Has this ever happened to you? You finally have the motivation, you have finally gotten over the last painting nightmare, the materials are purchased, and you have finally selected the perfect color! You may have hired a painter, or this may be a DIY project.  You’ve carried the swatch around with you for two weeks, and already purchased accessories and new wall décor to match. Your anticipation of how it will all look at the end fills you with excitement. After all, it’s not every day something as exciting as painting takes place!

The alarm goes off, the day is here! After your first cup of coffee, half of the first wall is painted and it’s on to the second. You are giddy with excitement! Except… you stop and look at the wall, and it doesn’t look like you thought it was going to. Then, you stop and think to yourself of something you’ve heard before, ‘paint never looks the same wet as it will once it dries.’ You quickly reassure yourself, ‘you picked the perfect color!’

The project continues. Some of the paint has now started to dry, and that thought creeps back into your mind, ‘it doesn’t look like it’s supposed to.’ In that state of denial, you recall hearing, ‘it can take a couple of coats before it looks like the true color.’ You again internally reassure yourself that it will be okay. You can’t wait until it’s done!

I think you know the rest of the story. It happens to all of us. We saw that very same color in a magazine, and we have the same color furniture that was pictured! Why doesn’t it look like it did in the magazine? Or perhaps your inspiration was from what you saw at the Christmas Party…the color was stunning in the Anderson’s great room and their layout is similar. Why does it not feel as warm and inviting in my house?

While it seems logical that the same paint color would look the same in a similar room but different house, it doesn’t. And it never will. That would make life too easy! Similar to clothes and hair styles, there is no ‘One Size Fits All’ for paint colors. Although I’m an avid fan of Pinterest and Houzz, I realize that these sites may sometimes cause more anxiety for clients. These sites provide ideas, and in many instances the projects can be done anywhere in any home. That is, when they are objects which can be made or moved. When it comes to lighting and color, these cannot be replicated to look identical to anything you see online or in a magazine. It is impossible! It can be done the same, but it will never look exactly the same.

Here is why:

Lighting

No two rooms are the same. Even in the same house! Imagine two bedrooms, facing the same direction, both with the same size windows, the same color walls, the same interior right down to the comforters.  However, the spare bedroom window  includes a large branch from the beautiful oak tree in the backyard, allowing less natural sunlight into the room.   Therefore, the wall color looks different when comparing these two rooms. Even in the same home!

Lighting is just one of the many reasons why the same paint colors may look drastically different in different rooms, as well as different homes.  Knowing which direction the room faces when choosing a paint color can make a significant difference in how the color will appear on the wall.  Natural sunlight (or no natural sunlight) is the single biggest factor aesthetically on the end result of how your color will look in the room.

When choosing paint colors, look at your samples in each room the color will be going in. Look at it in the morning, noon and night. Look at it on sunny days and on cloudy days. This is one tip to help you decide on the best color for your style and room!

Artificial Lighting and Light Bulbs

Whether you choose LED, fluorescent, incandescent, or others, the kind of bulbs will impact the way your paint looks. The type of bulbs in your light fixtures should also be considered when choosing paint.

Size and Shape of the Room

Every room is unique and has its own architectural characteristics. Like clothes shopping, (remember ‘One Size Does Not Fit All?’) if you’re short or petite, you choose clothing styles to fit.  Similarly, in a small room, putting a dark color on the wall will make the room appear even smaller. A larger room that feels cold and unwelcoming can be made more cozy by using the right paint colors. Just as there are decisions such as slim fit, curvy,  boot cut, etc,  when clothes shopping  the same goes for  design and paint color selections.

Lastly…taste!

This is your home. You should have some say in what color you want your walls! So, you like orange. Set aside the trends and fads. This is YOUR home. YOU are the designer. YOU will be living here. YOU must love it and feel good. If orange is a color you love, perhaps the bright orange won’t work, but maybe the rustic orange will.

The bottom line is this - If you chose the right colors for your home, the following is guaranteed:

• You will know it!  If you have to talk yourself into liking a color (or anything pertaining to design), it generally isn’t a good idea.

• You will feel good being in your home. Remember, your home should be your happy place!

• You won’t need to paint again until you want to! (It will be a want, not a need!)

• Your home will flow and it will feel harmonious.

Don’t let the dreaded paint and re-paint scenario rob you of your precious time and resources. At Creations by Caty, we take the stress and hard decision-making away, and leave the fun and easy part for you!  Call or email today to schedule a consultation!

Think HAPPY. Think COLOR!