Paint Color: Go Bold or Go Home

When it comes to painting inside your home, you might have to fight that inner voice that says "white, white, white" or just barely off-white when you visit the paint store. Or you might hear the voice of a television designer saying "go with that neutral gray, or beige, or greige, whatever that is. But if your soul seeks color and your heart skips a beat when you see reds, blues, greens, and even oranges, don't let fear of the voices hold you back.

Paint is one of the few ways to individualize your home that (a) won’t break the bank and (2) can be covered up when necessary. So, if you’re drawn to bold colors, just go for it. Add some into your life. Here are five ways to creatively use paint to add color to your walls.

• Accent wall. When you’re first starting out adding color to your home, it’s okay to take baby steps. One way is to choose a single wall on which to add a bold, deep, bright, or dark hue. While you may not have too many options, the best wall to choose is one that has architectural details that your color can highlight. That means, choose the wall with the arch, the French doors, the clerestory windows or that sit below the stair rail. 
• Another accent wall to choose is the fireplace wall. Since most of the space likely has brick, tile or stone, paint the area above or to the sides of the fireplace as an accent.
• Doors are another place to be bold. Of course, it's fashionable to have a bright splash of color on your front entry, but you can dress up the rest of your doors too, so give them some rich farmhouse red or deep aqua that makes your heart sing.
• Cabinets or built-ins. Because shelving, doors, and other built-ins lend themselves to lovely semi-gloss or high-gloss paints, turning your set-in bookshelves, kitchen island cabinets, or bathroom vanity into a beautiful colorful display gives just the right juxtaposition to your white or light walls and ceiling.

When preparing to paint in a more deeply saturated color family, start by bringing home sample sizes of the colors you love. Paint a swatch on the proposed wall (if you’re brave) or on a sheet of butcher paper and then hang it on that wall. Live with it for several days and observe the color in all light variations from early morning to late evening so that you know what the final result will be before you put it on the wall.

If you’re renting and want a wall of your own to paint, and the house that goes with it, speak to your local real estate professional to get started on your home search now.