scmedia

Need a fresh coat of paint? For many of us, Spring means it’s time for a good thorough cleaning of our house- but how about taking this as a chance to refresh your decor as well? A fresh coat of paint can be underestimated at times. By simply changing the color of your walls- even just one wall- you can completely change the feel of the room, making it like new. 

Neutrals are always a great choice, as they can match any season. However, if you’re looking for something a little more interesting, keep reading to discover three of our favorite shades perfectly suited for Spring.

Blush

This color has become a new classic. It’s understated, sophisticated and classy but also brings an element of fun to the room. Blush has almost become a new neutral, and it can easily be transitioned into any season. If you’re a fan of grey, white and beige, give blush a try to expand your horizons, while still keeping a flexible, muted palette.

Sage Green

Over the last year, we’ve seen a huge influx in use of the color green- in everything from clothes, furniture, and accessories to paint. Sage green, or olive green is an extremely popular choice, These light green hues are reminiscent of spring time, and can bring a fresh, airy feel to a room while making a statement with color. Green is an extremely versatile color, lending itself to a number of different interior design styles. 

Yellow

There are a number of different approaches you could take with yellow. Mustard yellow is popular, and would be a great choice for a moody accent wall. Pastel yellows are a nice choice for an all over wall color- as they’re light enough not to be too overbearing, but still offer that bright, cheery feeling that goes well in a kitchen, bedroom or even your home’s exterior. 

All of these color choices are sure to make a splash in your home this season, to help freshen up your space and embrace the many colors of spring! 

No matter what name you give it – family room, living room, den, rec room – this is the room where everyone comes together to relax and spend quality time with one another. As a gathering area for the entire household, why not include all family members when making a decorating decision like paint? If you’re thinking “that’s crazy, we won’t all agree,” just give it a minute and consider this…

If you’re starting with an empty slate (new home or remodel) and the furniture and accents have not yet been chosen, you have the opportunity to incorporate all family members’ personalities into the paint color choice. If you have young children in the home, consider going with bright yellows and soft greens to stimulate creativity and happiness. If you feel your kids run you ragged and everyone could benefit from some calm, go with shades of blue. 

If you’re redecorating, have everyone choose their favorite item currently in the room and see if any of the colors are similar. If everyone chooses something red, for instance, and you do not want red walls, use red as an accent color by painting trim, windows, built-in shelves, or doors. Choosing a color in the same color family, just a few shades lighter or darker than the consensus color is also an option.

Still overwhelmed at the idea of so many opinions? Why not create your top three color scheme ideas and then put it to a vote? This way you’ll ensure you get something you’ll be happy with, and the rest of the family feels like their input is valued. Kids will feel very grown-up by helping to make important decisions like this and that will also help them have a sense of ownership, which could lead to a desire to keep the room neat and tidy. (Hey, we can hope!)

In the last article, we discussed how to paint your ceiling. Ceilings have long been the neutral wall in a room, but in recent years, painting your ceiling in a non-neutral color has become a major decorating trend. But, what if you’re not into painted ceilings? Here are some other ideas for non-traditional areas to put a pop of color that will make your home the talk of the town.

· The front door. The main entrance to your home sets the tone. While some communities may have homeowners association restrictions on what exterior colors you can use, the interior side is all yours for the painting. Pick a color from your kitchen or living room and paint the door in a high gloss version. (Semi- and high-gloss finishes are washable and this will come in handy when washing off any grimy fingerprints or shoe scuffs.)

· Paneled doors. Bedroom, bathroom and closet doors are traditionally white. What if you bucked that tradition and painted them the same color as the surrounding walls? Alternately, you could just paint the raised panels and leave the rest of the door white, setting off some great geometric shapes in a room-matching or room-complimenting color.

· Molding. White crown molding and floor molding can be quite boring when paired with neutral walls. Why not spice things up with a semi-gloss dark color on these wall borders? You could go a couple steps darker on the shade wheel of the corresponding wall color, or leave the walls white and have the molding make the statement.

· Banisters and rails. This one’s for the adventurous at heart. If you’re tired of the wooden and white stair rails, be creative and choose a color to put up here. Look for inspiration from your living room rug, sofa pillows or other accent pieces and paint the banister, rails, and floor molding. Something unexpected like this will make a conversation starter for anyone who walks in your front door!