for 40 years. He owns and operates http://www.BarnFurnitureMart.com a popular furniture store in Los Angelels that specializes in American made living room, bedroom and dining furniture for the home.

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