Paint Colours

Decisions about paint colours is something many people probably don't stress over. FYI - I am not one of these people. I have a whole tote bag full of paint colour ideas, colour fans from various brands and individual colour chips. After agonizing review and discussion the decision is narrowed down to a select few. Hours and days later uncertainty still looms and final choices have to be made. Today was decision day.

After purchasing paint samples of the final contestants, it was time to put them side-by-side for the poster board competition. This involves painting each sample onto the poster board and displaying the finished product in the desired location. I use the back side of the poster board for flat, ceramic and satin finishes, and the front high-gloss side for semi-gloss and high-gloss enamels. The best colour samples are achieved using scrap pieces of drywall but it is not always available. Many people paint the colours directly onto the desired wall. I rarely do this for two reasons. 1) I like to see how all my final colour choices look together. Harmony is achieved when you can go room-to-room without being shocked by the colour contrasts. 2) If a colour sample looks like less than you were expecting (AKA - you hate it!), it is easier to recycle your poster board than it is to re-prime over the undesired colour.

If you are like me you love colour so much it is often hard to choose. Sample cans of paint are inexpensive and offer you the ability to be sure before you commit to a whole gallon. (Kind of like living with him before you marry him.) Several colour choices were successfully made and tomorrow will be another day full of choices. The most common reason I reject a sample is not because of the colour but rather the shade. When this happens the rejects often make perfect accent colours for additional projects in the room. Rejected colour samples may also be used to tint a gallon of white paint or combine them to create a new colour. I donate my water base paints to the local girl scout troop for their projects. Check with your local Habitat for Humanity and/or other community groups to determine where the unwanted paint may be of best use.

Happy Painting!