GO BOLD with Color!

The bedroom in this photo had taupe-colored walls, trim, and baseboards, which was all very neutral. We painted three of the walls a bold shade of orange and it woke up the room immediately. Now dubbed the “Florida Room,” it has accents in turquoise, black, and white that allow the orange hue to shine, but not to overwhelm.

By Pam Blair

Paint colors are undergoing a transformation, from quiet and soft tones to bright and bold shades of red, orange, blue, yellow, and green. Maybe we are responding to the fact that winter is giving way to spring, or could it be that we simply want to put the dark days of the pandemic behind us? Whatever the reason, we are seeing bright colors splashed everywhere in the photos of room makeovers, and the fun begins when you decide to go bold with a new hue.

I have always leaned toward soft blues and greens, but in a previous home, I had the ceiling of a guest bathroom painted bright green, and the walls of the dining room were a deep red. It was scary to go so bold, but I wanted to liven up the white walls around me and it worked! Painting allows us to instantly become artists, and the walls are the blank canvas. Color gives a room personality, more than any other decorative touch, and unlike a costly renovation, it is an affordable way to transform a room. If you don’t like it, you can always change it.

This reading room had white walls and trim, and the bookshelves were all white. We painted the walls peacock blue, and now the white shelves and trim really pop. I found the blue color in a magazine where it was shown in a kitchen’s built-in bar area, and I knew I wanted to use it somewhere.

How to choose a paint color? Consider the room; are you trying to brighten it, or does it just need a fresh new look? Your wardrobe is a great source of inspiration. What colors do you wear most often, or is there a favorite piece that is unlike anything else you own? Think about why you were drawn to it and how it makes you feel to wear it. That will help you narrow it down from the many choices

Pick up color samples at any store where paint is sold. The little swatches are free, or buy larger, inexpensive peel-andstick samples. Gather more shades than you think you will need, as the light in your home will determine how they look on the walls. The color you thought you loved in the store might not work at all once you see it in the room. Look at the swatches at different times of the day to see how it changes with the light, and the one that works best will emerge as the winner! Once you decide to go bold with color, you will be so glad you did!

Pam Blair is a former medical librarian and communications manager who gets nervous when she doesn’t have something to read. She loves descriptive writing and has authored and edited a book and numerous other publications. Contact her at pblair919@aol.com.