Color by Design™ packs more power than any other tool
Think about it... when you walk into a room, what is the first thing you notice?
It's the wall color— it will even distract you from less than perfect furniture!
Color can lift your spirit faster than almost anything else.
Have you ever noticed how your mood is transformed when the sky is blue after a series of dull grey days?
The same thing happens when you transform your walls from a color you never liked or never noticed, to the perfect shade.
You will fall in love with your rooms again! Depending on the color, you may feel energized or relaxed, but either way you'll definitely feel inspired.
Almost anyone can paint a wall if they take their time; and at $20 - $60 a gallon, paint is the cheapest decorating tool.
In fact, a Color by Design™ client was going to rip out a kitchen until color expert Debra Gould showed her how it could be completely transformed with paint. That change saved her over $30,000 in renovations!
The color possibilities are endless. Start by picking a color in one of your fabrics and then see what else works with it.
You can even look at your wardrobe for clues about what colors appeal to you.
Don't let wallpaper stand in your way of an inexpensive makeover!
Many of us live in older homes that have layers of wallpaper that have been there for years. The thought of removing it becomes a roadblock because we're afraid of all the plastering work that will be needed if we take it down.
With proper priming YOU CAN PAINT OVER WALLPAPER!
We admit, this isn't the "right" way to do things, but does it really matter if the alternative is living in a depressing space that you hate, or trying to sell a lack luster home?
Before
After
After priming, a deep caramel color was painted right over the ugly wallpaper that had probably been there for 20 years. New more colorful bedding and a properly proportioned night stand and lamp completed the transformation of this master bedroom.
What's the worst thing that can happen?
With thousands of colors to choose from, most people opt for "builder beige" or white because they're overwhelmed and afraid of making the wrong choice.
Or worse, they're afraid of what other people will think.
If you always stick to beige and white, you won't offend anyone, but you probably won't have a room that you or anyone else walks into and says, "wow!" Well, you might, but your furniture, accessories and art will have to work that much harder.
With paint companies now offering trial sizes, taking a color 'out for a test drive' has never been cheaper. If you hate the look, try again.
Having to repaint a wall is not the end of the world and certainly shouldn't stand in the way of trying something new.
Even painting your front door and trim can make a difference
This home had aluminum siding that couldn't be changed.
But look at the increased curb appeal just from painting the trim, door and adding coordinating (but inexpensive) lights.
Before
After
This house was transformed inside and out as part of a home staging project by Six Elements. Why wait until you're selling your home to make changes that can also increase your own enjoyment of living there?
"I have these and others in my own library," says Debra, "and I sometimes bring them to a client if they have no idea what colors they'd like to consider or if they don't have a file of clippings they've kept from magazines."
"It sometimes helps to look at photos of the various moods that can be created. It can start the discussion, but from there I always develop a specific palette for that client," she adds.
Still feeling "stuck"?
"Many of my clients call me after they've spent months with color swatches taped to their walls, or worse, a huge blob of color in the middle of the wall and then they can't decide whether to go for it or not," says Debra.
She arrives with a color kit of 1200 to 1500 large swatches, for an in-home Color By Design consultation.
Within two to three hours, Debradevelops a color palette for your entire home, including sheen levels, ceilings and trim.
We can recommend reputable teams of painters if you don't have the time and/or ability to complete the job yourself.
Choosing a color palette you will want to live with in your home is very different than choosing one for a home that's being decorated to sell.
Color and Home Staging expert Debra Gould is experienced at both tasks and will approach them differently depending on your needs and plans.
There are many ways to add color to a room. Start small if that makes you feel more comfortable!
Outside Toronto?
Through her "Ask a Designer Service," Debra offers advice by phone and email to clients all over North America.
Send in your photos, fabrics and questions.
You can purchase color and design coaching sessions in 20 minute increments, allowing you to check in several times during the course of your home makeover.
Painter copies a client's color palette for his home
"Debra, my painter told me that he is repainting his entire house using all of the colors you recommended for ours. What a compliment to you and your taste!"
A recent study by the national association of the remodeling industry found that a $700 paint job results in a 200% recovery of the cost upon resale of the home. (National Post, Mar. 11/05)
Free Newsletter
You can get free color tips and more in Six Elements News our free newsletter by email sent to you every 4 to 6 weeks. Sign up and receive the current issue today.
Each issue includes a money saving offer or special tips available ONLY to our subscribers.
Six Elements News
YES. Send me FREE Monthly How-To Tips, Home Staging and Decorating Ideas
Searching for more information?
You can search below for more information on color (or any other) topic. Just choose whether you want to search this site only, or broaden your search for the entire web. We recommend you search this site first as there are bound to be several pages you haven't discovered yet.
™Staging Diva and the Staging Diva Logo, Empowerment by Design, Staging by Design, Color by Design, Rooms by Design, Pattern by Design are trademarks of Six Elements Inc.
YES. Send me FREE Monthly How-To Tips, Home Staging and Decorating Ideas
