A bright white border connects a strong red room with a softer green space designed by Gary McBournie.
Photo: Luke White/The Interior Archive/Studio Indigo
Don’t be locked into one color
Inviting in a new color can give your home some much-needed dimension. “Part of the fun in design is not limiting yourself to a confined box,” says Margaret Naeve Parker, founder of M.Naeve in Houston. “I love a house that has a room or two, with a nice bold color that differs from the rest of the house.” When the paint on the wall makes a good transition, that hidden moment causes a pleasant surprise. Parker recommends limiting this effect to a dining room or study to avoid a clash of colors that seems too busy.
In one project, designer Margaret Naeve Parker matched the color of the crown molding and baseboards to the original plaster walls.
Photo: Par Bengtsson
Think about trimming
Be careful with factory white windows, as the ultra-bright tint can create dissonance, especially when paired with a warmer off-white window trim. “Although it’s not always the rule, I like the trim and mullions to be the same color, which further promotes a cohesive feel,” says Parker. Matching the trim to the wall color also helps with the transition, especially when you use a high-quality paint. “Using the same color on all trim and doors is an architectural element that remains consistent, unifying the aesthetic of the entire house,” adds Banbury.
Give your paint selection some wiggle room
Even if you have a dream color palette in mind, the reality of your home may prevent you from going all out. Let’s say your kid is obsessed with pink, but you don’t want to have a Barbie bedroom. But just because hot pink is in demand doesn’t mean you can’t compromise in a way that plays well with the rest of the household palette. To appease both parents and children, Alexander suggests painting a surface other than all four walls, like a ceiling. He used a dusty hot pink to decorate a children’s room. Not only will the color of the door’s view be obscured, but it’s exciting for children to look up from the bed and see their vision of her come to life, she says. Alternatively, she can hide the color coveted by children in a bathroom by painting vanity cabinets or adding a band of fun colors.
At the end of the day, as long as you set your home with a few key paint colors, you’ll have the flexibility to maintain a cohesive color scheme even with a few outliers.
Source: www.architecturaldigest.com