ASK PRISCILLA
Answers to your questions about color

By PRISCILLA KOHUTEK

Color, color, color — it is a mantra in today’s world of interior decorating and a millstone for most of us.

I receive more questions about choosing paint colors than any other subject. People want it, yet they don’t know how to use it successfully. So this column is totally devoted to helping you solve your color miseries. Read on for the latest news and views on the subject of color.

Q. Our whole house needs painting. It is currently basic beige with white ceilings and trim. We want to try some color on the walls, but we are clueless. Are there any rules about which colors to use or where to start?

A. There aren’t any rules anymore and that creates problems with decisionmaking. But I can pass on some guidelines to get you started in the right direction and keep you on track.

• Plan the project. Decide how each room will be used, and who will use it. Color sets the mood of a room and has a strong psychological impact, so it is important to know what you want a room to do — calm you down or pep you up.

• Take stock of what will go into the rooms, i.e., upholstered furniture, bed and window dressings, floor coverings and art work. Look for a color that keeps reappearing — it’s a clue as to what might be the dominant hue in the paint palette. Choose secondary and accent colors from any patterned fabric or painting that is used with the dominating hue.

Let’s say the colors in a pair of paintings in your dining room are especially appealing to you. (See photo.) Guess what? Blue, the color that keeps popping up in your house, is featured. Choosing a color scheme for this room suddenly got a lot easier. Blue naturally becomes the primary color for that space. Green, gold, brown, black and dusty coral are also present. Secondary and accent colors can be any of these. You can match them or use them in various tones.

• Dusty coral is the choice for the secondary color and is carried over to the living room as the dominant color. Blue becomes the secondary color. Gold-toned window treatments appear in both rooms but are enhanced in the living room with blue draperies and trim. Spots of bright yellow and green accents are also present in both rooms.

The dominant color in the next room is chosen from the accent colors in the previous room. But you don’t have to be a slave to the original accent colors. As you move farther away from the first room, new accent colors can be introduced and used along the way. And so it goes throughout the house. While this system takes a lot of thought and planning, it gets easier with practice.

Remember, there is nothing permanent about paint. If it doesn’t meet your expectations the first time around, simply paint over it and keep going. Yes, mistakes happen, but don’t let them get you down or keep you from trying new and exciting ways to decorate your home. Keep your sense of humor — a good laugh often saves the day.

Tip: Painting woodwork and doors the same color throughout the house is an important unifying technique.

Q. I am moving into a new townhouse and purchasing a red couch. What wall color will coordinate with red?

A. Since red is one of the primary colors, almost everything will work with it, even the unexpected. Old taboos about what can be used together, and what can’t, are out the window. Just about anything goes, as long as it’s tastefully done. For example, one of the most striking combinations I’ve seen was a red sofa against a lavender wall. The effect was stunning — who knew?

Camel tans, golds and greens are also great with red. Your choice depends on the mood you want to create and whether you want to use vibrant hues or more subtle tones. For more ideas, head for fabric and wallpaper stores. Look for designs, including stripes and plaids, which pick up the same shade of red that’s in your sofa and check out the colors that are used with it. Not only does that help you decide which paint to use on the walls, it also gives huge clues about a color palette for the rest of the upholstered furniture and accessories you will need in the room.

Q. My husband and I have just purchased our first home. In our living room, we have a bright blue suede couch and chaise with beige carpeting. We also have a print of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. We want to change the current off-white wall color to something fun. Any suggestions?

A. Take your inspiration from the print and use it as a color guide to put together the palette for your living room. You don’t have to use exactly the same shades that Van Gogh used in his painting, though.

A good color for the walls would be Ralph Lauren’s Organic Green. The bright blue of your couch and chaise becomes the secondary color. Include it in the window treatments and spread touches of it around the room for balance.

Paint the ceiling a soft periwinkle to introduce an accent color, and use it again in throw pillows on the blue upholstered pieces. If you don’t have a molding at the top of the wall next to the ceiling, add one. It is a nice finishing touch that creates a break between the colors and gives you the opportunity to infuse something else into your color scheme — or not. If you have enough going on already, this might be the time for a soft white to emphasize the colors on the walls and ceiling.

The beige carpet needs help! Invest in some lively area rugs to perk up the floor. Mix up those beautiful colors in the print and spread them around the living room. Voila! You’ve created another masterpiece.

Q. My study needs a focal point. I’ve thought about taking your advice and painting an accent wall, but then I still have to decorate it. Can you suggest a shortcut?

A. “Paper” a wall with road maps. (See photo.) Wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling — maps of every size. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to add a touch of quirky humor and color to an otherwise boring study. Just stick them up with thumbtacks, overlapping when necessary. Don’t try to make them fit perfectly. Who can resist taking a closer look at this colorful and unusual wall treatment? No other embellishments are needed. The wall speaks for itself.

Q. Please tell me what color to paint my bedroom. My bedding and draperies are burgundy, and my carpet is natural. I like color and warmth. Help!

A. All shades of yellows and golds are instant warmers, from creamy yellows to toasty golds. Burgundy is delicious with any of these backgrounds, but different shades create different moods. Take a color sample of your bedding, perhaps a pillow cover, off to the paint store and check out the endless possibilities.

I recommend trying several shades and intensities to see how they work in your bedroom in both natural and artificial lighting. Light plays funny tricks on color as it changes constantly during the day and makes walls look very different at night. You need to see your color choices under these various conditions.

Instead of testing the colors on the walls, put two coats of paint on pieces of plain white 8.5-by-11-inch paper. Tape them to the walls and look at them for several days. To short-list the selections, eliminate those that don’t measure up.

Get some area rugs to warm up that no-color carpet. You need to add some pattern to the room to pull your colors together and introduce accent colors. You can’t go wrong with Orientals — their complicated designs in a myriad of colors add interest and richness to a room. But if they aren’t your cup of green tea, it’s okay. There are plenty of fabulous rugs out there to choose from.

Until next time, happy decorating.

Priscilla Kohutek, internationally published home decorating columnist and author, draws from her own experience and the advice of experts to answer your questions. Send your queries to her via email at Priscilla@askpriscilla.com, or mail them to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, 8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217.