Are you a color commitment-phobe? Don’t worry, I’m not going to blather on about hues, values and chroma but I do want to say that color is the cornerstone of every decorating project. Whether it’s paints, fabrics, furnishings or even cabinets and flooring, at some point, you are going to have to make some color commitments.
Have you ever known someone that can hear a song then pick up a guitar and immediately play the tune to perfection? It’s equal parts impressive and annoying, right?! I would never attempt to do that in the first place, but if I did, I would definitely not get upset with myself because I could barely twang a cord. It’s just not my gift.
Choosing and curating colors is really similar and just happens to be my gift. To do it well you have to have an innate sense of color, a passion for it and some experience under your belt. If picking colors isn’t in your wheelhouse, don’t get upset about it, that’s what designers like me are here for. When you take the leap and hire a designer, here are some Dos and Don’ts to have a successful Color Consultation.
Tip #1 For a Successful Color Consultation
DON’T be ashamed that you almost drowned in paint chips before you called on a designer to help. A lot of times clients don’t show us all of their cards (or paint chips in this case) when we turn up to do a Color Consult. Share which paint chips you’re leaning towards so we don’t have to try to read your mind.
Tip #2 For a Successful Color Consultation
DO consider the mood you want to create in the room. Feeling words help me more than anything – do you want the room to feel calm and serene? Or bold and energetic? You don’t have to speak Design-ese, keep it simple – how do you want your room to feel?
Tip #3 For a Successful Color Consultation
DON’T hide the fact that you’re indecisive. If we know that ahead of time, we can narrow down the color selections accordingly. Choices are great for some clients and overwhelming for others. We get that, but you’ve got to let us know first.
Tip #4 For a Successful Color Consultation
DO share your inspiration boards on Pinterest and Houzz or any magazine photos you’ve torn out and have been drooling over. We can pick up threads that run through your inspiration photos that you might not even realize were there. That’s one of our super powers.
Tip #5 For a Successful Color Consultation
DON’T be afraid to speak up. If you’re not feeling the color palette that’s being presented to you, please say so. It’s a collaboration, therefore we need your feedback. We want you to be happy.
Tip #6 For a Successful Color Consultation
DO trust your instincts. Check in with your body, listen to your gut and watch out for those goose bumps. Your body always knows if you’re on the right track or not - and yes, this applies to choosing colors for your home too.
Tip #7 For a Successful Color Consultation
DON’T let a designer put down your color choices. Especially, in your own home. Whenever I hear of someone feeling badly after they’ve met with a designer, it really breaks my heart. It’s your home, your money and your taste that counts. Remember that you can say, “Bye, Felicia!” at anytime (even if her name is not Felicia).
Tip #8 For a Successful Color Consultation
DO have a designer confirm your color choices. If you have some colors in mind but are not confident enough to start painting your walls, absolutely hire a designer to confirm your color choices. We may suggest a color that looks very similar but has a slightly different undertone. It will save you heartache in the long run.
Tip #9 For a Successful Color Consultation
DO remain open to suggestions that may push you out of your comfort zone a little. We can often take your idea and really add some fairy dust magic to it. You like Greige? I like Greige too, but beware, Greige can wear many different faces and you might end up with a lavender undertone on your walls. Want to take it to the next level? Accent it with peacock blue, burnt orange, kelly green or even hot pink.
Color is definitely my jam.
My relationship with color started waaaaay back in 1993, at a light box with an eye piece, miles of film (yes, I said film) and racks of clothing samples. Back then, I worked in the Advertising Department for several men’s clothing, golf and home decor catalogs. We would go through sample printings of the catalogs and would have to adjust the color and skin tones of every image to get the most realistic results. The process was painstaking but it honed my eye so that I now pick up on the tiniest nuances in color. After 10 years at that job it became second nature. I had no idea then how big of a part it would play in my career path.
Color Consultations can come in the form of paint selection, accent colors to pull a room together or colors to enhance the feeling of a room. I’m running a Special (my first ever) – “Color Consultation: 3 Spaces for $199.00” through the month of October.
Stop the color confusion, click on the Contact Tab to set up your Color Consultation!