Design Success University

I enjoy reading the shelter magazines as much as anyone does, and what is often highlighted in some of the trendier magazines is something that is radical, bold or different.  Just because it is in a magazine does not mean it is the design you should have in your own home.

While you are looking at the magazines, or even the HGTV shows, it can become overwhelming and confusing to decide what to do with your own home. 

Here is my advice to you:

1. Start a file of photos you like and separate it by room types
2. Add a sticky note to each photo and note what you like and don’t like about the photo
3. If you have a spouse or partner, have them do the same thing and put it in a notebook with sheet protectors once you have several items
4. Go to the paint store and pick several colors that you like and put them in another tab in your notebook
5. Create another tab for “Inspiration” - write random words or thoughts about the way you want your home to feel or look.
6. Allow the thoughts to percolate over time…see if the hot pink walls you liked in an earlier magazine article are still appealing to you
7. Think about your palette for your home.  It is nice to have a unifying basis for your palette so you don’t go from one shocking room to another.  Select one main color that will be about 60% of the color for your home.  It can be different shades of the same color, so texture becomes another element for your plan
8. Select a second color that is about 30% of your palette
9. The third color should be about 10% of your palette, and that is where you can be wild and crazy.  This could be your pillows, throws, accent walls, accessories or other small elements
10. If you follow these guidelines, you won’t look like you are a slave to fashion trends.  If you do want to be a slave to the trends, or you want to express your crazy side, do that in the 10% of the palette, and you won’t break your budget by redoing your home every year to two years

If you think about fashion trends, one of the greatest ways to create interest and drama is through handbags and shoes.  There is always a new palette for every season, so most of us can budget for a few splurges.  Paint is the equivalent splurge in the home. 

For a great way to view your personal palette, visit www.benjaminmoore.com.  They have a great tool so you can select a room and the colors you want to use.  Just keep in mind that you will still need to test the colors in your home before applying them to your walls.  Benjamin Moore offers paint samples that you can paint on the walls or on core board (available at your office supply store). 

You will want to look at the colors at night and in the day.  Your home’s light is different depending on the source.  I always like to pick paint colors in the daytime first - when it is sunny but not glaring.  Remember that southern, western and eastern light will add a yellow cast to your colors.  Northern light is cool and will add a gray cast. 

Colors often have a gray or black undertone, so you need to be aware of this when you are selecting your paint color as well as the other accents in your room.

Be sure to join our newsletter and RSS feed for the latest information.  If you have specific design questions, I may use your submittal for future posts, so be sure and send your biggest design question to me.  I welcome your participation.  I will also be asking other designers and industry experts to contribute articles to the site based on your input, so fire away!

About the author:  Gail Doby specializes in dream home designs for luxury residences, blissful master suites, and interior design success education and inspiration.  For more information, visit www.renaissancedesign.com, join the newsletter, sign up for the RSS feed for new blog posts and submit your questions and comments.