by Cheryl Adams - Color Confident Home | Jan 23, 2020 | Choose Color Scheme - Rochester Hills Michigan, Choose color scheme rochester hills michigan, Choose Paint Colors, color consultant ferndale mi, color consultant oakland township mi, color consultant rochester hills mi, color consultant royal oak mi, color consultant shelby township mi, color consultant west bloomfield mi, How To Choose A Paint Color - Rochester Hills, how to choose paint color front door - Lake Orion Michigan, Interior Color Selection Michigan, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester Hills, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester MI, interior paint colors
Who’s ready for some change? To ring in the new decade, choose color in your color scheme!
Color is the New Gray
The gray trend is at its end, and more of my clients are asking for color! If you want to know how to choose color in your color scheme, start with the 2020 Color of the Year choices of different paint companies. In reviewing the color picks, I found a trend toward restful nature, revitalizing the spirit, mindfulness, and well-being. With our fast-paced, demanding world, I’m not surprised that homeowners are looking to color to create nourishing environments where we can relax, reflect, and recharge.

(by liliyroseinteriors.com.au)
Color Me Blue

(Photo by Pantone.com)
When we look at Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year Classic Blue (19-4052), their website describes “a rich, dreamy, dark and beautiful shade of azure. This particular shade of blue is reflective, anchoring and self-assured. It’s relaxed and restful and meant to offer us all a sense of needed tranquility.” Shades of blue help create the calming environment we crave after a busy day. Good for bedrooms, many of my clients opt for a deep, confident blue while others crave a warm, enveloping blue with soft, pink accents.

Benjamin Moore’s 2020 Color of the Year (photo by BenjaminMoore.com)
Positive Pink
When I began seeing pink in fashion, I wasn’t surprised to see Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2020, First Light 2102-70. On their website, it says First Light “symbolizes an upbeat and hopeful start to the next ten years” and is part of their new collection of colors that “provide security, comfort, community, self-expression, and optimism.” For clients looking for more subtle color on walls, choosing First Light is light and airy and harmonizes with the on-trend blue and navy colors that have come onto the scene in the last several years. It also coordinates nicely with the current restful greens showing up in furnishings and accessories.
Back to Nature

Behr 2020 Color of the Year (by Behr.com)
Behr 2020 Color of the Year (by Behr.com)Behr – BACK TO NATURE S340-4 a collection of invigorating and restorative hues designed to infuse vitality and life in any room through color. The Behr 2020 Color Trends palette was inspired by natural elements such as sky, earth, water and plant life.

Sherwin-Williams 2020 Color of the Year (by Sherwin-WIlliams.com)
Neutral Navy
Sherwin-Williams is getting in on the design trend by revealing Naval SW 6244, a bold navy shade, as its 2020 Color of the Year. “The use of color in interior design is changing. It’s not just about what a space looks like anymore, but how it makes you feel,” said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “People want to feel grounded and inspired to pursue their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Naval is reminiscent of the night sky, which people have looked to for centuries for guidance, as a muse and as a reminder to live more mindfully.”
Navy is a colorful neutral that goes with many colors and can be a backdrop for your artwork and furnishings. Look through any home magazine or sale paper and you’ll see many options for inspiration pieces and accessories.
Whether you’re ready to jump in and add color to your walls or you want to start slowly by adding colorful accessories, you have thousands of colors to choose from. Overwhelmed and not sure where to start? A Certified Color Expert who is trained in the science of color as well as the art of design can show you how to visualize your colors and take the fear out of choosing the right colors the first time. Contact us today!
by Cheryl Adams - Color Confident Home | Apr 24, 2019 | Choose Color Scheme - Rochester Hills Michigan, Choose color scheme rochester hills michigan, Choose Paint Colors, color consultant oakland township mi, color consultant rochester hills mi, color consultant shelby township mi, color consultant west bloomfield mi, exterior paint colors oakland township mi, exterior paint colors rochester hills mi, exterior paint colors troy mi, exterior paint colors west bloomfield mi, Exterior paint selection, How To Choose A Paint Color - Rochester Hills, Uncategorized
Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
Now that spring is officially here, homeowners are calling me for help choosing their exterior paint colors. Many factors go into narrowing down colors that work. When choosing exterior paint colors, factoring in the overall look, the individual elements, and the neighboring houses enables me to empower homeowners to choose the right colors the first time.
Consider the Overall Look
In my area, so many homes are brick with siding on the upper level or only on the sides and back. Some also have stone and brick along with siding. When paint colors don’t relate to the brick or stone, or worse yet, when the brick and stone don’t relate to each other or look too busy, the house looks like there are two different houses stuck together. If you have a new build, all the materials and colors must be chosen at the same time to create a look that is styled. For a partial renovation or a new coat of paint, the existing elements must be considered.

The upper house and lower house are two different styles. The siding color and window trim on the upper windows does not relate to the brick. (Photo by homewithkeki)
Assess the Individual Elements
To help homeowners narrow down colors from the thousands of choices available, I begin with the shingles, brick, stone, pavers, landscaping, and neighboring homes. Considering the hues in the architectural materials is the first step in creating a cohesive color scheme. Just as with interiors, creating harmony and flow around the house as well as in the neighborhood is important.

The siding does not relate to the brick or the stone, and the stone and brick do not relate. In addition, the green is too bright for the brick. (Photo by ashiyasediet.info)
Remember the Neighboring Houses
When considering the look of their exteriors, most homeowners want a distinct look without their home screaming flashy or garish. Builders usually vary the types and colors of brick and other elements on houses in a subdivision. Thus, a look that is different enough from the house next door or across the street can be accomplished by looking at the unique hues in a home’s shingles, brick, stone, and landscaping. By creating a color scheme with coordinating hues, homeowners can have a look that is unique yet harmonizes with the neighborhood.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors that Make Sense
White windows limit the trim color you can use around the windows and most likely the majority of your trim. Note that a house with brick looks best with windows and a trim color that is not stark white. In the past some homeowners painted the trim and siding the same color. For a fresh, updated look choose a trim color that contrasts with the siding color. In addition, a front door color can announce the entrance and give your home a unique look. Beware of choosing bright, saturated colors with a more muted color scheme, unless you’re consulting with a designer trained in color. Your door will not only pop, it will look like it belongs on a different house.

A yellow door that is too saturated and bright for the brick. (Photo by Edward Jones, Clarksville)

A door that coordinates with the hue families of the architectural elements.
If you’re interested in reading about other options for choosing color with brick, read this article. For help choosing your exterior colors and color schemes, contact me for help choosing the right colors the first time!
by Cheryl Adams - Color Confident Home | Aug 19, 2018 | Choose Color Scheme - Rochester Hills Michigan, Choose color scheme rochester hills michigan, Choose Paint Colors, choose paint colors in five steps, Exterior paint selection, front door paint - Rochester Hills Michigan, How To Choose A Paint Color - Rochester Hills, Interior Color Selection Michigan, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester Hills, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester MI

Photo by Cheryl Adams
If you’ve decided to remodel or paint your home before the holidays, plan paint colors NOW! Whether for the interior or the exterior, now is the time to start thinking about your color scheme and paint colors. Painters, builders, and color consultants need time to work you into their schedules and order supplies before the work starts.
For painting, allow a couple days to test paint colors under different lighting conditions. Seeing the paint in the lighting in and around your home will help you choose the right color the first time. Please do not make the mistake of choosing a paint color at the paint store! For exteriors, assess the hue families of the whole house. For interiors, look at all hue families in your fixed finishes. All these need to be considered before you choose a paint color.
When doing a total remodel or replacing cabinets, countertops, tile, and flooring, plan paint colors in conjunction with these elements. The total time to design, schedule contractors, order supplies, and execute the work can take between four to six weeks for a kitchen or four to eight months for a whole house renovation. Check with your builder for more exact times.
Keeping these starting points in mind will help you complete your project well before the holidays and with much less stress. If you need help choosing your paint colors or color scheme for interiors or exteriors, contact me. I will help reduce your stress by using my Certified Six-Step Color Read Process to help you choose the right colors the first time!
by Cheryl Adams - Color Confident Home | Feb 10, 2018 | Choose Color Scheme - Rochester Hills Michigan, Choose color scheme rochester hills michigan, Exterior paint selection, front door paint - Rochester Hills Michigan, How To Choose A Paint Color - Rochester Hills, Interior Color Selection Michigan, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester Hills, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester MI, Uncategorized

Find Your Color Inspiration
How to choose paint colors:
- Begin at the Beginning – When you choose paint colors, be sure to have a starting point, whether it’s the fabric on your dining chairs or a pattern in your window treatments, a favorite area rug or a favorite piece of artwork. Define your color scheme by choosing two to four colors from the furnishings and finishes that are already in your home and will be staying.
- Know Your Likes and Dislikes – have fun noticing which colors you love in other homes, in restaurants, in magazines, and online. Knowing what you like will help ensure you use colors that you will love to come home to.
- Analyze the Hue Families– Even whites belong to different but families. The key to creating a look of harmony is to match or compliment the hue family of your new paint colors to your existing hue families. Floors, countertops, stone, and fireplace surrounds count!
- Consider Mood – in addition to making your space visually beautiful, decide on the mood you want in each room. A mood is a feeling. For example a peaceful, calm room will help you recharge, restore, and relax, which is perfect for a bedroom. In a dining room where you entertain, you might want an energetic feeling that stimulates conversation. Think of how you want to use each room then use colors with personalities that match the mood you want.
- Consider Your Color Scheme for Remodels – When doing a total remodel or replacing cabinets, countertops, tile, and flooring, choose paint colors in conjunction with these elements. The hue families in your granite will dictate the paint color you choose for your walls.
- Narrow Down Your Choices – Decide on two or three colors from hue families that coordinate with your existing furnishings and finishes.
- Take Your Time – be sure to test the colors and sit with them, ponder, view them in different lighting conditions at different times of the day.
- Choose Paint Colors – Once you go through these steps, you will then be able to choose the right color the first time! If you want a professional consultation, click for Certified Color Expert help.
For more ideas, see my idea book at Color Confident Home – Houzz. Also, follow me on Facebook here. For a consultation or a quote contact me.
by Cheryl Adams - Color Confident Home | Sep 2, 2017 | Choose Color Scheme - Rochester Hills Michigan, Choose color scheme rochester hills michigan, How To Choose A Paint Color - Rochester Hills, Interior Color Selection Michigan, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester Hills, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester MI

How do you know where to start when choosing a color scheme for your new house?
Choosing a color scheme is the key to choosing your paint colors. Starting with paint colors first is like trying to build the exterior of a house without planning the interior rooms. If you are having a hard time deciding on your colors, you need a starting point. Begin by visiting furniture stores, perusing catalogs, and viewing websites like Pinterest or Houzz. Choose at least one item – a pillow, a wall hanging, or an area rug – with colors you love to help define your color palette. If you can, create a plan for each room by deciding on your layout and a preliminary color scheme before you choose your paint colors. Follow the tips below to craft a stylish look rather than a piece-meal approach.
 Skyline Furniture Armless Upholstered Slipper Accent Chair-Grey & Gold Ikat. Photo (c) PriceGrabber
How to Create a Color Scheme
- Pick Your Palette – Once you have a plan for each room and at least one inspiration piece for colors, you’re ready to consider your color scheme.
- Mood Makes a Room – How do you want your room to feel? What will the room be used for? Different colors and how you use them help create different moods.
- Start with the Central Room – Usually the living room, the colors here will influence the flow throughout the rest of the house.
- Consider the Composition – Stand in each room and look into the next. Will the colors look good next to each other? Do you want a different color or a variation of the one in the room you’re standing in?
- Connect Your Colors – Using three to four colors as your palette, mix them up in different ways in each room to help create flow. Use the 60-30-10 percent rule of design to decide how much of each color you’ll use in each room. If you have four colors, you can use a 60-20-10-10 plan.
- Agreeable Undertones – Whether you want bold or muted colors, neutrals or white, make sure the undertones in your colors match. Find out if the base color has red, green, blue, brown, or yellow. A beige paint with a pink undertone will look “off” if your furniture and finishes have gold undertones. Remeber to consider the undertones in you countertops, carpeting, tile, stone, cabinets, brick, and furniture. Undertones in the same family create harmony and flow.
- Call a Color Expert – If you get stuck or overwhelmed with thousands of color swatches at the paint store, contact a Certified Color Expert for help.
Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, an overall plan FIRST followed by at least some furniture selection, flooring, cabinets, and countertops will give you the direction you need for choosing your final paint colors. For help with your initial color scheme, contact me!
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