DON'T BE SHY GIRL GO BANANZA

We've all been there. Wanting to redecorate our tired, boring spaces. Or maybe you have a brand new blank space! Buying a new house is so exciting! Until the reality sinks in that now you are solely responsible for decorating that space.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things for me in this scenario is narrowing down my chosen color palette and finally choosing paint colors and textiles for my rooms! The struggle is very real here folks. I find myself going back and forth constantly, wanting to pry my eyeballs out with a jagged fork after looking at so many color options. I change my mind too many times to count. I'm the kind of person who does not do well with options! So I often turn to the pros for advice (and surf Pinterest until my hands start to hurt), admiring the people who do this for a living and actually know a thing or two about feng shui, atmosphere, mood, and color families. But in my research, I like to think I've learned a few tricks here and there along the way. So in case you are looking for a little guidance, here are my industry approved top tips for using color.

Test drive your options

"Don't buy the cow until you've tasted the milk." Wait. Or is it "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" Hmm...minor details. Either way, test trive your paint colors. Paint large areas around the room with your favorite contenders. And then give yourself a few days to absorb what you've done. The lighting varies throughout the day, and your paint colors can shift before your very eyes. It's really important you give yourself a few days to accurately assess your color choices. I painted my living room Elephant Gray by Benjamin Moore once. I loved it. The paint chip looked awesome in my living room. It looked awesome at the store. It looked awesome on the walls when we painted it that night. But you know what happened? The next day was sunny and bright, and all that natural lighting coming in through my big windows made my walls look purple! It eventually grew on me and I learned to work with it, but I can honestly admit that I was in a sad state of depression over my choice for a good week (at least).

Once you have a color in mind, make sure you take a look at the different hues. Often, going with the muted hues (less saturated colors) will give you the look you are going for. Some consider it a safer bet, but I've always been one to hang on to my caution, rather than throwing it to the wind. More often than not, if I like a color, I always go a few hues lighter than the color that first caught my eye. It is much more versatile in the long run.

Do what the pros do

Make a mood board. Or a curated board. A collection. Heck, even a Pinterest board. Just put some things together and create a general "plan." Throw together magazine pages, postcards, anything that has color palettes or patterns that appeal to you. Take photographs of things you come across in your everyday day to day, and take the time to curate your collection.  Collect paint chips, textiles, flooring, room accents, drapery fabric, rugs, fixtures, etc., and see what they actually look like all paired together. Seriously. Glue them all to a posterboard, then make it really official and slap a title on your posterboard. Call it, "Suzie's living room." Or if you're like me, just call it hell.  Then get some wine and binge drink until things start to go together. It'll make you feel so much better.  Edit this collection often throughout you design process.

Get her in the mood

We've all heard how different colors can illicit a specific mood in the viewer. Keep this in mind when you are starting your color palette journey.

Go bold or go home

I painted my bedroom a very rich, dark charcoal. I have a silver upholstered headboard with ivory damask sheets, an ivory comfortor, white baseboards, black doors, dark cherry dressers, and creamy drapes with black rods. I have cream colored lamps with mercury glass on my nightstands, large romantic (neutral toned) artwork on the walls, and a gray and cream upholstered piano bench at the foot of my bed. I used to have white faux fur rugs on either side of the bed until the cat puked on them and ruined them. Yes, both of them. My point is, my bedroom was 50 shades of dark gray and smoldering. Most people have heard the myth that if you paint your walls dark colors, the room will seem smaller. It's a myth. Well, sometimes it can be true, but not if you do it right. You can use lighting, mirrors, art, and fabrics that can compliment the walls and the room size will not feel any different. So don't be shy girl go bananza.

Use proportions

I always believe in sticking to the rule of proportions. If you’re using several colors, try a 70/20/10 proportion. For 70 percent of the room's color, use the lightest color in your palette. Use the second lightest color for about 20 percent. Then use the boldest colors for the last 10 percent.

Decorate with art, of course

Bringing color to your home is easy when you can find artwork based on your existing colors. Why not commission a painting to fill a large, boring wall? Have you ever walked into a room and felt an instant vibe, or energy? Like something wanted to take you by the hand and lead you around the room? That's whay the right colors can do in a large work of art. Statement pieces grab you by the soul and pull you in. They stir emotions and ignite curiosity. They command. Click here to learn more about commissioning your own painting.

A word about neutrals

I love a neutral room. I feel the neutrality trend is making a big comeback. I've experimented with bold colors. I've experimented with muted hues of bold colors. I've had every room in my house painted a different color before. And you know what? I quickly learned it is literally impossible to continually redecorate rooms like this. And I need to redecorate often or I feel stagnant. There is something to be said about keeping your walls and basic elements very neutral, and relying on texture and decor to add your pops of color and feeling. Gray, white, beige, they all speak the language of love and comfort. To me, there is nothing more beautiful than a simple, clean, white room with pops of unique, colorful artwork to compliment:)

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