COLOUR CONUNDRUM
For many homeowners, choosing a hue can be tougher than doing the painting, survey finds
It's been 25 years since I tackled the first of what has turned out to be a very long list of painting projects. But my goal of adding character to a new home that was painted in a bland builder's beige fell short: the green I had selected reminded me more of medical scrubs than the serene oasis I had envisioned.
It wasn't the first time I missed the mark, but I take solace in the fact that I'm not alone. According to a recent Sherwin-williams survey of homeowners, 41 per cent said picking paint colours was harder than painting and 48 per cent admitted they've picked the wrong paint colour.
“My No. 1 tip is to find a source of inspiration — a sofa, rug, painting, artwork — that is going to be in the room and then work from that to create a palette or find the perfect colour choice,” says Sue Wadden, director of colour marketing at Sherwin-williams.
Choosing the right colour is hardly the only challenge that comes with painting. According to the paint manufacturer's survey, 74 per cent of respondents believe the most difficult part of painting is the prep work rather than the painting itself or cleanup afterwards.
Perhaps that's why it's also one of the most common mistakes people make when painting: 54 per cent of homeowners admitted to not preparing surfaces properly before painting, such as sanding and priming, and 42 per cent have made the mistake of not preparing the space by putting down plastic and taping.
Painting contractors support this claim. According to a Sherwin-williams survey of painting professionals, 88 per cent have had to fix improper surface preparation on behalf of a client and 65 per cent have fixed improper space prep.
(I'm among homeowners who haven't always prepared a space properly, even though my father — a jack of all trades — warned me that “paint has eyes.” Don't believe him? Leave a tiny piece of floor exposed when laying a drop cloth and see where the errant splatter of paint lands.)
The overwhelming majority of homeowners surveyed are “very confident” in their DIY skills when it comes to painting interior walls and trim, but their confidence drops when faced with other projects. Only 31 per cent are confident they could paint exterior siding, just 40 per cent said they could paint cabinets without help and just 41 per cent are confident they could paint exterior windows, doors and trim.
More than three-quarters of people surveyed said it takes them fewer than two weeks to get started once they've decided to paint and 42 per cent said it takes them under a week to get started. Still, 64 per cent have hired a painting contractor for a project for a variety of reasons: 59 per cent because the project was large in scale, 47 per cent because the project was difficult and they didn't think they could do it themselves, 36 per cent simply didn't want to do it themselves and the same percentage wanted to save time.
NO. 1 TIP FOR CHOOSING PAINT COLOURS
The secret to choosing paint colours is to understand the colour of light that comes from each direction, says Meredith Heron, principal of Meredith Heron Design in Toronto.
North: This exposure gives you the true spectrum of colour because there's no directional light to skew a colour.
South: This exposure gives you yellow light, which means yellows will read too hot. Studies show more arguments occur in a yellow room than any other colour. It's a “terrible colour” for nurseries, she warns. East: This exposure gives you blue light so avoid blues unless they have a warmer undertone.
West: This exposure gives you red light. Taupes/greys with a pink or purple undertone will read pink/ mauve.
“You may love the paint chip at a paint store but until you've tested it in the room it's meant to go in, you can't be 100 per cent certain,” says Heron.
“Also keep in mind that if you don't love greens or green undertones, a window that faces a lot of trees at varying times of the year will skew more green, as the colour of the leaves will often reflect off of lighter coloured walls. Mutable hues are a favourite because they change depending on the time of year, day and what you pair with them and you're able to get a moodier vibe if that's what you're after.”
A DESIGNER'S FAVOURITE COLOURS Heron shares her favourite Sherwin-williams colours:
Fleur de Sel SW766: a white with a hint of celadon blue that pairs beautifully with white marble
Dark Night SW6237: a navy blue with a slight greenish undertone that's a great option for historical homes Gibraltar SW6257: a grey with a blue or purple undertone that creates depth and `wow,' it's a great colour for cabinetry or rich walls and pairs beautifully with warm burled wood or walnut
Swanky Gray SW6261: a mauve that's a great alternative to painting walls grey
Snowbound SW7004: a warm white that isn't too yellow
PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOUR
To begin to understand colour's emotional impact, Benjamin Moore recommends you start with these colour groups:
Pales. The light, airy qualities of pale hues like dusty lavender, ballet pink and sky blue are comfortable and easy to live with, feel positive and encourage expression while enhancing other colours in a room.
Neutrals. Grey and brown are common neutrals, but don't overlook earthy hues like slate, clay, sand and ochre. Because they transition beautifully with shifting light, they're a good choice for rooms used throughout the day.
Whites. Whites are timeless colours that can easily feel contemporary, classic or anywhere in between.
Deeps. Rich and mysterious colours like violet, onyx, sapphire and ruby dissolve boundaries, create depth and can fill a room with energy, creativity and confidence.