Picking your colors
PICKING YOUR COLORS
Color inspiration can come from almost anywhere or anything--nature, fabric, childhood memories, art, even feelings can be the source of color choice . After deciding to paint, picking paint colors is the next step . Below are links to American and European paint manufacturer's color options. There is a lot of inspiration in the links below.
Homeowners, Interior decorators and architects use these sites to inspire their color choices. By visiting them, you'll have access to many of the tools used by design professionals.
If you would like a physical color chip, most manufacturers allow you to order them online. Alternatively, you can pick them up at the paint store. Most people enjoy going to the paint store to select their own color chips from the display.
Below is a list of paint companies' links.
1. Kelly-Moore https://kellymoore.com/color
2. Fine Paints of Europe http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/classic_wall_colors.aspx
3. Sherwin Williams http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/paint_colors/explore/color/
4. DunnEdwards http://www.dunnedwards.com/PaintingContractors/ExploreColor/ExploreThePerfectPalette/ExplorethePerfectPalette.aspx
5. Glidden Paints https://glidden.com
6. Behr Paints http://www.behr.com/Behr/home
7. Pratt & Lambert http://www.prattandlambert.com/prattapp/color_visualizer
8. Pittsburg Paints https://www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com
9. Valspar Paint http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/explore-colors/color-selector/index.html
10. Cabot Stains http://www.cabotstain.com/colors-and-finishes/families/Solids-Colors.html
11. Benjamin Moore https://benjaminmoore.com
12. Devoe Paints http://www.icipaints.com/colourtools/en_US_DV/css/schemer.html?showPath=1&dreamSaveURL=http://devoe.com/Jahia/imageSaverKey&Height=400&Width=300
13. Dutch Boy Paints https://www.dutchboy.com
14. Vasari Plaster https://www.vasariplaster.com
15. Clark+Kensington https://www.thepaintstudio.com
16. Farrow & Ball http://farrow-ball.com
17. Pantone Colors http://www.pantone.com/pages/paint/paintselector.aspx
18. Cabbot Stains http://www.cabotstain.com/colors-and-finishes/families/Ready-Mix-Colors.html
19. Old Fashioned Milk Paint http://www.milkpaint.com/color.html
20. Modern Masters Metallic Paint https://www.modernmasters.com/landing/professionals/brands/mpc
21. Glidden Professional http://www.gliddenprofessional.com/colorSelector1
22. Olympic https://www.olympic.com
23. Martin Senour Paints -- Discontinued
24. RUST-OLEUM https://www.rustoleum.com
25. Masterchem http://www.masterchem.com/masterchem/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d72e8fb3e5c49210VgnVCM100000176310acRCRD
26. American Clay Plasters https://www.americanclay.com
27. Rodda Paint https://www.roddapaint.com
28. AFM Safecoat https://www.afmsafecoat.com
29. Desert sealer http://www.desertbrand.com/images/ClassicSealerColorChart.pdf
30. Minwax http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains-color-guide/
31. Mylands Paint https://www.mylands.com/paint/colours/
32. Eico Paint http://www.eico.co.uk/colour-sample/
33. Curator Paints http://www.curatorpaints.com/us/palette/
34. Little Greene https://littlegreene.com/paint
35. Diamond Vogel Paints https://www.diamondvogel.com/content/homeowners
36. c2paint https://c2paint.com
PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOR:
Color has immense significance in our lives. Whether it’s a red stop sign, or a dream dominated by blue skies, color speaks to us in more ways than one. Explore your favorite colors in the color links above. Remember to keep your favorites in mind while you’re choosing the color for your space. Keep notes and mark down color numbers and manufacturers for future reference. Your color choices and how you color your space reflects on you and your taste. Painting your rooms with the right colors creates the right feel and atmosphere in your space.
Our personal and cultural associations affect our experience of color. Colors are seen as warm or cool mainly because of long-held and often universal associations. Yellow, orange and red are associated with the heat of sun and fire; blue, green and violet with the coolness of leaves, sea and the sky. Warm colors seem closer to the viewer than cool colors, but vivid cool colors can overwhelm light and subtle warm colors. Using warm colors for foreground and cool colors for background enhances the perception of depth.
Although red, yellow and orange are in general considered high-arousal colors and blue, green and most violets are low-arousal hues, the brilliance, darkness and lightness of a color can alter the psychological message. While a light blue-green appears to be tranquil, wet and cool, a brilliant turquoise, often associated with a lush tropical ocean setting, will be more exciting to the eye. The psychological association of a color is often more meaningful than the visual experience.
Colors act upon the body as well as the mind. Red has been shown to stimulate the senses and raise the blood pressure, while blue has the opposite effect and calms the mind.
Studies have found people gamble more and make riskier bets when seated under a red light as opposed to a blue light. That's why Las Vegas is the city of red neon.
An executive received complaints from workers in a blue office that the office was too cold. When the offices were painted a warm peach, the sweaters came off even though the temperature had not changed.
WARM COLORS
Colors in the red, orange and yellow families are referred to as "warm" colors since they evoke images associated with heat, like fire or sunshine. As a result they make us feel warm in a psychological sense.
Red
This powerful color increases blood pressure and heart rate. It often produces feelings of intimacy, energy, passion and sexuality. It also stimulates the appetite and is often used in restaurants and is an excellent choice for dining rooms in the home.
Orange
Like red, orange warms a room but in a less dramatic and passionate way. The mood and attitude of orange is more friendly than fiery; more welcoming than seductive. Orange works well in living rooms and family rooms and is also a good choice for children's bedrooms.
Yellow
Yellow grabs attention and catches the eye like no other color, hence the use of yellow highlighters in offices. In poorly lit foyers and hallways, yellow shows the way. In their bedrooms, elderly people report that yellow lifts their mood. But bright yellow can be too strong and may actually cause anxiety in infants, young children and the elderly.
COOL COLORS
Blues, greens, violets and their intermediates are considered cool colors because of their references to pastoral landscapes and ocean vistas. When we look at these colors they elicit feelings of peace, tranquility and relaxation.
Blue
Soothing blue is an ideal bedroom color choice for adults and children. But that same blue that lulls us to sleep also suppresses our appetites, possibly because there are very few naturally blue foods. Put blue to bed, but try and keep it out of the dining room. In Greece, blue is said to ward off the "evil eye." In the American flag, blue signifies justice, perseverance, and vigilance. Blue is beautiful and is sure to bring a cool relaxation into your space.
Green
As the dominant color in nature, we are at home with green anywhere in the house. Light greens work well in baths and living rooms; mid-range greens are a great accent for kitchens and dining rooms. The calming effect of green makes it popular in hospitals, schools and work environments.
Violet
Despite the favorable response violet elicits in children, many adults dislike purples, with rosier shades of violet being somewhat more appealing. Children's bedrooms and play areas may be good places to experiment with this color family.
Purple
Purple has often been called a royal color. Purple dye was originally made from mollusks, making it very expensive to produce; thus the association of purple with royalty. According to color theory, purple in a child's room is said to increase imagination. With both a mystical and a royal connotation, purple can set a regal tone.
NEUTRAL COLORS
White
White symbolizes freshness, purity, and cleanliness. White is always safe color to choose: It is a great offset to any other color you use it with. As an exterior color, white is versatile and will beautify almost any surface.
Black
Black is an authoritative classic color that conveys sophistication. Black provides a neutral yet strong counterpoint to any color you choose. Black is a great color for exterior woodwork like trim, shutters, doors, and wrought iron.
Brown
Brown is known as an earth tone/nature color, it goes with everything and is a true classic choice. It is a color associated with quality, reliability and friendship. Decorating with Brown creates a sense of cozy refinement on interior spaces. Brown is a great color to live and work around. Red-browns look very informal. Dark browns look more refined. Brown works well with green in an exterior color scheme. Beiges and tans are easy neutrals that can be used on most large wall surfaces. The color brown is associated with natural, organic or wholesome products. Brown is a color that puts people at ease and is very welcoming.
Metallic Colors
Metallic paints have a sheen that brings luxurious sophistication to whatever wall, ceiling, or trim surface they they are painted on. Many must be sprayed to achieve the desired finish. Brushing them on doesn't give the desired smooth sheen effect that they require. Recently, manufacturers have begun selling brushable metallics, but the finished look is different than the sprayed metallics.