If you have children, they will most likely want some input into the design of their room. Allowing them to choose the paint color can be risky. I still remember the day when my daughter, then about 9-years old, wanted to paint her room dark purple. Years later, as an angst-ridden teen, she wanted to paint her room black. Neither of those ideas panned-out, but in both instances, we came to a mutual agreement. Now, in her 20′s, she’s opted for a lovely shade of creamy yellow for her very own room in her very own house.

Thanks to modern technology, the Internet provides lots and lots of places to find color wheels, tips and even places to give your kids a chance to do a virtual makeover.

One thing to keep in mind is that room colors can affect your child, both psychologically and physically. Maturity, cultural influences, personal experiences, light and even physical makeup are just a few of the elements that influence how an individual will respond to color.

Warm Colors – these colors are on the red side of the color wheel. These colors usually give one a feeling of warmth, intimacy and relaxation. However, intense warm colors such as reds and oranges tend to stimulate and excite. If your child is warm and affectionate, you might suggest choosing colors from the red side of the wheel.

Cool Colors – these colors will be found on the blue side of the color wheel. Cool colors often have a calming affect, although intensely cool colors (very dark) have a tendency to depress the viewer. Painting kid rooms, light cool colors such as blue green, light blue, blue-violet and even white have a calming effect and make rooms feel more spacious and elegant.

Earth Tones – Ground colors like grays, browns, and beige (muted yellows) ground you. They are a good choice for hyperactive children, creating a sense of warmth, comfort and relaxation.

Muted ground colors are best. Just look outside for examples of the browns and grays found in squirrels, trees, and the earth.

Black -Black is best used sparingly if at all. Traditionally it represents darkness, despair, sorrow and mourning and subconsciously it is strongly associated with death. When it is used in large amounts it absorbs light and it can generate depression and/or zap the energy out of the viewer.

While discussing painting kid rooms, teens often mention black as a color choice. For them it’s creates a sense of mystery and modern style. The style they want to communicate can still be reached using black in restricted amounts, as accents or accessories. That said, black should not be used in large amounts, especially in rooms that are used frequently.

White – White predominately represents peace, faith, joy, cleanliness and of course, purity. Since white reflects almost 80% of light, white rooms seem brighter and larger than rooms painted in other colors. It’s a great palate that can enhance other colors in the room.

One of our favorite local interior designers, Kathleen Clemens, is featured in the Dallas Morning News, talking about the hot new – must-have color, Lemongrass…

Lemongrass – it’s just one of those colors that make you want to take a big whiff. It’s also a vibrant and happy color, with just the perfect mix of yellow and green…

…From paint to rugs to bedding and decorative accessories, Dallas interior designer Kathleen Clemens sums it up as a “chameleon color, which we designers love. Use it to pop a very modern attitude or bring warmth to a traditional setting.”

Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, says: “It’s incredibly versatile. It has a cool softness that works in a variety of rooms, from a baby’s nursery to a master bedroom or family room. It pairs well with chocolate browns, soft corals and dusty plums as well as neutrals of white and beige and other green and blue-green hues.”…READ IT ALL.

One of our favorite shades (as well as a very popular one with our clients) is Sherwin Williams’ Lemon Verbena (SW7726). The color complements so many gorgeous colors, making your eye-pleasing room pop with personality.

Kathleen Clemens founded An Inside View Interior Design Studio with the philosophy that design is a process of creating practical and inspired solutions and ideas that insure an enhanced result. This process leads to creative and efficient solutions to our client’s desires.

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Here’s the deal.  The more sheen “shiny” a paint is, the easier it will be to take a wet rag and wipe off. However the more shiny it is, the more imperfections in the sheet rock and texture you will notice. Also shiny paint usually is not the best choice if you like to pull out a brush and do a touch up here and there. The wet sheen will not blend with the dry sheen and if there is any light on the touch up you will see a sheen spot.

Just because a paint is flat does not mean it’s cheap. The guts of a high quality flat paint can be much better than a junky semi-gloss. High quality flat paints will hold their color and sheen and will touch-up very well.

Recently, I went to a customer’s home in Frisco in which we completed a full interior job, 2-years previously. They were putting the house on the market and wanted freshen up the entire interior. They just assumed, like most, that the stored original paint wouldn’t match for a perfect touch-up. We pulled a can out of the garage, touched it up, and they were amazed that it blended right in. It saved them about $3,000.  If the  walls were originally painted in an eggshell or satin, they would have to repainted most of the walls.

Do make note of the desired environment for interior painting. What mood do you want to convey? A peaceful haven or an energy inspiring space? Think about your favorite places to play, or a restaurant you love frequenting. What is the color palate used in these settings? Perhaps it will work well in your home.

Don’t underestimate chameleon qualities of color. Varying types of light cause changes in any color. Talk to your DFW painting professional about painting a test swatch on a portion of your wall that receives both natural and artificial light. Observing color in these various types of lights will aid in your decision-making.

Do plan on smoothly integrating your home with color for a successful house painting project. Think about the flow from one room to the next. Pick out a palate that will work well together on your walls and then unite the rooms by painting the baseboards, trim, and crown molding all one color.

Don’t forget your ceilings. DFW painting is known for our popcorn removal. We have a proprietary process unlike that of any other Dallas painting companies. Nothing updates a room like removing that 1970s texture. Give painters the opportunity to make your home feel brand new with more than just color!

Do embrace the new neutrals. Gray is the new beige. It is versatile and comes in warm, cool, light, or dark shades. Painters in Dallas have seen an increase in demand for all shades of gray. Rethink your view of this color and reinvent your favorite space with just the right shade of gray.

Don’t resist your instincts. One thing all painting companies can agree on is the customer must feel comfortable with the outcome. You can refresh a room without making drastic changes. It’s allowed.

Do make note of anything needing to coordinate with your home’s interior color choices. Painters in Dallas have the privilege of painting some of the most desirable homes around. What type of tantalizing pieces do you want to incorporate? A family heirloom, an awe-inspiring area rug, or maybe an envied piece of artwork from abroad?