Color

anza. I think of a wall treatment like this as an outfit — a simple, classic jumpsuit or dress that requires little adornment. Maybe a chunky beaded necklace or star-studded wallpaper on the ceiling, and the ensemble is complete. To get the proper effect, a high-quality paint is the difference between jersey knit and graceful silk taffeta: This room’s designer recommends using a coat of primer and two or three coats of high-quality high-gloss paint, adding that “the number of coats needed to achieve this type of look depends on the condition of the existing surface, the quality of the paint and the intensity of color desired.”

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Pair black with soft red. Bright red combined with black has strong 1980s associations, which is fine if that’s where you want to go. But using black with a more subtle, organic red is a real winner. Think of warm rather than vibrant berry tones and you can’t go wrong.

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