by Cheryl Adams - Color Confident Home | Jan 22, 2023 | Choose Color Scheme - Rochester Hills Michigan, Choose Paint Colors, color consultant ferndale mi, color consultant ferndale michigan, 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, Interior Paint Color Selection Rochester Hills, interior paint colors
Color, whether neutrals or the earth hues trending today, plays an important role in creating hierarchy, harmony, and flow in your home. So many of my clients call me once they have installed new countertops, carpeting, flooring, tile, or other hard finishes. They’re ready to choose a paint color. No problem, right? Wrong! It’s important to coordinate paint colors with materials. Our 4-step method will guide you on how to align them perfectly.
Fitting the last piece of the “puzzle” into your rooms is the hard way to choose paint colors and results in a very limited palette. You may not be happy with the choices that work! Whether you plan to plan to update & replace all of these elements now or farther down the road, it is still in your best interest to select them at the same time before installation. By doing so, we ensure your future final design is perfectly the way you dreamed without limiting your choices.
(Photo by Max Rahubovskiy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hotel-room-with-bed-near-table-under-lamps-6899434/)
Step #1: Determine How You Want The Space To Feel
The most successful remodeling projects begin with an assessment of the space. The psychology of color plays a big role in personal preferences. Consider how you want your space to feel. What mood or vibe are you looking to achieve? Soft and cozy? Dark and moody? Nature-inspired comfort? Clean, elegant, and neutral? Or colorful and vibrant? The purpose of each room will also give you hints. Energetic colors like reds, yellows, and oranges work well in offices, dining rooms and other spaces. Greens, blues, pinks are calming and good for places of relaxation and bedrooms. Browns, grays, blacks, and neutrals can be warm and comforting or elegant and sophisticated.
(Photo by Ivan Samkov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-looking-at-an-interior-design-magazine-4238479/)
Step #2: Research Styles and Homes That Inspire Your Vision
For help visualizing your space, search for inspiration photos on Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram, or in magazines. Hone in on what you like about each space and how it makes you feel. Gather photos with whole rooms that you like the feel of, as well as rooms containing certain elements, furnishings and accessories you like.
(Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-different-objects-on-the-table-6583373/)
Step #3: Plan To Select Paint, Fixed Finishes, & Dictating Elements Together
Before you install the fixed finishes you are considering, gather multiple samples of each material you are considering. This includes carpeting, backsplash, countertop, tile, stone, and wood flooring. For granite and other large stone with pattern, be sure to request to see the actual large sample you will be having installed. Many clients have come home to the unpleasant surprise of countertops with orange veining because the small sample they originally viewed had none. View the samples IN YOUR HOME with the natural and artificial lighting you plan to use.
(Photo by Blue Bird: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-opening-a-can-of-paint-7217978/)
Step #4: Evaluate, Refine, Repeat… And Action!
Before you order and have materials installed, call an experienced color expert who can measure the hue families of the materials you’re considering. They will help you narrow down the right paint colors to coordinate with each new material, as well as any materials, furnishings, and artwork staying in each room. Choosing the paint color at the same time as the rest of the materials is the only way to ensure that your selection will align with your vision and create harmony and flow in your home. Looking for more guidance in choosing the right paint colors? Call us!
We want you to love the colors you come home to!
If you’re ready for a pro to help you choose your paint colors and design finishes all at once, I would be honored to help. Reach out and let’s chat!
Color Confidently Yours,

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 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

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)
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!
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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