A simple splash of colour can do wonders for any room. Just take a look at how a plain white room becomes alive with colour and line in our feature photograph. This simple paint project gives this room an edgy, youthful, urban flavour. Just imagine what you can create in your own home with a bit of paint and some imagination.
Colour is key
The right colour can make or break your paint project. Our feature photograph boasts the Sico paint colour Peacock Head, which is vibrant yet subdued, rich and earthy. Choosing the right colour for your space will depend on many factors. First, choose a colour that will co-ordinate with the rest of the room. The next factor is to decide what mood you want to create in your room. This decision will help you in the third consideration, which is to decide what paint treatment you'll use in your space. Let's break is down into some examples and specifics.
Co-ordinate the colours
The walls in our feature photograph are a crisp white, so there wasn't too much to worry about co-ordinating when choosing a paint colour. A horizontal band of any colour would have worked nicely with the white backdrop. If, however, you're working with fixed colours in your project room, you'll want to choose a feature colour that compliments the rest of the space. Take stock of the room in question. What's the biggest non-changeable colour in the room? It may be flooring, furniture, cabinetry, bathroom fixtures, wall tile or the existing wall colour, for example. Now determine if that colour is warm or cool. Bone-coloured bath fixtures would be warm, whereas true grey carpeting would be cool.
You'll then want to choose a focal colour that is in the same colour palette of warm or cool. For example, in the same bathroom, a splash of warm orange would work well, whereas a steel grey would not. Ask your paint supplier for assistance if you aren't sure.
Creating a mood
Even before you choose your focal colour, you'll want to decide on what mood you're trying to create. As mentioned above, the mood in our feature photograph is edgy and urban. The horizontal band of colour makes the room seem wider because the eye moves along it. So if you're updating the master bedroom, for instance, do you want to create a romantic feel, a cosy haven, a restful Zen space or a cheery retreat? Perhaps your home office needs an infusion of inspiration and vibrancy. Maybe that dull front hallway needs a cheery lift. Once you've spent a bit of time on this decision, the colour choice may become clearer.
When the mood decision has been solidified, you'll then want to decide on the paint treatment. There are so many easy, one-day paint treatments that can inject colour and personality into your decor that the sky really is the limit. The great part about these quick projects is you don't need a lot of paint or time to make a huge impact on your space. Here are just some ideas to get you started.
The horizontal band
This technique visually widens a room. It can work well in a playroom, bedroom, kitchen, hallway or living room. A treatment with more contrast, like the one in our feature photograph, will provide tons of visual impact and strong visual lines. A softer colour can work well in a bedroom if you prefer less contrast. In a hallway, a band of colour can look wonderful when you hang photographs gallery-style on it. The band of colour works best at eye level, in a metre-high strip. In a hallway, you may want to lessen the height of the band to avoid overwhelming the small space. You can even do 30-centimetre bands of colour along the top of the walls if you have high ceilings.
Geometrical shapes
A square or rectangular splash of colour behind a plain mirror will frame the mirror and create a focal point in a hallway or bathroom. A similar treatment beside a small dining table can liven up the breakfast nook. Colourful geometrics in a child's bedroom or playroom will add vibrancy and fun. If you find your chosen room feels boxy, consider painting large, colourful circles to give the room some softness.
If your headboard is nice but diminutive, put a splash of vibrant paint behind it to frame it in colour. If the bedroom lacks drama, paint a band of colour from floor to ceiling behind the head of the bed to create height.
Paint the inside back panel of plain bookshelves, china cabinets or even kitchen cabinets with a vibrant colour to give them new life. Paint the risers of wooden stairs to create a little drama.
Paint is such a fun and forgiving decorating tool. Take a leap of faith in yourself and get a little messy.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
