PAINT IT PERFECT

Have you ever stood in front of the massive wall of paint chips at Lowe’s and wanted to cry? Nothing intimidates me more than paint chips. When building my house in Weston Lakes many years ago, I picked out a beautiful vanilla color for the exterior paint and asked the painters to just paint a small section for me to approve. The next day I drove out to preview my selection with great anticipation. Winding through the neighborhood, I was getting more anxious by the curve. As we turned the last corner, I could see the house from where we were, beaming a gorgeous Easter bonnet yellow! I was horrified and embarrassed that my yet to be met neighbors would think that I had done that on purpose. And they had painted the entire house. The painters couldn’t get it repainted fast enough for me. However, I have learned a few things since then. And Painting is the simplest, cheapest way to transform your space. So how do you begin to choose a color? Think about the colors you gravitate towards. If you’re still confused, here are some tried and true colors:

• BLUE Sherwin Williams Meander Blue (#6484)

Blues are the new neutral on the color wheel. They go with anything. Soothing in a bedroom or bath.

• BROWN Benjamin Moore Wood Grain Brown (#2109-30)

Brown is great for warmth if it’s the right shade. This one has a gray undertone, which gives it a bit of refinement.

• RED Benjamin Moore Million Dollar Red (#2003-10)

Reds can be difficult if they have too much blue or yellow in them. This one strikes the perfect balance giving off a warm flattering cast to skin tones of all types. It’s great in dining or family rooms.

• GREEN Olympic Lettuce Alone (#B68-3)

A crisp, clean green like this looks great in kitchens with food and lots of colors. It’s also a fresh, calming choice for bathrooms.

• BEIGE Benjamin Moore Early Morning Mist (#1528)

This is between gray and beige. A very adaptable, foolproof color that works for almost any decorating scheme. You can’t go wrong with this one.

• YELLOW Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow (#HC-4)

Definitely not Easter bonnet yellow – just the right balance for tranquil and turbo charged. A good choice for rooms and hallways without much natural light.

• GRAY Benjamin Moore Gray Owl (#2137-60)

This hue is a good choice for all color schemes – a refined alternative to light blue. Very adaptable.