How We Craft Interiors to Suit Different Partner Preferences

How We Craft Interiors to Suit Different Partner Preferences

One question we get often is how we craft interiors to suit partners with different style preferences. Many times our clients look to us to referee or simply to choose the colors for them. We’re happy to report a solution with a win-win outcome! It’s important for both partners to have a say, since color affects our moods, outlook, and feeling of well-being.

Couple intently staring at computer screen and various countertop samples.

(Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/coworkers-pointing-at-a-laptop-and-tile-samples-4977411/)

 

1. We Support A Culture of Candidness

Sometimes one partner will defer or express a fear of stating a preference, either out of uncertainty or to avoid conflict. When each person is open and honest about what they want, like, and dislike, we can help guide the couple to choosing the right colors they will love to come home to. We encourage each person to let us know what they like, even if they’re not sure if “it will work.” We ask our clients to show us inspiration photos of what they each like, and we’ll let them know if and how we can incorporate their dream looks.

A room showing a style to suit different tastes of a couple(Photo by VAZHNIK from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-tables-and-chairs-7563521/)

2. We Have the Knowledge to Integrate Different Styles Harmoniously

We excel at blending styles and creating harmony and flow from room to room. If a husband likes rich dark hues, while the wife likes light neutrals, we sometimes suggest a color for the husband’s office that ties in with a darker color, for example, found in other parts of the house. Balancing neutrals and darks in the right combination can create spaces both parties will adore.

A couple talking about How We Craft Interiors to Suit Different Partner Preferences(Photo by Diva Plavalaguna: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-giving-cooked-meal-at-home-5711141/)

3. We Advise Couples to Embrace Flexibility and Encourage Compromise

Additionally, couples will need to compromise to come to a win-win solution. Using the overall color scheme in different combinations and percentages, we aim to meet the needs of both. Keep in mind the less critical components of the design lend themselves to the give-and-take necessary to help couples come to agreement.

Couple happily dancing in their new home.(Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-long-sleeve-shirt-and-gray-pants-standing-beside-brown-wooden-table-4554422/)

Over the years, we’ve put our “couples counseling” hat on many times to help couples find solutions that work for both of them. We make the process easy and fun by listening to both people, looking for colors that make them smile, and leaving them feeling relieved and happy.

Need help designing a home that you and your spouse will both love? That’s what we do. Reach out and let’s chat. Get our client guide too.

Color Confidently Yours,

How to Choose COLOR in Your Color Scheme

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.

Color Confident Home will show you how to choose color in your color scheme.

(by liliyroseinteriors.com.au)

Color Me Blue

Color Confident Home will help you choose the right colors

(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.

Choose color!

Benjamin Moore’s 2020 Color of the Year (photo by BenjaminMoore.com)

Positive Pink Color Scheme

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 Color Scheme

Colorful scheme

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.

Color schemes with navy

Sherwin-Williams 2020 Color of the Year (by Sherwin-WIlliams.com)

Navy is a Neutral Color

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!

2019 Home Color Trends to Start Using Now

Color is back in 2019 Home Color Trends!

After the gray trend of the last nine years, I’m seeing home color trends moving toward more color and warmer colors. Look in accessory catalogs, on home decor blogs, and in paint company inspiration palettes to see bold colors, warm earthy tones, and navy being featured. Remember, trends last 7-10 years, and gray is on its way out. Here in the midwest, we are a little slower to catch up with color and design trends. Along the west coast in California and on the east coast in places like New York these color trends are here. If you’re a late bloomer, maybe you’ve just finished painting your walls gray. Don’t despair! Bringing in colorful, new accessories can brighten your home and give it a fresh update until you paint again. On the other hand if you’re ready to get rid of the gray and not sure how to transition to color, read on.

2019 Home Color Trends

Pillow by chicdecorpillows

 

Curating Your Color Scheme

One way to create a new color scheme without gutting and starting over is to find a pillow or fabric with new colors that complement your current color scheme. This pillow by chicdecorpillows incorporates a blue-gray in the pattern along with yellow-green, aqua, and the on-trend navy I’m seeing in so many accessories now. The gray color scheme was originally intended for consumers to use pops of color to brighten up the gray backdrop. Many homeowners gravitated toward monochromatic shades of gray and neutrals with no colorful accessories or artwork anywhere. If your color scheme falls into this category, a simple way to freshen your design would be to add those intended pops of color.

If you still shy away from bold, saturated colors, consider navy to accessorize and add color to your home. Navy is the new neutral of neutrals, so it’s a good way to start experimenting with color if your home leans toward whites, grays, and other “safe” colors. Scour home decor catalogs for accessories, scan Pinterest to see how others incorporate navy, and seek help from a color consultant if you need help.

 

Cultivating the New Home Color Trends

After the cool gray trend, consumers are wanting bolder colors and warmer environments. Home color trends are moving toSherwin Williams 2019 Color of the Yearward earthy colors, as demonstrated by Sherwin Williams 2019 Color of the Year, SW 7701 Cavern Clay. Their website descriptively states: “A warm terracotta color with ancient, elemental roots, Cavern Clay is a nod to midcentury modern style, but with the soul of the American Southwest, which together creates the desert modern aesthetic.” Bringing these colors into our homes reminds people of varying landscapes, the freedom to explore, and a serenity only nature can offer. Geometric patterns and layered textures and accessories create a richness that invites. Wallpaper is back in subtle and creative ways to enhance the feel of our spaces.

 

2019 Home Color Trends

Behr’s 2019 Color Palettes

Behr describes their 2019 Color of the Year, S407-5 Blueprint, as “An honest, approachable color that conjures up the blueprints builders rely on to bring architectural designs to life, Blueprint creates a space where you can build your own reimagined life—where awareness of what we want to build for ourselves can transform into action.” The saturated blue-gray surrounds consumers and invites them to be the creator of their spaces. The names of their four curated color palettes – Color Binge, Down to Earth, Soft Focus, and Inspired Curation – demonstrate how saturated colors dominate the new home color trends.

A Whisper of Color

In the end, many people still prefer neutral walls with accessories, rugs, and furniture bringing in color. The trend for neutral walls leans to greige, which adds a touch of warmth to the grays we’ve been using. Greige paints a whisper of color to freshen up and brighten, while still providing the backdrop for artwork and color. If you need help figuring out the best color for your walls or deciding on an updated color scheme, contact me so you can choose the right colors the first time!

Plan Paint Colors NOW For Holiday Remodeling

Rodriguez home

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!

Choose Paint Colors (Almost) Last

Find Your Color Inspiration

How to choose paint colors:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Narrow Down Your Choices – Decide on two or three colors from hue families that coordinate with your existing furnishings and finishes.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

Call Now