Step right up …

… and pick any color - well, maybe not that one

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photo illustration/JOHN SYKES JR. - House paint.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photo illustration/JOHN SYKES JR. - House paint.

At first blush, choosing paint for a room seems easy. Maybe a nice yellow will brighten up the kitchen or a vibrant red will offer some pop in the drab TV room.

If only it were that simple.

Between computerized color matching systems and the prepared and named colors offered by each retailer, there is virtually an infinite number of hues from which to choose. And don’t get us started on the multitude of “whites” out there. To complicate matters further, each color comes in four or five different sheens ranging from matte or flat to semi- or high-gloss and some brands even offer paint-only and paint-and-primer combos.

Still, before you start painting there is one very important issue to address - lead paint. (See related story.)

After the all clear is called regarding lead paint, where, then, to begin? Color, of course.

It is important to marry the color with the personality of the family who will be living there and the function of the space, says Sue Kim, a color expert with Valspar.

Here are some other tips from color experts on choosing the right hue for your space.

Consider the lighting. “Traditional room lighting tends to have a warm cast to it so you have to take this into account when choosing a color,” Kim says.

Try darker shades in spaces with plenty of natural light, she says. Conversely, use lighter shades in spaces with little natural light and spaces used mostly at night. Homeowners should observe the light in a room in the morning, early afternoon and evening before committing to a color.

Size matters. “In a small room, keep the number of colors to a minimum,” says Erika Woelfel, director of color marketing for Behr. “But, make sure the main color is a strong one.” Warm colors are ideal for large rooms since they keep the space from feeling intimidating, she says, and bursts of color are welcome in open floor plans to help break the monotony.

“Balance and harmony play a big role because too much of one color is always overwhelming,” Valspar’s Kim says.

Coordinate colors. To keep the flow in a home, choose a dominant and accent color for one room and then reverse them in an adjacent room, Woelfel suggests.

Shades one rung apart on a paintcard are also recommended for side-by-side rooms, with neutral colors in hallways or spaces that bridge the two rooms.

It isn’t just bold colors that have warm and cool tones. Whites also can be categorized as either warm or cool, Woelfel says. She suggests using warm whites in larger rooms to add an intimate quality and cool whites in smaller spaces to add the illusion of spaciousness. Painters can also mix and match whites depending on the natural light in each room, with warmer tones favored for areas with less natural light.

Ceilings should be neutral, Woelfel says. Traditionally ceilings are usually painted white, but they can also be a cream or beige depending on a room’s overall color scheme. More than anything it’s important to stay in either a cool or warm color palette for ceiling and walls.

“To add height to a room with low ceilings, paint it a lighter color,” says Woelfel. Semi-gloss paints also add the illusion of height to low ceilings.

Choose your accents wisely. “When choosing accents, remember a little goes a long way,” Woelfel says.

Look for an alcove, an oddly shaped wall or any architectural features that might be ideal for accent colors. She recommends using bold colors sparingly.

Still feeling “emotional” about picking a color? Try the bold brick orange named Emotional (SW6621) by Sherwin-Williams. For a slide show of colors with zany names, go to bit.ly/MCG8db. There you’ll also find Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball (a gray that looks like it was once pink).

After color there is still so much more to consider.

OIL-BASED VS. WATER-BASED

The durability of alkyd, or oil-based, paint has a certain appeal, especially for surfaces such as door frames and kitchen or bathroom cabinets that are subject to much day-to-day abuse. Many pros swear by oil-based paints.They last longer, wear better and … are a pain to clean up. Most do-it-yourselfers choose water-based for convenience. CHOOSING THE RIGHT LUSTER

Finding the right paint base and color are only half the battle. Now it’s time to decide on shine. Paint is offered in different luster levels ranging from matte to high gloss. The basic four sheens are matte, eggshell, satin and semi-gloss, with some companies offering high-gloss as a fifth option. Choosing the proper luster can be complicated. It’s dependent on lighting, wall texture and the amount of traffic in the space.

“For lower-traffic areas, you can use a flat sheen,” Kim says. “For higher traffic areas, you can use a higher sheen like satin or semi-gloss.”

Here’s a brief guide on when to use each basic finish.

Flat or matte finishes - once used predominantly for low-traffic areas and outdoor paints - are ideal when deeper colors are used. “Flat finishes make colored rooms more livable since they don’t have the reflection of a higher sheen,” she says.

Aimee Desrosiers, director of marketing for Behr, recommends using flat or matte finish paint to hide imperfections in wall or ceiling surfaces.

Eggshell finishes are ideal for just about any paint project from family rooms and bedrooms to windows, doors, cabinets and trim. Though not as flat as a matte finish, the eggshell enamel is known for its ability to be scrubbed and cleaned easily, according to Desrosiers.

The next step up in sheen is a satin finish. Some paintcompanies only offer an eggshell or a satin, not both. Satin is silky and exceptionally stain-resistant, according to Desrosiers. It’s a good finish for the walls of active areas including kids’ rooms, hallways and kitchens.

Semi-gloss finished paints have a higher sheen than satin finishes. They aren’t recommended for wall surfaces in larger rooms like living rooms and bedrooms, but the improved scrubbability is helpful in bathrooms and hallways, on cabinets and door and window trim.

High-gloss finishes are seldom used, but when they are it’s usually on trim and molding, Desrosiers says.

TO PRIME OR NOT TO PRIME?

Most interior and exterior walls need a primer in order for the paint to adhere to the walls appropriately and promote the longevity of the top coat, Desrosiers says. Primers also cover up imperfections or old paint colors thoroughly so that the new paint color shows perfectly.

“Most premium paints are paint and primer in one, which eliminates the use of a separate primer in most instances,” says Sean Morris, Valspar brand manager. “When painting surfaces that have some kind of damage or surfaces like metal, a specialized primer is recommended after a thorough cleaning.”

Unpainted wood surfaces, patched and repaired areas on walls, and stained areas should be primed before they are repainted. For tough stains such as water marks on a ceiling, use a stain blocking primer that contains shellac such as those sold by Zinsser or Kilz.

Primers also come in water- and oil-based varieties. Water-based primers should be used on most metals, brick or masonry, vinyl siding, wood, stained areas and previously painted areas. Oil-based primers should be used on woods that bleed tannins or sap, are severely stained and wrought iron or any ferrous metal.

There are also special primers to cover rust and smoke or fire damage.

Do not paint over an oil-based paint with a latex; after a short time the new paint will peel. Cabinets and trim, especially in older houses, could be covered in oil paint. It’s possible to switch to water-based for convenience, but you’ll have to prime over the old paint with an appropriate product first. According to olympic.com, you can test to see if an already painted surface is covered in oil- or water-based paint by testing it with a swab soaked in denatured alcohol. If the paint rubs off, it is water-based.

HomeStyle, Pages 37 on 09/28/2013

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