Neat Paint Advice That You Could Use for Your Bedchamber

By: Katrin Dunne Posted on: 2008-04-21 ** Print Article ** ** Copy Article ** ** Email Article ** - Category Feed

Article Summary: Painting is among the more likeable parts of decorating your house, but that doesn’t mean there is no work involved. Truth is, it needs a fair amount of thinking—and even some trial and error—in order to find a hue that would suit your room for a long time. Usually, an overly eager homeowner would just pick out her favorite color and eventually set out to work. Thus, the paint either clashes with the room decorations or ends up looking way too plain.

Painting is among the more likeable parts of decorating your house, but that doesn’t mean there is no work involved. Truth is, it needs a fair amount of thinking—and even some trial and error—in order to find a hue that would suit your room for a long time. Usually, an overly eager homeowner would just pick out her favorite color and eventually set out to work. Thus, the paint either clashes with the room decorations or ends up looking way too plain.

So how do you avoid a variety of these common mistakes? One thing you may do is play a bit with your colors. Think beyond the usual solids and stripes, neutrals and pastels, whites and blacks. Sometimes, just a vibrant color choice can make a difference between a room which is dull and one that is lively. Here are some cool color tricks you might want to try in your bedchamber.

Use a variety of colors. Can’t settle on just a single color? Use two colors. Alternate colors between walls so that you will have two similar colored walls that face each other. This will work great for roommates or couples who like different colors. Contrasting colors work best—you can try blue and pink, green and orange, or yellow and purple. If you wish to go with this style, make sure that the rest of your furnishings in a neutral shade (such as metal or wood), if not, there will just be way too much color within the room.

Create some contrast. Contemporary styles have a tendency to be clean and minimalist, preferring stark whites and blacks. While this is certainly stylish, it can get dull after a while. If you adore minimalist style but also want something whimsical and bold, try adding a splash of color to your plain white wall. It may be a delicate floral detail or a simple stripe. The aim of this is to eliminate the dullness of solid colors, so that the eye continuously moves around the room.

Do experiment with textures. Some colors are simply too dull or lifeless to paint a whole room with. Beige, Off-white, and cream are some of the more common examples. If you approve of these colors, you may bring them to life by accentuating them with texture. Try to look for a paint roller with a pattern on it or try using a sponge for application for a rougher finish. Make use of textures on just one wall, though—too much of it will make the room seem messy and cramped.

Reverse your colors. Majority of people will choose off-white, white, or cream for the furniture, utilizing the more vibrant colors for their walls. If you’re feeling bold, you may want to try doing the reverse: opt for a pastel color for your walls and a richer, darker shade for the edges and trims. You may also go for a pale wall and dark curtains (if you have the lighting to compensate), or brightly colored furnishings on a neutral or wood-finished wall. Make certain the colors still work together, and that you can be happy with it for several years.

Make your own shades. If you cannot find any color you like on the palette, try creating hues of your own. Get a small portion of each of your favorite colors, and mix and match until you end up with a shade you like. It may even be a fun and pleasant activity for you and your children! Just be sure to take down all your mixes, so you may easily re-create your color when it's already time to paint.

Create Drawings. A solid hue is at times just not enough, no matter how bold and vibrant the color is. If patterns and textures do not appeal to you, why not draw on the walls yourself? You wouldn't need to paint a whole mural—just a few vibrant lines in the right places may make a lot of difference. For something which is less permanent, you can opt for a wall decal or a detail from used wallpaper patterns.

Create a feature wall. A feature wall is simply a wall which is aesthetically unique from the other parts of the room, either by texture, decoration, or color. Pick a wall which is visible from any part of the room, so that it will be your focal point. Color it with a bolder color than your other walls and set it off with different wall accents like grilles, picture frames, paintings, or hanging shelves. If you do it right, your feature wall will liven up even the dullest color schemes.
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Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Katrin Dunne
Katrin Dunne has varied and wide background which range from art studies and commercial architectural design to underwater photography to brand identity development. She takes charge of her own small design studio in San Francisco and she's also a color consultant and design columnist for the web site redeco.org. Katrin's pieces may help you pick just the perfect paint, wall coverings and accessories for your next design project.

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