Interior & Exterior paint ideas..

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How To:

Choose Paint Colors and more...

How to choose an exterior paint color:

Choosing a paint color can be overwhelming because of the variety and selection nowadays. Exterior paints are formulated differently than interior paints. They will withstand nature's elements so first be sure to choose a high quality exterior paint first!

Color choice is an individual preference but here are some guidelines to start with.

Use a color wheel or color visualizer (on the left) or a fan deck (from Paint Tech Custom Finishes or local paint store) to get some starting ideas
Consider your neighbors colors, you do not want to choose the same colors but maybe choose one that will complement or harmonize with your neighbors colors.
Pick out at least three colors that you prefer (remember trim and door color)
Consider the colors of existing structures like your roof, stone and architectural accents
Remember light colors will make your home seem larger, darker colors smaller
Brighter colors will fade over time especially in the Florida climate, so keep that in mind
Darker colors will absorb more heat that lighter colors
Always buy a sample before purchasing gallons of paint, it will save you time and money
Ask the paint pros at Paint Tech for help or with any concerns you may have!

How to choose an interior paint color:

Interior paint can bring a room to life. Color is the least expensive way to personalize your home. Color can create a mood:

Yellow's oranges and reds are warm
Greens, blues and purples are cool
Lighter colors like white and pastels make a room feel bright, open and airy, use these in a smaller area
Darker colors like red, brown will make a room feel smaller and cozy, use these in a larger area

Remember to consider your furniture and any large fixtures that are in the room.

How to choose the right sheen:

To decide which paint sheen is best for your project, ask yourself the following questions:

What room, area, or surface is being painted?
Will the painted surface be handled frequently, or subjected to abrasion or excessive wear?
Will the painted surface be washed or scrubbed frequently?
Will the painted surface be regularly exposed to moisture or high humidity?
Does the surface being painted have any nicks, dents, or surface flaws present?

Selecting a color scheme:

(From Coral Nafie your Guide to Interior Decorating, about.com)

Follow this simple how-to to help you choose a color scheme for your home. Learn to mix colors and fabrics and how to repeat color throughout the room. Read some of the principles of decorating and learn how to use coordinating fabrics and dressmaker details.

First, choose a style (formal or casual) and a theme for your room (such as American country, English garden, techno modern)
With the style and theme in mind, decide on an "anchor" fabric with 3 or more colors.
Use the background color from the fabric as a wall color.
Pick a mid-toned color from the fabric for flooring and large furniture pieces, which could be a solid or patterned design. Upholstery can also be done in your anchor fabric or coordinating fabric.
Use the brightest colors from the fabric for accessories.
Place your anchor fabric in at least 3 places in the room (upholstery, pillows, curtains, etc).
Use coordinating fabrics in other scales (larger or smaller) as accent fabrics on chairs, pillows, cording, and tablecloths.
For example, to use an "anchor" fabric with an American flag design: use white for walls, navy on floor, blue and white ticking on the sofa, and red for accessory pieces.
To continue this example, the coordinated prints could be the blue and white ticking stripe, a navy star print fabric, and a red and white mini-check used on chairs, curtains, and pillows.
Tips:
Repeat colors evenly throughout the room.
Adding dressmaker details in cording and trims is one way to disperse color and add interest.
Divide color use to approximately 60% of the room in the background (lightest) color, 30% in the mid-tone color, and 10% in the brightest, accent colors.

The monochromatic color scheme is a popular one today because, by using various intensities of one color, it lends continuity and spaciousness to small or crowded spaces. It is one of the simplest schemes to use, yet it can produce very sophisticated results. Simply select a color you would love to surround yourself with and use it in different shades to decorate the room.
A complementary color scheme combines colors opposite each other on the color wheel, such as green and red, or blue and orange. At its best, the complementary color scheme produces a lively, gay effect. But color shades should be chosen carefully to avoid a jarring effect.
By combining any three colors equal distance apart on the color wheel (or shades of those colors) a triad color scheme will be the result. A combination of purple, orange and green may sound outlandish, but subtle shades of those colors used in varying amounts can be an attractive scheme. Choose on shade as the predominant color, another as a secondary color and the third shade as an accent color.
An analogous color scheme uses neighboring colors on the wheel, such as green, blue-green, and blue, for a particularly harmonious effect. To avoid a static effect, use more of one color than the other.

Here are some additional color scheme tips suggested by interior designers:

The first step in selecting a color scheme usually is to decide on the main color to be used in the room. If you don't know which colors you're happiest living with, glance through your wardrobe. If you don't see any red, you probably wouldn't like living in a room decorated in a red color scheme.
You can get the inspiration for your color scheme from an Oriental rug or a favorite painting. Either may suggest a pleasing color combination and could then help tie together the colors in the room.
Proportion and balance are important to any color scheme. After you decide which color will be dominant, add other colors in unequal amounts. One guideline is to select the dominant color for use in about two-thirds of the room and to use the other colors in lessening amounts.
Whether you're decorating your entire house or merely redoing one room, be sure to maintain a certain amount of color continuity throughout the home. Develop an overall plan and then decide how each room will be integrated into it.
In some cases, you may want to make your wall treatment the focal point of the room. For instance, a dramatic accent wall, stenciling or a super graphic might dictate what other patterns and colors can be used in the room.
(From National Paint and Coatings Association, www.paint.org)

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