Color and mood

16 years ago

Hi. My name is Chloe. I've visited these forums as a lurker for many years, but rarely have I ever posted. I'm a little embarrassed to post now, but I really need some help.

5.5 years ago I moved to the foot of a 14,000ft mountain in the Pacific Northwest from San Diego. It is beautiful here, but I've come to develop Seasonal Affect Disorder from our 6 months of winter and very little sunshine. The summers are gorgeous, but short.

I'm looking to repaint now and wondering what I might do with paint to improve my mood.

Currently, I have EK Sage in my south-facing living room and I love it. I plan to repaint the living room with it because it is so perfect. I have mixed feelings about the Gustavian Grey ceiling, though. Great in the summer, but too grey and cold for these winters.

I have P&L Safari in my kitchen/dining/hall which gets very little light. The dining room connects off the kitchen and doesn't have a window. The kitchen has two big north-facing windows which are great in the summer, but dark in the winter. And I have a 36' hallway from h-3-double-toothpicks that has no windows. (Yes, I need more windows or skylights, but can't afford them.) I like the Safari, but I'm not sure it does anything for my mood and the plain ceiling white definitely does NOT.

I've considered contacting Ellen for a color consultation, but she lives in NO where the light is vastly different than here and I'm not sure she can help me. I've considered Alexandria Blue, but I'm afraid it'll be too dark.

Every color I pick ends up appearing one to two shades darker when it is up on the walls because of the low-light levels. I've spent a small fortune on sample pots only to have this happen again and again. I'm tired of wasting paint. There are no interior designers period here to help me, so I'm on my own.

What can I paint my 8' ceilings that might improve my mood but not be too overpowering? Can anyone help me? Is this a ridiculous question?

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Comments (6)

Jody
16 years ago
I am far from being a color expert (I'm like you, have sample paints all over the place!!). I am in Michigan (which I'm sure is even MORE dreary than Oregon in the winter).

I just did my bedroom in SW Cavern Clay (#7701) - it is a terra cotta that is such a warm color. I like to think of it as a *happy* color :)

Another color family I would suggest would be Yellow. You could even go with a light gold (or a straw-like color). Those colors are nice and warm (and again, I think of them as *happy* colors).

My other suggetion would be to go to Florida for a few months and enjoy their sunshine :)
chloe5
Original Author
16 years ago
LOL about Florida. It isn't a bad idea.

I visited a house yesterday that had the most amazing yellow on the walls AND the ceiling. 8' ceilings. It was incredible. They had excellent lighting, but I'm considering giving yellow a try.

Thanks for helping.
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User
16 years ago
We have similar tastes. I have EK sage in my bedroom and Edgewood green trim in the public areas of my house.
Here's Alexandra blue on my living room ceiling. The room faces west and has only one window that's further shaded by a covered porch (dim at best unless all the lamps are on). I love the color variations of the blue. This was taken at night when the color appears the most blue. During the day it's a pale blue/white.

For your application, consider Buttercream. I have it in my kitchen and laundry room and find it soothing and bright enough to make me happy. Wall and ceiling color in daytime:

Laundry room later in the day--same Buttercream:
jesst
16 years ago
I can relate as I live in WI :). Keep the color warm, and go with what you love! Benjamin Moore's Historical Collection is full of great shades I use over and over (since you've been through many). Weston flax is a nice subtle yellow, check out powell buff and richmond gray too. Good luck!
chloe5
Original Author
16 years ago
I do like that Buttercream very much. I've taped it up on my wall many a time and considered it.

I just painted the inside of my cabinets stratton blue and I really love it against the orangy cabinet. Yes, I should have picked a wall color first, but sometimes I'm really spontaneous that way. I'd love to post some pictures, but I don't know how to do that here.

I've been looking at windham cream and weston flax is on the same card. I have a trip at the end of the week and then I'm going to start putting up samples. I think I'm ready for something more exciting than beige.

What is the history of the Historical Colors? Are they really historical?
Jody
16 years ago
Chloe ... curious to find out what colors you have decided to go with!! I always take way tooo long to *pick* a paint color; but then usually I am very satisfied with it.

Update us as to your decisions and good luck with them :)