Paint the Town Red! ...or pink.

Remember in the first entry when I said one of the biggest changes you can make to a room is paint? Well, its true. Its also one of the least expensive changes, especially if you’re a do-it-yourselfer like I am. A gallon of paint is so inexpensive, usually running between $10 and $25, depending on brand and finish, yet it can give a room new life. I can’t stress enough the impact a small amount of paint can make, especially if the room starts off white.

(I pulled inspiration from this photo for my own bedroom.)

There are, as always, a few things you should know before getting started:

First, if you feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, have high ceilings or a large room, it is best to hire professionals. They are professionals, they know what they’re doing and sometimes that can give you peace of mind you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Second, take the time to look through magazines and books, find something that catches your eye and have the paint store match it. Stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s also have a great selection of hundreds if not thousands of colors available through the manufacturer.

Keep in mind your existing furniture and artwork. That “Azure Mist” may look amazing in the book, but it might not look so amazing with your rust colored sofa. Of course this would give you the perfect excuse to update all the furniture…

Remember to choose your paint finish according to the room. Bedrooms can be done in flat, eggshell or satin. Bathrooms and kitchens are always done semi-gloss because it can handle the scrubbing much better than a flat paint would. Any area with high traffic, such as a foyer or hallway should be done in a satin or semigloss. Ceilings are almost always flat, and trim finished in a gloss paint.

(I love the vibrancy of this red, and the accent of brown brings the red down a notch.)

A little anxiety over a change like this is completely normal. If you have anxiety over picking a color, go with something a little more neutral. I happen to love a color by Olympic called “Puppy Paws”. It’s a dark tan, which still introduces color into the space, but it’s a neutral and very pleasing to the eye. In fact I love it so much I painted three rooms in my house Puppy Paws! Sherwin Williams also has a color visualizer online, as well as a place to order samples larger than the 1"x3" swatch in the deck.

(The brown black and white decor of this room is incredibly neutral, but beautiful nonetheless!)

I’ve met people that are terrified of anything darker than Navajo white, stating that the room will seem too small. Yes, colors have the ability to make rooms feel smaller, but they also have the ability to make a space feel larger, as well as the bonus of added elegance and implied luxury. For example, dark colors in a small room make the walls appear to recede, making the room look larger. Don’t believe me? Ask Rachael Ray!

(Another tip to keep the room feeling large and airy, choose smaller scale, open concept furniture, but we’ll talk about that another time.)

(I love the grey/tan of these walls and the pop of the teal comforter and accent pillows!)

My point is, when it comes to color, there is NOTHING to be afraid of. There are so many beautiful spaces with unlimited unrealized potential. I've attached photos of some of my favorite rooms, as inspiration. Feel free to take a look and be sure to let me know what you think!