Color Case Study:

Hunterdon Life / Walls of Color

Using wall color is one of the most exciting and impacting aspects of home decorating. With paint, you can create a mood and atmosphere expressing your personality and make your home uniquely yours.

With a little planning, painting is an easy and economical way to periodically update your palettes and reflect current tastes. "Color plays an important role in how your home looks and how you feel in it," says Fred Wallach of CertaPro Painters, serving all of the greater Morris County area. "Whether you undertake the job yourself or you hire professionals, careful selection and use of color can create a great sense of satisfaction without requiring a large investment."

Getting Started

White Isn't Just White: Far from being bland, white can be warm and sensual, if used correctly. You can choose from a variety of warm shades to effectively create the illusion of space and to avoid a cold, clinical atmosphere. White walls are also the perfect scene-setter for colorful furnishings without making the room seem cluttered.

Don't Forget the Ceiling: The clever use of color can transform the most difficult of spaces. Dark shadows "lower" the ceiling and lighter shades give it a lofty feel. Painting a vibrant ceiling to match a favorite piece, such as a rug, pulls the whole look together.

Pastels Create Serenity: Light colors, such as pastel yellow, blue and lavender, allow a great deal of flexibility and help create an atmosphere that is bright and spacious. Colors on the blue end of the spectrum imbue a cool effect, while those tinged with red, orange or yellow add warmth to a room.

Be Bold With Darker Colors: Painting with dark tones is a powerful design statement. Dark colors are ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere in a large, well-proportioned room. Painting one wall of a room or an alcove in darker tones can accent certain features or add a sense of depth.

Remember

Mix it up: Combining colors is a fun and easy way to add drama and dimension throughout your home. Warm colors tend to be lively and exotic. Cooler shades suggest a relaxed, calm atmosphere.

There is Room to Change: As you consider color, take into account the room size, its functionality, and how often it's used. Always test the color on the wall first. Don't be shy about taking a few risks with color. If you end up with something you don't love, it's relatively easy to fix.

Warm and neutral paint colors from the True Value E-Z Kare line were selected to create a cozy atmosphere. A two-tone treatment by CertaPro Painters creates architectural interest in the room.

Room-by-room color primer

Kitchen: Choose a color that is easy on the eye, bright and fresh. Cool blues and greens work if the room gets plenty of early morning light. Otherwise stick with rich yellows and oranges with reds as accents.

Living Room: The ideal color scheme should reflect all the moods and atmosphere required of this multipurpose space. Neutrals work well, as does utilizing bright color on one wall as an accent.

Bedroom: The bedroom is all about mood. Painting a rich deep color like deep green or scarlet can be flattering to most skin tones and can achieve a romantic feeling. If luxuriating under the covers in the morning is what you enjoy most, try a fresher, brighter color scheme, such as cooler shades of grays and blues to achieve serenity.

Bathroom: A place for pampering and rejuvenation. Work with existing color (bathtub tiles, sink basin) as a starting point. To balance white walls, introduce nature and texture, such as soft towels or a laundry basket.

Child's Room: Take into account the changing needs and tastes that will most likely occur over the years. Pretty pastels are lost on a baby, whose developing eyesight can't pick up subtleties. Have fun with vibrant pop colors instead. Pick up key colors from baby's bedding to match the walls.