Houzz Live Chat: Color Rules and How to Break Them

13 years ago

last modified: 13 years ago

Welcome to Houzz Live: Color Rules and How to Break Them

Today we will be conquering the topic of Color Rules! We've seen a lot of lively discussions and requests for help from the community on this topic, so we've invited some Houzz professionals as featured guests to go over some basics and helpful tips. Please welcome...

Studio M Interior Design http://www.houzz.com/pro/studiom/

Judith Taylor Designs http://www.houzz.com/pro/judithtaylor

Shannon Ggem http://www.houzz.com/pro/sggem/

Joni Spear Interior Design http://www.houzz.com/pro/jjoni257/

Natalie Younger Interior Design http://www.houzz.com/user/nyid

In addition, all community members are invited to jump in and participate by answering the questions posted.

The format is as follows: We will post questions as comments to this discussion thread. Each question will be prefaced by the question number, for example “Q1)”. For every answer to a particular question, you should use a corresponding label to attribute it back to the question you are answering, for example “A1)”.

Remember to refresh your page to see new questions and answers.

Most importantly, have fun!

Featured Answer

PRO

Joni Spear Interior Design

13 years ago

A6.) I do not necessarily agree with the idea that the exterior needs to match the interior of the home. I think of homes as box of chocolates....!!!

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Comments (136)

PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
@cruz looooove that wallpaper!
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
Those pink elephants are awesome, Cruz interiors!
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PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
LOL I am loving that reference @Joni. I think it could work either way, some people completely gut a historic home, leaving the exterior but creating a modern interior with all of today's amenities and color choices. Not everything has to be 100% original. There's always room to expect the unexpected with interiors ;)
PRO
Cruz Interiors Inc.
13 years ago
A6) Often it is difficult for one who moves into a cookie cutter neighborhood with many HOA restrictions to make their home fir their own personality. Sometimes just a little bit of whimsey can do it, a unique door knocker or pottery. That being said, I think often there is a little surprise inside suburbia. Cookies cutter on the outside and individualized inside.
Jeannie Nguyen
Original Author
13 years ago
Q7) What comes first, choosing the furniture or the wall colors? What advice do you have for homeowners who like to change their furniture/wall colors often?
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
I don't often do an accent wall, but when I do, it's because it's REALLY justified in the architecture, or because it's very minimal and I want to grab the eye and drag it to a certain feature.
PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
@decoenthusiaste Accent for the right reasons, I love a wallpaper accent wall in the room!! It can be all you need for that WOW! factor. It takes on that wonderful addition like an art piece.
PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
A7) I typically choose the furniture and fabrics before choosing a paint color. This way you have a lot more flexibility in terms of what the room will look like. If you like to change your furniture and wall colors often, I would say to stick to neutral upholstery and furniture, this way you can add pops of color to the room through artwork, accent fabrics, and even wall color to totally change the look of a room. Here's an example of a room I did in Clearwater beach
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
A7) Choosing fabrics, rugs or accessories first can inform the palette for the whole home. Where there is no home yet, it can be really helpful! I like to do a showroom trip to show clients what version of their favorite colors are trending, and get to know their taste better.

Then I create mood boards to show clients how the fabrics we saw can be personalized for their taste, function and architecture. That usually informs the ultimate wall color selection.
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
A7 pt 2) If you like to change your furniture often look to fashion to predict the next colors, textures and shapes to stay a little ahead of the curve and get a longer life out of pieces. If you like to change your wall color often (so impressive, btw), invest in some real drop cloths, that thin plastic just isn't the same!
Ashley Biermann
13 years ago
Q5) My husband and I just purchased a home. It's traditional in style and built in 1983. It has GREAT bones, but needs color help! All trim, cabinets and doors are real solid wood, which is great, but it's the drab stain color that makes it look outdated. Plus, the previous owner's painted every wall a neutral cream. Where do you start in picking out a color scheme for the home? Is it committing a crime to paint trim/doors, etc..over stained real wood?
PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
A7) 90% of the time I’d say select the furniture first! You don’t have 1 million shade options with that! Although furniture and upholstery can be made to order with custom fabrics, you don’t have all the shades of a fan deck...UNLESS the color is absolutely THE ONE then start with that.
Jeannie Nguyen
Original Author
13 years ago
We're a bit behind! Gotta speed it up a bit, here's the next question.
Q8) How can someone use color to create a mood in a home? Any tips for evoking the right feeling?
PRO
RA Design Group, LLC
13 years ago
A7: Choosing furniture because its usually a more permanent purchase and wall colors are endless in their variety. If you like to change your furnishings and wall colors often keep your furniture as neutral as possible (in shape as well as color) so you can create "new" room with wall colors and accessories.
PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
@Ashley, for a fresher more updates look try using a bright trim color. I don't think painting it over is a sin, just necessary for a more updated look. LOVE that exterior, it is gorgeous!
PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
A8) If you are going for a calmer mood in the home, stick to lighter tones and colors. If you want a more energetic feeling, definitely bring in some big pops of bright and vibrant colors. These are two examples of energetic and relaxing vibes that we've done in the past
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
@Ashley- what a great starting point! I don't think it's a crime to paint wood trim and cabinets. Open grain woods won't give you that perfect sprayed finish but I'm from Massachusetts, where every painted wood is old and solid- brush marks and grain patterns abound!
PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
@Ashely What's a strong feature to some is not to others. If you can't find a design scheme/theme/concept to roll with the wood trim/doors/floors and cabinets throughout. Make it your own! It's absolutely NOT a crime!
PRO
Cruz Interiors Inc.
13 years ago
A7) I find that people want to always choose their paint colors first. I however, wish that everyone chose furnishings first. From a design perspective, it can be difficult to determine what look someone is going for and often the colors are just not enough. I think furnishings carry much more personality because they posess texture, shape and color. So, I say choose the furniture first please. (: For those who like change often(who me?) LOL I say go with something neutral on the walls. That way when new pieces come along, they fit right in. Also, choosing a feature wall in a neutral helps us I mean the client ( : from getting bored in the mean time. Something with texture is great. Inhabit has wonderful wall panels that fit this bill.
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
A8)
A8) A structured palette can calm down a house full of kids with sports equipment, art projects, book bags and toys. If you limit the colors you have going, you create an unobtrusive backdrop for the stuff of life and in those too rare moments of complete tidiness, it's super serene. I like a trim color (black or white), a ceiling color (white or light tint except in very unique cases), mellow wall colors for most rooms (the top of the color chip card, even if the 3rd one down is the favorite, the lightest one is usually enough color on the grand scale), and 2 or 3 saturated accent colors to pepper in here and there. In second homes and homes of the super tidy, really consider the architecture to inform the mood. An east facing room may want that clean morning light kind of color, a west facing room may want a color with a lot of nuance so that it changes with the sunset colors.
arteshouse
13 years ago
My dining room is small room apart from the open concept floor plan. Here I'd like to go dramatic without shocking the senses. I was thinking of adding wainscotting, darker walls and even painting the ceiling. As I write this I feel it's so predictable and boring.
Jeannie Nguyen
Original Author
13 years ago
Q9) What’s the worst color disaster you have ever encountered? How did you address it?
PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
A9) One of the hardest things about picking paint colors is making sure a color will look great in all parts of the room, and at all times of the day. I have definitely seen paint colors that looked great on the swatch, and even on a color board in the room, but certain parts of the room look to be a completely different color than what was chosen. You can usually alter this by going one shade lighter or one shade darker throughout the whole space.
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
Oh Artehouse, It's not! Look at that black and white dining room Studio M posted earlier! Gorgeous!
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
A9) Most disasters are about correcting econo-paint jobs. Sometimes homeowners don't realize how much they cost themselves when they have non professionals paint (specifically trim) and when painters use low quality paint to save $10 per gallon. It isn't worth it in the long run, the paint scratches, changes color and isn't washable. Spend a little more and get the better quality paints, spend more on labor and hire pros. Those drips and over-paints take a lot to clean up during your next paint job.
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
Also SAMPLE! HUGE samples! On every wall! For 4 days!
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
Oooo @Joni Spear Interior Design, just scrolled up and saw that amazing blue in that bathroom. Beautiful!
Jeannie Nguyen
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Last question!
Q10) Are you loyal to a particular brand of paint when selecting wall colors? If so, what is it that makes you such a fan?
PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
A10) I usually pick from either Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. Both of these brands have such a wide selection of colors and saturations that it makes it easy to find the absolute perfect color for any space.
PRO
Joni Spear Interior Design
13 years ago
A8.) This question brings us back to the theory of "warm" and "cool" colors. In this respect I feel it is always advisable to hire a professional to help with painting the interior of your home. For instance,If your bedroom faces the sun or southern exposure, ideally you would not want to paint it red because red is stimulation and most people want to relax in their bedroom. By the same stretch, I would not normally select green for a dining area or a space where food is served because you want to stimulate the appetite.
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
A10) I am a Benjamin Moore user. They are constantly pushing the envelope to create new classics. I break out the Farrow and Ball in specific situations where I want to go nuts with nuance. Then we sample for a week.
PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
A8)Paint and lighting! Two things that will absolutely evoke a mood or feeling within a room. These photos are the same unit, but in three different homes. Each evokes a completely different feel!
PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
A10) I’m a big fan of Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore. They are very up front and center when assisting the design trade. They make sure I have the newest information, my sample library is stocked and the paint is always beautiful.
Jeannie Nguyen
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for an AWESOME chat guys! I learned so much, and I'll probably be showing my parents this chat (they totally need the help--ha!) Feel free to continue chatting on your own and apologies for going over time! Stay tuned for more live chats soon. ;)
PRO
Studio M Interior Design
13 years ago
Thanks so much for inviting me to the live discussion! Gotta run but I hope some of our answers helped those of you out there that are having design dilemmas or on the fence about using color. Definitely invite you to follow me on twitter @StudioM_ for more design advice and current trends. Thanks again :)
Jeannie Nguyen thanked Studio M Interior Design
PRO
Shannon Ggem Design
13 years ago
Thanks for including Ggem Design Co! We love to toss in our 2cents!
Jeannie Nguyen thanked Shannon Ggem Design
PRO
Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
13 years ago
Thanks Jeannie! Great to chat with everyone and hear all your thoughts too!
Jeannie Nguyen thanked Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID
PRO
It's a Beautiful World!
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Sorry to have missed all the fun, it looks like it was all over while I was reading and liking comments. It was very helpful, as always, to hear the designers' perspective on colors. We have mostly worked with commercial designers and noticed that they are, in general, very careful with using brighter colors. We often had to mute some colors to fit their color boards. We are lucky our medium allows for that. We have never seen a color we do not like, I often provide examples to Houzz users on how multiple colors can work well together in an artwork. And, of course, it is also true with design but it does takes a talented designer to show it. Thanks again for this interesting discussion!... Raisa
bumblebee728
13 years ago
Love this discussion, color is one of my favorite subjects. Please do more!
PRO
Amy Wax
13 years ago
So sorry I missed this! how do we know when these talks are scheduled?
olldroo
13 years ago
Pity Amy, your colour charts are so good, they make it easy for anyone to get it right. Unfortunately, I'm asleep when they happen.
PRO
Teresa Tullio IACC/NA
13 years ago
Hi Amy, I missed it too! When are they scheduled?
olldroo
13 years ago
Maybe email Emily, she organises them.
Jim Allen
13 years ago
I just installed hd flat screen with color on the wall with shutter back wall, need help with colors, budda41, thanks
Jim Allen
13 years ago
Light colors on the wall, sorry!!!!
olldroo
13 years ago
budda - suggest you start your own thread on this under "design dilemmas" and be sure to include photos of your room.
atyg
13 years ago
If one lives in a modern house, with contemporary furnishings, adding wainscot looks pretentious, fussy and out of sync. Modern houses have their unique design merits to take advantage of. There are cheaper ways to to accentuate walls, and more innovative contemporary design ideas to harmonize outside and inside together. Research through books, or hire a professional to deal with issues on site.
PRO
Pamela Qarbaghi
10 years ago
http://www.houzz.com/projects/1295077/art-original-abstract-paintings (you may need to cut and paste this link to get to my Houzz store.)

SOLD!!! Original Abstract Paintings · More Info
Janice Smith
10 years ago
@atyg-In response to your post regarding wainscoting. I also have an Interior Design degree. While I see where the "one" may think wainscoting may look. pretentious with "contemporary" furnishings. I would personally describe it as opposing design style. "One" must first see what type of contemporary furnishings were chosen. Contemporary does not mean modern! Modern is a "period of decore" that went from the late 50's to early 70's. Streamlined furnishing, mirrors, glassware, chrome, globe lighting, etc., also lots of bright colors and prints in clothing and home fabric..

Contemporary refers to what is popular at this time. Such as moorish accents in everything from rugs, to wallpaper, the return of gold/brass as an accent metal. The colour grey in nearly every application....ad nauseum. Area rugs over hardwood, laminate or tile. Rather than wall to wall carpeting that was popular for several decades prior.

If I w were the OP, I would instead of wainscoting use thin quarter or half round moulding and create my own "contemporary" wainscoting. Possible doing 2 vertical rectangles with one inside the other. It pulled be done in stations around the room to compliment the size and how much lower wall space would be seen. The moulding could be painted a colour to compliment the wall colour. Or, in a metallic in any shade of metal to also compliment the room. Hope this helps!
Janice Smith
10 years ago
Sorry for the typos! My iPad is giving me trouble with the keyboard??? Time for a visit to the Apple Store !!!