HOT PROPERTY

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COLORS TO CONSIDER WHEN REDECORATING

Tired

of looking at the same drab walls and

passé colors throughout your home?

The good news is youcan accomplish asignificant makeoverwith relatively minimal effort in the

form of afresh coat of paint.

Forinspiration, look to Color of the Year choices announced by major players in the paint space in recent months.Sherwin-Williams named Urbane Bronze, arich gray shade, its standard-bearer for 2021. CanyonDusk, alight terracottatone, is Behr’s selection. Benjamin MoorechoseAegean Teal, which blends gray and blue-green. Adeep and daring shade of redcalled Passionate represents HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year.And nottobeoutdone, Pantone picked two colors: Ultimate Gray and aradiant yellowcalled Illuminating.

“People have been staring at the same walls for months now, and they’re readytostart stepping out oftheir comfort zones abit in terms of color,” explains Cristina Miguelez, remodeling specialist with Fixr.com in Wilmington, Delaware.

Seconding thosesentiments is AshleyBanbury, the Cleveland-based senior color designer for

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams.“Homeowners areincreasinglyrealizing that colors can have a positive effect on our overall physical and mental well-being,”she says.

“With moretime spent indoors and some people notbeing able to go outside, thesetones can make an indoor-outdoor connection and provide acozier feeling. Also, colors inspired by naturehaveacalming effect that can reducestress,” Migueleznotes.

Susan Peters,designer/owner of 9108 Designs headquartered in Clifton, Virginia, is abig fan of blue. “Blue can practicallybecategorized as a neutral hue. It bringscolor without becoming too trendy or over the top,and it doesn’tshock the eye,” says Peters. “Awarm blue-gray can addasoothing vibe to your room.”

“When choosing acolor,yourfirststepshould be

to decide on the overall effect youwant –perhaps something neutral, subtle, or dramatic,”advises Miguelez. “Look at what’salready in your room and is going to stay,likeyour furniture, floor,ordrapes. Choosethe color youwant, taking theseinto consideration –perhaps atone that’salready present, or go one or twoshades off from it to contrastthat color.”

Next,gather afew paint swatches from the store and tape them on your walls.Or, better yet, purchase 8-oz. samples of your preferred paints and brush them onto aposter board; oncedry,hold the board up againstyourwalls.

“Look at the colors in different lighting throughout the dayand noticehow theyinteractwith the decorthroughout your space to ensureyou’ll be happy with anyoftheseshades,” Banburyrecommends.

Even if youregretyour newcolor choices,don’t panic. “It’sonlypaint, and interior paint is easy to change,”Peters says.“Remember: Safe isn’talways best; don’tbeafraid to be alittle daring.”

–CTW Features

Contact us with comments or questions at hotproperty@latimes.com

Colors can have apositive effect on your overall physical and mental well-being.

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