SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
Connect rooms with color
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
The color relationship between rooms matters — especially if your home features a fluid floor plan and guests can see from one room into another .
“ Color coordination is something many people contend with because open floor plans have been on trend for quite a while ,” said designer , TV host and author Vern Yip . “ The problem becomes how to differentiate between rooms , or do you want to paint all the rooms the same color ,” said the author of “ Vern Yip ’ s Design Wise ” and host of TLC ’ s “ Trading Spaces .”
Painting may be the first thing to come to mind , but there are many other ways to tie rooms together , Yip said .
“ Drapery , upholstery , throw pillows , art on the wall . Realize that you don ’ t have to change the color of the room to add distinct characteristics . You have other tools ,” Yip said .
Accent with color
“ Use the same accent color , repeated in different ways , in different rooms ,” said designer Debbie Wiener , owner of Slob Proof Furniture in Chestertown , Maryland . A homeowner who wants a variety of beige , taupe and cream-colored neutral walls but loves lavender can add lavender in the living room with throw pillows , a vase or a picture frame , Wiener said .
In a master bedroom / bath suite , you could bring the color of the walls in the bedroom into the bathroom as accent tile or cabinet color , said Carla Aston , interior designer at Aston Design Studio , The Woodlands , Texas .
“ If this was a living room / dining room that adjoined , the dining room wall color could be picked up in the living room as pillows , upholstery accents or even drapery treatments ,” Aston said .
Trendy colors
Pulling color through your home helps create interest and flow , said interior designer Jill Thomson , Jill Thomson Design , Las Vegas , Nevada . If you ’ re embracing trendy colors like millennial pink , bold reds and yellows or organic greens , Thomson recommends adding the color in subtle , inexpensive ways like accessories that are easy to replace or change when you tire of that color .
Another idea for creating flow would be to use a primary color in one room and using it again in the adjoining room , as an accent color , to tie them together , said Sue Wadden , director of color marketing with Sherwin-Williams .
Break the rules
“ Many of our clients ’ homes are openplan spaces without boundaries from room to room . We find using a limited palette of colors can be a sure bet for a great look ,” said interior designers Hector Romero and Chris Obeji , romero + obeji interior design , Long Beach , California .
“ For instance , try using all cool colors such as blues and greens and don ’ t be afraid to mix it up . Gone is the day when you ’ re forbidden from mixing hues , like black and navy . What about introducing avocado to kelly green ? They ’ ll love each other !”
Paint the trim
“ One great way to make spaces feel consistent is to use matching trim and other finishes , like doors and crown molding . Keeping the same paint or stain color on these accents will help the flow of the entire space , even if you opt for different wall colors in every room ,” said Erika Woelfel , vice president of Color and Creative Services at Behr .
Avoid the amusement park
When every room is a new , rich color it can make your home look “ like an amusement park ,” Yip said . Instead , work with the same color tones but in shades . Make it easy by picking up a paint strip at the paint or hardware store that shows gradation from light to dark , he said .
That said , if you want one room that really stands out with a dramatic paint scheme , “ that ’ s OK . That works ,” Yip said .
Smooth tip : For a smooth transition always change color in an inside corner rather than an outside corner of a room , Yip said . Aston calls this the “ sweet spot for a transition ” as it gets rid of uneven edge and creates a “ seamless approach to material changes .”
Spring Vermont Home , Garden & Auto 2018 • 15