Fear of Color - Help!

I must admit I am trying to get over my fear of color. Hearing about and seeing all of your wonderful decorating ideas using deep and jewel tones is inching me away from the standards. But I need a big push from you ladies. Please tell me what you think. How can I use a deep and or jewel tone in these rooms?

I would love to do our L Shaped DR and LR with colors that give it a warm but dramatic effect. Both rooms are very open, sliders in the DR out to the deck, 14 ft window in the LR but the DR itself is smallish 9X11 or 12. There is a clear defination between the rooms but they are totally visable from each other. Or should I stick to pale blue?

Hi Fran!!!

I definitely hear you...this is my first foray into the world of color, since I'd been a white-walled apartment dweller til now. LOL!

You definitely should take your cues from the amount of light each room gets and also from your furnishings. You have to consider how much color your furnishings already bring to the space and balance them against the color on the walls. It sounds like you've got two sun-drenched rooms, so a deeper color may really add drama and depth to the space.

I have a wonderful book called, Color For Your Home that really helped me when it came to picking color pallettes - and learning the difference between warm colors and cool colors for decoration. It's by Sunset Publishing.


I found that through exploring this book, I am definitely a warm, earth tone person. No primary colors and nothing too jewel toned either...it just wouldn't be soothing for me. But, you have to decide what's better for you and your hubby.

My son's room is the only exception, since we painted it a sky blue color. But, once his mural is added, it will have lots of greens, browns and other muted earth tones in it, so I think it will come out more soothing and warm, than cool.

Here's a sampling of the colors we've chosen so far:
Paul's Room - second color on the blue card - called Soar.
Our room - third color on the golden card - called Blonde.
Den - third color on the brown card - called Nomadic Desert.

We are in the process of redoing our apartment and want to add color to the LR but b/c it opens up to the entranceway then on to the hallway I am nervous about doing so. I don't want all three areas the same color and there is not a defined line between the LR & Entrance. I was thinking of painting one wall a color and leaving the others alone.

Claud, I'll have to check out that book:)

I have a decorating book that says you should look in your closet when deciding on room colors. It will help you see what colors you tend to gravite towards and enjoy seeing.
I have a friend who only liked white walls with black accessories for many years. This year she went to a beige wall color and that was huge for her. But honestly she liked white walls. So if that is what you like, then go with that. You have to be happy living in your home. Also, you can paint just one wall with color and live with it for a few weeks. If you like it, then continue. If not, just re-paint the one wall.

How funny, Im the total opposite, Im not a big fan of whites or beiges. I wont even buy a white laundry basket, must be color. I hate anything white ! MY MIL was saying, if I have a girl next (yep shes already counting down to baby#2) anyway she was looking at the white crib and white furniture...this was my expression :
White and beige just have no 'personality' in my opinion. But of course, with furniture, window treatments, area rugs, and lots of other goodies in the room, a plain white wall can be 'dressed up' in no time ! I almost bought my son blue furniture, but then thought i'd get sick of it and went with a pecan wood..

Claud - I love that blonde color !!

Fran- everyone here gave great advice. Maybe you can do 2 (very similar) colors on your walls, Ive seen that done. Or you can do a light color on your walls and an even lighter shade on the ceiling. I did that in 2 rooms in my house. I think a faint color on the ceilings gives it a cozy feel.

Once I find a good paint, Im going to paint a wall in my living room red (just one wall)...i will post before and after photos.

I hate white walls! I have a deep beigey color in my downstairs, a deep green in my bedroom and a superman blue in my office.

Fran,
The book that claud recommened is at the libraries.. i used the nassau library search to find it!!

Fran ... I'm in the same boat as you ... picking out colors is new for me, but I'm working on it!!!

Claud, I'm going to check out that book!!! Thanks for the tip!!!

If any of you ladies have pics ... we'd love to see!!!

Claud- does the book have a questionare or something to help you pick the colors?
I love your color choses.

Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I am starting with two empty rooms. I think I need to find an insperation piece and go from there.
Well, almost empty I have a wll unit that will probably end up in the living room unless I can sell it . I do have a large landscape oil painting that I will probably use. Thats were the light blue came from in our Co-Op. Anyone want to make a trip to Carolina for furniture in the spring?