Three Do's and Don'ts when Choosing Colors for Your Home

I spend a great deal of time helping my clients choose just the right color for their home. Many of them have lived with white walls for years and are ready for a change; others have tried colors but for whatever reason feel unhappy with their choice. Here are three do's and don'ts to help you choose the perfect color for your home.

1. DON'T get fixated on the idea that dark paint colors make a room look smaller. Some rooms are small-- a dark color will make the room feel cozy and dramatic. A friend of mine painted her dining room a dark chocolate brown, and it is stunning! And I selected a dark burgundy red for a client's powder room. The look is rich and elegant.
DO use lighter colors in the upholstery, furnishings and trim to contrast and balance the dark paint colors. For example, in a chocolate brown dining room, use antique white crown molding and baseboards, and a cream-colored tablecloth. Use artwork with dark frames and white mats.

2. DON'T forget about the ceiling. If you paint the walls a darker color and leave the ceiling white, your eye will draw upward to that stark white ceiling.
DO paint the ceilings! If your walls are red, for example, select a neutral tan color for the ceiling to soften the contrast between the walls and ceiling. In a small room, try painting the ceiling either the same color as the walls or a shade or two lighter than the walls. In my own home office, my walls are blue, and the ceiling is one shade lighter.

3. DON'T judge the room or the color until it is all done and put back together. Even I got scared when my husband and I painted our bedroom a dark brick red color. After the first wall was painted, I wanted to give up and start over. However, we kept on painting. After I put the furnishings back in, and made the bed with the colorful new bedspread (that, of course, contained quite a bit of the brick color), I loved the room. It looked cozy and warm; very unique.
DO trust yourself-- if you've had white walls for years, it will take you a little while to get used to the color. But give yourself that time. I promise that once you've tried wall colors, you'll never go back to plain white.