Paint Color

Vancouver-WA Interior Design ​ can help you select the paint colors you want to make each room come "alive"!   The mood or feeling of a room is created by your choice of colors, the style of furnishings, the amount of texture and pattern you choose and your accessories. Since there's so much to think about when creating a mood, establishing a theme through the selection of an inspiration piece can make this portion of a decorating project much more fun and interesting.  Generally, it's best to choose three colors in a room: a dominant color, used for walls, carpeting and fabric backgrounds; a secondary color, found throughout the room in fabrics and accessories; and an accent color, used sparingly to give energy and excitement to the room. Color should always support the theme you want to use. Many times, the colors that are most appropriate are found in the patterns and design of your inspiration piece.   Color adds great dimension and you can also have lots of fun with color no matter what room you want to show off.   We at Vancouver-WA Interior Designers  know how to mix and coordinate colors so that the accent pieces you will use will really make for a conversation piece when you are entertaining. Call us today at 360-931-1797 and have our design expert give you the special touches that your home desires.
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Before painting and rearranging, let our Vancouver-WA Interior Designer  spend some time giving you ideas to think about that you and your family will want to use for selecting colors and the lifestyle that you  live.  At Vancouver-WA Interior Designs we suggest  looking through some of your favorite home magazines for inspiration and pull out ideas or rooms that appeal to you.   Collect  things from around the house that make you feel good and think about using those ideas to select  color cues and perhaps a special effect  that you're looking for in your home. This is the beginning of a well-planned and decorated home that you'll be living in and will be cherishing for years to come.  
Determining your paint color is often one of the first decorating decisions you make, so you want to make sure it is consistent with your style and overall vision for the space. You ask yourself what color should I begin with?   Before you buy several gallons, be sure to bring home several different paint swatches to determine what color and sheen will fit your space best. These free cards let you compare and contrast very similar colors, so you can get a feel for how a color will look in your space and with your furniture. This is especially helpful when trying to match with current accessories or linens. If you're still unsure, you can buy paint samples to test on your desired location to make sure the color is what you expected. Always look at the test spot during different times of the day, as changes in lighting can alter a color’s appearance. Additionally, consider what features are important to you and your family, like options that are non-toxic, mold- and mildew-resistant or include primer for quick and thorough coverage
Choosing a paint color is purely subjective and  is an entirely personal decision: Only you can decide what you like and what will look good in your home. As you pick your color, consider what will work well with your current furniture and accessories, especially if you plan on keeping them. You should also keep in mind what will help the space look larger and brighter. Typically, darker hues makes a room appear smaller, while lighter colors do the opposite. In the end, if you can't choose between two colors, you can always use both if they complement each other. Accent walls, where one wall sports a typically bright or dramatic color, are always a popular option.    You’ll hear terms like oil-based or latex paint being used commonly when exploring your options. Here’s the low down: Oil-based products will be more durable, but are more difficult to clean and have longer drying times; they are recommended for trim and baseboard projects. Latex products aren't as durable, but boast quick drying times and are much easier to work with, making them the perfectly suitable for walls and ceilings. You will also have to choose between various paint sheens, below is a list of the different variations you can use:

    1. Satin: Durable and easy to clean, with a velvety luster. Satin sheen is good for rooms with high traffic, like hallways and family rooms, but does reveal application errors easily, making touch-ups difficult. 

   2. High Gloss: Very Durable, easy to clean and super shiny. It’s good for doors, cabinets and trim, however, high gloss finish shows every imperfection, so prep thoroughly. 

   3. Semi Gloss: Durable and easy to clean, with a visibly glossy appearance. This is great for bathrooms and kitchens, where water drips and grease splatters often adorn the walls. 

  4. Flat or Matte: Medium-low durability, tricky to clean, with no shine or luster. This sheen holds the most pigment and covers imperfections the best, but is hard to clean without removing paint along with the scuffs and dirt. It does best in low traffic spaces, like adults’ bedrooms. 

  5. Eggshell: Medium durability with a no-shine, low luster appearance. Eggshell does wonders for covering imperfections, and is perfect for common spaces that take very little traffic, like dining or living rooms. 

As mentioned, always pick a color that you will enjoy for years to come and know that you will enjoy for a lasting time.  Our Vancouver-WA Interior Designer knows what matters and can help with you the homeowner in making the right choices for color that you will be happy about!   Give us a call today at 360-931-1797 and we can  get you started with a new look you'll love to show your friends and family!