Selecting Paint Colors for Your Home: Hacking the Color Wheel
When it comes to projects around the house, whether working with a professional or doing it yourself, the one that sends most homeowner's stress levels through the roof is the selection of paint colors.
A friend recently shared the story of his sister and her paint selection saga. After loving the three tones he had used in his living room, his sister decided that it was time she repaint her living and dining rooms. Since she was very fond of the colors used by her brother it seemed a fairly straight-forward that she would select a shade or two from the same color family and painting would ensue. Three years later she is still putting up samples then standing and staring with eyes wide in terror; fearful that she will make a mistake. Her brother refuses to enter her home until this madness is concluded which, I'm certain, only adds fuel to her fires of insecurity.
While extreme, this story represents the all too familiar look of fear shared by home-owners when it's time to paint the walls of a room in their home. Baffled by where to start, nervous about picking something that everyone will hate and somehow convinced that the safety of the free world rides on this one single decision; it's no wonder that people are paralyzed by paint.
As with most fears, rational or irrational, prevailing over them is a process. For those DIY's who would like to feel more confident about their paint color decisions I'd like to introduce you to The Color Wheel.
If you enjoy shopping locally then head down to your nearest art supply store and pick-up one up or if Amazon is your preferred shopping method there are many options to be had and they'll deliver right to your door.
A color wheel is just that--a wheel of colors that help you understand and quickly see (rather than guessing) how different hues look together. Becoming comfortable holding and using a color wheel will allow you to see how colors relate to each other quickly and efficiently.
The basics are like this; 12 colors - the primary colors (red, yellow and blue), the secondary colors (colors you get by mixing the primary colors such as orange, purple and green) and the tertiary colors (the results of mixing primary and secondary colors (red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, yellow-green, yellow-orange, red-orange).
With thousands of paint colors on the market you might still be intimidated when trying to visualize those colors available to you while using a basic color wheel. If that's the case run to your paint supply store and ask if they have their own wheel. Many paint manufacturers create color wheels utilizing their own colors. This can put you ahead of the game particularly if you're feeling comfortable with the basic concept.
The more comfortable you become playing with the color wheel (yes, play with it... you're not doing brain-surgery) the more fun you will have picking perfect paint colors for every room of your home.
by J. Swan
Gloss