jackie dici

Recently I was loosely throwing this term around in a conversation with a friend who was having a paint dilemma.  I suggested she visit a store and review the “paint deck” to help adjust the color.  I eventually caught on to her puzzled confusion with this term.  Basically, it’s all the paint colors in the paint store in one skinny little book, also known as a paint fan. As if some fabulous designer shows up to fan themselves with cooling inspiring colors.

In short, it is a designer’s best friend when it comes to finding the right color for YOUR space.  Do you want to know how to wield it like your own secret designer weapon?  First, let’s recap the basics of paint.  It starts as a white base that has pigment added to it to make the color.  Now, let’s choose any one color you like in the whole fan deck.  Got it?  This color is on a strip along with similar colors that are made up of the same color pigment formulas.  They share the same undertones, but vary in the intensity or saturation. The best recommendation is to pick the shade you like and a notch higher (or lighter/ less saturated) to color test on your wall.  You can also choose two more colors from the adjacent strips with the same intensity as your first choice to help compare the warmer or cooler undertones.  Paint these colors on your wall in a good size section at eye level and watch them for a day or two as daylight and evening light changes. 

The reason this method works well is because it helps you choose the color based on the lighting in your space. Some rooms are darker with less natural light and others are brighter with more natural light. The darker the room the lighter the color should be, and the lighter space can handle more saturation because darker colors absorb more light. The adjacent color selections from other strips may help get an understanding of the other elements in your room like flooring.  A cooler toned floor (like a gray tile) may look better with a compatible cooler toned color hue, while warm woods may need a compatible undertone paint with warmer hues.There are many ways to play with the fan after that.  Putting together color schemes like accent walls, upholstery colors, etc.can be done with a good understanding of the complimentary colors and triadic colors on a color wheel.  For some really awesome color combinations that will work with your wall paint I recommend: The Color Scheme Bible.  I have personally owned this book since I was a teenager and I continue to find inspiration when designing, creating patterns, artwork, or even accent decor themes.