CasaSugar

Ask Casa: Help Me Choose Paint Colors

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:19 -0800

Hi Casa,

My boyfriend and I are about to move into our first house and I couldn't be happier! I can't wait to get in there and start putting our touch on things! The only problem is that I am having a tough time picking a paint color for the living room.

A few years ago, I bought a set of three prints that I absolutely love. I want to hang them above the sofa in our new place, but I'm having a tough time finding the right paint color to highlight them. When we first bought the prints, our living room was white and they popped beautifully. But now I'm a little sick of white and want to add some color, but I'm not sure what direction to go. The living room in our new place opens onto the dining room, so whatever color we choose will have to continue into the dining room too.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help,
KatieMise

To see my suggestion for KatieMise, read more.

Hi Katie,

Great prints! I love them. This isn't a tough one. When choosing a wall color for a wall with artwork, my rule of thumb is always to choose a hue that's an accent in the art piece, but not the primary color. You should choose a complementary color, too. In this case, the background colors of two of your prints are a greenish-blue and a true blue, and in all three prints there is reddish detailing. So, I think a red or watermelon hue would really make your prints pop. Not only are they on the opposite side of the color wheel from those greens and blues, but reddish walls will make the red detailing in your prints pop!

I made a couple of mock-ups to give you an idea. But the best thing to do is head to your paint shop and grab a few samples in these colors, and then bring them home to see what works with your prints. Then, test the paint on your walls before you paint the whole thing. If a whole room in a red color is too much for you, you can always just paint an accent wall and then leave the rest of the walls white. I think it works with the artwork, too, because red is a really important color in Asian culture.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Casa

How-To: Decorate With Yellow

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:06 -0800

Yellow isn't my favorite color, but it's certainly a very powerful one. A room painted in a soft, pale yellow can instantly create a quaint, country vibe, while one pop of bright yellow in a dark room makes a space look modern and adventurous. But using yellow can be difficult. Some hues look dated if used in the wrong way, and it's also a color that can very easily clash. So check out this slideshow to learn how to decorate with yellow.

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Ask Casa: A Color Palette Query

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:47 -0800

Hi Casa,

I am moving into an apartment soon with roommates and want some help decorating. I get my own room and can style it any way I want but can't decide on the color palette.

I love dark moody lounge type colors (dark grays, reds, purples, etc.) and bright bold colors for furniture, but the room is not that big. I'm scared the dark colors would shrink it even more. Not a big fan of light pastel colors since most of my rooms in the past has been light blues and such but I love different shades of white. I'm aiming for a space where I can dim the lights and put on some music and chill but at the same time can transition into a workspace. Any suggestions? Thanks, Tiffany

To see my suggestions for Tiffany, read more.

Hi Tiffany,

What a great question for Color Theory month! If you remember my post on cool colors, the hues that range from blue-green to blue-violet, including gray, you know that cool colors tend to recede, which has a calm and relaxing effect. Warm colors, the hues from red through yellow, browns and tans included, on the other hand, advance, with a more stimulating effect. So to achieve the effect you're looking for, you should paint your walls in cool colors.

Take note, cool vs. warm is not the same as light vs. dark - it's about the actual hue. That's not to say you can't use dark colors. But if you do, just pick one that's more blue, green, or gray, or a purple that's more violet, instead of a dark red or brown.

Then, you can use lighting to turn your dark and moody bedroom into a stimulating workspace. Obviously your workspace should be bright, whether your set your desk near a window or just have proper overhead lighting. But you can actually purchase tinted bulbs, for instance soft pink, to bring warm colored (stimulating) tones to your workspace.

I like your concept of using bright bold colors on furniture. Whatever dark moody wall color you choose, just choose complementary colors (on the opposite side of the color wheel) for your bold furniture pieces.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Casa

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Coveted Crib: Skylit and Vibrant in London

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0800

If I see a skylight, I'm sold. But this London home has a skylight that runs the length of its roof, in addition to full glass siding on its rear entrance, so my bags are packed. The rear doors open to a gorgeous modern patio, with neon seating, a fountain with a bridge, and a mysterious shed. Inside, the house is equally stylish, with bold, vibrant, accent walls ruling the rooms, and sharp but not statement-making furniture throughout. It's a truly a lesson in the power of color. And you thought Brits only decorated with "English rose." Want to take the full tour?

How-To: Decorate With Gray

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:49 -0800

If you read my November must haves, you know that this month I'll be giving you tips, advice, and ideas for adding color to your home. As part of these "Color Theory" posts, I'm going to focus on different ranges of color each week. This week, I'm beginning with cool colors, showing you how to decorate with specific colors, how to use color in small spaces, and how to paint and upholster with color. I've covered turquoise and lavender, so now it's time to move onto one of my all-time favorites: gray!

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How-To: Decorate With Turquoise

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

If you read my November must haves, you know that this month I'll be giving you tips, advice, and ideas for adding color to your home. As part of these "Color Theory" posts, I'm going to focus on different ranges of color each week. This week, I'll begin with cool colors, showing you how to decorate with specific colors, how to use color in small spaces, and how to paint and upholster with color. I'm kicking this off with one color I'm really loving lately: turquoise! Take a look at how you can decorate with this greenish-blue hue.

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Color Theory: Cool Colors

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:30:48 -0800

This week in Color Theory month, one of the areas I'll be focusing on is cool colors. The term is associated with the contrast of landscape light between the colors of daylight and sunset with a gray or overcast day, cool colors being the latter and warm, the former. Cool colors are the hues that range from blue-green to blue-violet, including gray.

As you know, colors have a psychological effect. Unlike their counterpart, cool colors tend to recede, which in effect creates a calm and relaxing space. With that in mind, you should consider this perceptual temperature of a color when choosing your paint and textiles. Cool colors are great for bedrooms and other lounging spaces. Cool colors also make a great background for warm-colored focal points, making them pop more. Stay tuned for more posts on decorating with cool colors.

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Dark Interiors For the Not-So-Dark Decorator

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:33 -0700

While many of us are reluctant to stray from the whites and neutrals that currently adorn our walls, there can be a big payoff when you go for bold color. Not sure whether to believe me? Then check out these dark wall colors and wallpapers to see what I mean. You might just be convinced!

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Love It or Hate It? Heather Mills's One-Hue Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:15:09 -0700

Heather Mills's three-bedroom London home is on the market for nearly $6.2 million, less than one year after she purchased the property for nearly $3.9 million. She's what we'd call a flipper. In most cases houses that have been flipped are designed with the buyer in mind, but I don't know how many people would find this shiny beige spread appealing. Tell me, is this one-hue home your champagne dream or champagne nightmare?

Are You a Fan of Bright Pops of Color?

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:00:43 -0700

This otherwise rather traditional entryway is given an eye-popping infusion of color, thanks to the neon purple chest of drawers. Would you ever paint a piece of furniture this boldly? Or do you think it's a design don't?

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