Using a Bold Paint Color

I always tell clients when using a really great, bold wall color, do not panic while painting or looking at it right after you finish.  The color will be popping right off the wall, in your face, seeming to be so loud and obnoxious!I tell them that the wall is still naked!  There is nothing against it yet.  Do not forget, the color you picked for your walls should be the background for all of your furnishings.  Your sofa, chair, table, window treatments, art and accessories will be highlighted and be the 'stars' of the room.I decided to go bold in my basement on one focal wall with wall paper. Yes, wallpaper!  You can read more about wall coverings here.  It was my third wall treatment I tried on that same wall.  My husband was getting upset with me.  First, we painted it Raisin Torte.  Pretty, but boring.  I am trying to design a cool room downstairs with a bar, large TV, hot tub, and pool table.  A boring  paint color was not going to make it here because since the basement is dark already, it  made the wall look flat. Also, the burgandy  did not have that pop of color I was looking for. (I thought I had a picture of the wall painted Raisin Torte, but I guess I did not take one. This wall was painted in the Raisin Torte to give you an example.)So, next  my wonderful husband painted the wall with that great color green I told you about here, Winding Vines.  Now, I had no furniture or pictures or anything against the wall yet, but when I stood back and looked, I absolutely panicked!   But if you know me, sometimes I over obsess about trying to get things perfect.  All I could see when I looked at the wall was how the Winding Vines green was not working with the pool table green.  Maybe if I had taken my own advice and tried the color on the wall first, I would not have run into trouble again.  Be sure to sample the color before you paint!  I could not get past it and wanted it changed again.  That is when I decided to give wallpaper another shot ( a few years after I said never will I ever use wallpaper again in this lifetime). Again, refer here.

OMG!! It is so bright!  I do not like at all!  Again, panic city.  But then I start to put my furniture back in place.  Sconces go on the wall first, then a  large mirror is hung.  Well, maybe it is not looking so bad now.  Next, I place my console table in the middle of wall and decorate with accessories.   Wow- I guess it doesn't look so bad after all.  Actually, I love it!  Glad I went with the bold.

So, please use those bold colors you love, just try not to panic before you put your furnishings back in place.  If you do panic, know you are not alone.  It is very natural to feel this way, but remember, you still have to dress the wall.  If you did not pick the wall color according to your furnishings, and started with the wall color first, (which I will have to do a post on that ) know that eventually you will have a finished room.Did you notice that fanastic mirror?  That is the one I told you I bought in my blog  about mirrors here.If you need help and encouragement on your next decorating project, call me at 401.765.7999 or email kellybernierdesigns@cox.net.