COLOR... WHAT TO DO WITH IT. BRIGHTEN UP LIFE!

Happy Friday everyone. Although our temps dropped 40 degrees in a mere 24 hours, I still feel the summer light. After a cold, dreary, and GRAY winter why not take up a weekend project and excite your walls.


Yes, it's time for another design tip.....

Design Tip of the Week

This week's design tip is inspired by my current home project. When was the last time you painted those dingy walls in your home? It is amazing how one can get inspired to create just by freshening up their work or living space with a coat of paint. It is also the most inexpensive way to dramatically change your mood. 

We are all creatures affected by our surroundings ... especially writers.  Any person that has an ounce of creativity looks at their home for comfort and as a refuge from the daily drudgeries of life. 

Raise your head from your laptop and take a good look around your home. What do you see? 

If you see a soft hue that soothes your soul, then I would say, “Great! A job well done!” 

If you see a whimsical shade that brightens your day, then I would say, “Good for you! You don’t take life too seriously!”

Now here comes the but.... But if you see a plain white wall, lacking any life or if the once-perfect shade is less than perfect, then I would say, “Go to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s and pick out several different color swatches and take them home. You found your weekend project.”

Now is the perfect time to take on your writing space. It’s probably a cozy little office that needs to be resuscitated. Or if you feel more ambitious why not take on the Dining room or eat-in-kitchen, or even the kitchen. With the holidays only a few weeks away you have the time to spruce up your gathering places! Just think how festive you will feel when your Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations will POP!

Steps in choosing the right color. Please do this. IF you don’t you will curse me and regret spending the time it took to paint and re-paint the space.

Step one: Choose your color wisely. Most people love bright colors, but they necessarily do not look good on the walls. If you like a bright color use that color on an accent wall, Say the wall your desk faces. Keep the others more neutral. After you find a shade you like and put the tiny 1” x 1” on the wall and love it, make sure you do step two.

Step two: If you can try a get a larger sample. Even a 3x5 can fool you. Buy the smallest amount of the color and paint a 2x3 foot section on each wall in the space. If it’s an office or small room, two walls will do. Let it dry and look at the color throughout the day. If you love it great! If you don’t, then you saved a lot of time and money not painting the space and disliking it.

Color choice: 

Reds: All shades of red are active. Only use reds when you to stay awake and energized. It’s a great color for the dining room when you want stimulating conversations and to get the palette excited.

Blues: Almost all shades of blue are tranquil and soothing. It gives the feeling of water or sky. Blue is also a “Power” color so be careful to use the softer shades for your walls.

Greens: They have become very popular over the past six or seven years. Earthy and calming most shades of green give one a feeling of the outdoors. Trees, grass, nature. 

Yellows: Are wonderful to create a warm and inviting space. One thinks of the sun, daffodils, and spring. It’s a great color if your room has limited light. Creamy shades are a fantastic neutral to soften a home. Plus you can accent with any of your favorite more saturated colors.

Remember color can enhance the kind of living space that will bring out your inner artist. So use it. Don’t be afraid of it. And enjoy your new space. It CAN change your life.

So why not run to your local Home Depot or Lowes and pick up a splash of life for your walls! 

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND .....