Picking proper paint particularly puzzling

It has been awhile since I've written about paint colors, but that doesn't mean people are not wondering about it. I do several paint color consultations each month, and the same types of questions come up often.

"What colors are good for homes these days?" Wow-- what a question! There really is no one correct answer to that question. The answer varies widely, based on the style of the house, the furnishings already in place, the taste of the homeowner, the amount of natural and artificial lighting in the room, and more. If you choose carefully, almost no color is entirely off limits.

What works for one client, may not work for another client, and it is my job to help them achieve the look they want. During one recent consultation, the client showed me some very unique drawer pulls that she had custom made for a dining room china cabinet. They were all different, with abstract designs in bright colors like cobalt blue, fuchsia and turquoise. They were going to make a big statement in the room. The paint color had to balance these intense colors but not take away from the beauty of these tiny works of art. We opted to paint the walls a shade of yellow, and go bold on the ceiling with cobalt blue. This dramatic hue would pull the colors from the drawer pulls, and bring the eye up to the gorgeous modern crystal chandelier. On my next visit, we will select different jewel tone fabrics to reupholster the dining chairs.

"Do you ever recommend white for walls?" Sometimes, yes! White for walls is fine as long as it done on purpose, and not because you are afraid of color. For one recent client, a teenage girl, I recommended we paint the walls bright, glossy white. To contrast with the white, I recommended modern black furniture, with bedding and decorative pillows in the bright, vivid colors she loves, such as lime green, magenta and teal. The result would be a fun, contemporary room-- a good fit for this energetic and dynamic girl.

"What is a color I won't get tired of?" Neutrals like tan, gray and cream are great colors for people who like to keep the same look for many years. A warm, neutral color like Spanish Sand (by Kelly Moore) works well in many types of homes, and provides a beautiful backdrop for a variety of furnishings. I recently recommended Spanish Sand to a client whose home decor is traditional and elegant, with rich fabrics and ornate wood furniture. Her bedroom color scheme is eggplant and dark green, with floral print bedding, two dark green wing chairs, and new drapes in green and gold, with a hint of purple. We needed a color to tie everything together, and Spanish Sand did the trick. It warmed up the stark white walls, and coordinated beautifully with all of the fabrics.

With so many choices, the right paint color is out there waiting for you.

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on Dec. 9, 2006.

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All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna Jacoby.