Here are some simple and creative ideas that will give you a new perspective on what you can accomplish through color. Enjoy!
Sweet Orange
From sun-kissed terracotta to spicy curry and pumpkin hues, orange is a fabulous, flexible color in the home. In its palest peach tints, orange is also wonderfully flattering to skin tones, making it invaluable in the bedroom or bathroom.
The Golden Touch
Add a touch of opulence to a dining room or guest bath by applying the golden rule. Splashes of golden, amber, and platinum hues add instant elegance.
Warm shades give rooms a golden glow for an effect that is both dressy and inviting—a perfect combination.
Painting Rough Textures
When painting a rough-finish wall such as stucco or textured plaster, remember this rule of thumb: Go one shade lighter when choosing colors.
Smooth surfaces reflect light, making colors look lighter. The exact same colors will look darker on a textured surface. For example, a pale apricot hue will appear more peach-toned on a smooth surface, and closer to terracotta on a rough one.
Paneling Makeover
There is almost no makeover so simple—yet so effective—as painting over dated wood paneling. A tired 1970s rec room can be transformed into a fresh, stylish space in a matter of hours, with little more than a coat of clean, glossy white paint.
For a subtle contrast, choose a warm, creamy white with a yellow or pink undertone for the walls. Then paint any trim in a "pure" white such as Super White 02 or Decorator's White 04. The difference can be astounding.
Being Green
Green as an exterior color has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past decade. It is traditionally a color reserved for trim (think of New England farmhouses with their dark green shutters and doors). Today, gray-greens and khaki-greens are popular choices for the walls and siding of homes.
If you are leaning toward green, remember this tip: The more green you use, the greener (as in primary green) it looks. Grayed, blackened, and low-intensity greens are thus your best bet when covering a large area.
When Past Is Present
In this age of "McMansions," when houses grow ever higher and bigger, there has emerged a trend toward visual downsizing. This idea is nothing new, however.
Consider this wise counsel from a 1950s Benjamin Moore brochure, written when low, modular ranch houses and split levels were all the rage: "Make your house seem lower with a dark roof and horizontal division of color…." Good advice never goes out of style.
