Painting Ideas for Just a Touch of Color
If you want to stick with white walls but yearn for a little excitement, bring in small doses of your favorite colors.
Gentl & Hyers
If you’re longing for color on your walls but stymied by the rainbow of options, we’re here to help. Paint pro Eve Ashcraft, author of the book The Right Color (Artisan, due out in October 2011), says the key to success is approaching a room with a complete paint palette, rather than slapping up a single shade. “You don’t listen to music one note at a time, and you don’t see colors one at a time,” Ashcraft explains. “It’s all about relationships, combinations, and context.” Need examples? Here are four—in blue, yellow, green, and red—devised especially for Real Simple readers. Copy these palettes for walls, ceilings, and trim, or get inspired to create your own.
Paint the Ceiling
Whether you’re drawn to hot pink or a wispy shade of blue, you’ll appreciate ceiling color most in a bedroom. It adds ambience
and has a lot of impact. In a kid’s room, white walls with a vivid top look neat but spirited. Remember to test ceiling shades
just as you would wall colors (see Tips For Choosing the Right Color Palette), even though it’s a bit of an effort to do so.
Paint Inside Shelves
A built-in or stand-alone piece that holds a mix of books and decorative objects is the perfect place for “contained” color.
Look for a shade that creates a pleasing backdrop for your collection; go a few notches brighter if you have deep shelves,
so the tone doesn’t get lost in shadows.
Paint Just One Wall
A great option if you want to use a strong color but are concerned about overpowering the room. Create a colored wall as a backdrop for a major piece: your sofa, bed, or desk. In a playroom or a kid’s room, colored chalkboard paint on one wall (or as a large color block at drawing height) is cheery and fun.
