Color Advice for My Friends

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On any given week, I'm asked at least three questions by friends, family, and clients regarding color. "What color should I make the walls in this room?" "What color goes best with this style of furniture?" What color scheme will look great 15 years from now, without driving me crazy or boring me?"

I generally hesitate to steer people to large paint stores or paint companies, like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, or the Martha Stewart Colors paint line. Most people think this is where they should go first for color inspiration. But it's a bad idea. There is simply too much choice. Although the colors themselves may be great, the selection is overwhelming.

It's like walking into a gigantic supermarket and saying, okay, now what do I make for dinner?

Instead, I recommend selecting color from a fabric, a movie, a magazine picture, or other inspiration; it's easier to relate to as you can see a mood, atmosphere, and context for using colors in specific combinations.

Here are some other color tips, hints, suggestions, and overall advice regarding choosing color for your home. Please share them with your friends!

European Fabrics Can Inspire You. I think a great scarf from Hermes or an expensive necktie from Etro -- or any number of European fabrics -- can inspire your color scheme in any room. I advise going for an unusual set of color combinations that appeals to your taste. Imagine describing to your best friend what your color scheme is. If you're saying, "I'm doing my room in beige, blue, and brown," it's easy to visualize, but you risk your interior being boring and typical. Now imagine you're looking at a French scarf or a vintage Italian dress and you've got another description for your friend: "Well, the scheme is coral, teal, purple, and gray." If it sounds weird to you, I predict it will be great! Be brave with color. Be brave and err on the side of European taste as they have a strong and fanciful color sense.

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