Painting your walls is a basic element of design and can enhance



any room for only $50. Your furniture and artwork can take on a

new look with a designer flare just by painting your walls.

So, the first question you may ask is how do I choose the right

color? Below are some recommendations to help you choose.

The first recommendation is to choose a tinted neutral. Instead of

choosing rich, deep colors for your first project, you will likely feel

more comfortable with a neutral color such as beige or gray and

thus will not date the room or create a jarring palate that you will

easily tire of.

At your local home improvement store, you will be faced with a sea

of color swatches - hundreds of versions of basic beige and gray to

choose from. So before you visit your local paint store, consider

these steps in choosing the right color for you.

If you like the feel of a warm and cozy room - think of fireplaces,

brown leather and sunsets - then you'll want to start with a beige

tone.

Now, consider your furniture and accessories. What colors do you

see? If you have a lot of black or navy, you may wish to choose

beige with orange or pink undertones to keep the look warm. If

you have browns or reds in your furniture, select cooler beige with

ashy tones to avoid 'overheating' your room.

If you prefer a cooler, airy look - chrome, glass, and shades of icy

blue - then select gray tones. Some stores will have a 'true gray'

color swatch which you can use to compare with their designer

selections. On comparison, you will notice that each gray has

undertones. Some will have blue or lavender tones; others may

have green or even a hint of pink.

Using the same guide as stated above, identify the main colors of

furniture and accessories in the room. Use green or pink toned

grey with cool toned furnishings to avoid it from feeling like an

icebox. Use blue or lavender undertones in rooms with warmer

colored furnishings.

If you undecided between beige and gray, than the easiest color

to work with is green. Keeping it in a muted tone will make it very

easy to live with, and will work with most color palates.

Painting your rooms with color will bring a finishing designer touch

to your home.