Excerpted from Christopher Lowell's Seven Layers of Design
Don't buy on your first trip
Choosing paint requires two trips to the store. If you know in advance that you're not actually going to be choosing colors on your first trip, you can relax and get inspired. Stop by the store on a Monday evening after work to avoid the weekend crowd. Turn your fear into excitement and pull color swatches to which you're immediately drawn. Take as many paint swatches home as you want. I've been known to take 50 or 60 at a time -- that's why they're there.
Also available for about $20 is an entire fan deck, which represents the complete line of a manufacturer's colors. These decks come organized and indexed for easy reference, but you have to ask for one. Designers carry a fan deck with them at all times, and I've used mine many times on my show.
Perhaps the biggest mistake people make in choosing color is not knowing the difference between a background color and an accent color. In cosmetic terms, the background is the foundation and the accent is the lipstick, eye shadow, and blush. If we understand that wall color is designed to show off the accessories in a room, then we can understand why choosing accent colors for the walls instead of appropriate background shades is a mistake.
The ceiling, too?
Yes, do paint the ceilings. Introducing rich color on the walls while leaving the ceiling white will make your room look as if you've spread a big bedsheet over it. The ceiling will actually seem lower if left white. If the walls are nine feet or lower, paint the ceiling two shades lighter than your wall color also in a flat finish. If your ceilings are higher, paint them one shade darker than the wall color. By using two shades of the same color for your walls and ceiling, the light will now reflect evenly throughout the room.
Don't forget the trim
The very lightest color on your swatch is for the trim (moldings, doors, windows, and built-ins); use a semigloss or eggshell. Unless your intention is to create a traditional Colonial look, I recommend keeping the trim color light. This will draw one’s eye to your windows and doors, rather than create a visual barrier. Darker trim colors, including natural wood, can often look cartoonish, while light trim is fresh, crisp, and contemporary.
One last helpful hint
Once you've chosen your room colors, place swatches on index cards and carry them with you. You never know when you might need to refer to them as you choose fabrics, accessories, and rugs.
Text and images excerpted from the book Christopher Lowell's Seven Layers of Design, © 2000 by Discovery Communications, Inc. Used with permission.
