Painting pointers: Color experts can help homeowners spruce up for spring

Whether aiming for trendy or timeless when painting your walls, home decor experts Lara and Jeff Ford of Ford & Crew in Marble Falls can help. The couple shared their insights on how to make a house a home with paint. 

LET LIGHT GUIDE YOUR DECISION

Lighting can have a dramatic effect on the way your paint looks after it’s applied and dried. While it might be the most beautiful hue on a paint sample card at the store, the color can change once the sun's rays hit it on a wall.
To avoid a color catastrophe, paint several pieces of cardboard with different shades you’re considering and situate them throughout your home. 
“After you paint them, lay them against a wall,” Lara said. “You’ll want to be sure to move them around to different spots in the house to get a better idea of what looks good.”

NAVIGATING NEUTRALS 

For a timeless look, skip the bright colors and turn to the seemingly endless palettes of white, gray, or tan. (Or should we say wind’s breath, granite dust, or cedar key?) The array of shades and textures available is vast and can be a foundation for more color creativity.
“It’s easier to enhance your space later on down the road with a bright color when you don’t have to go back and repaint your whole house,” Lara said. “That’s why we recommend neutrals. It’s really important to go with something timeless like neutrals so that the paint doesn’t become dated real quick.”
After painting your house in neutral shades, you can improve your interior using colorful accessories.
“If you paint a trendy neutral color, then what you can do is accessorize around it,” Jeff said. “You can put down rugs, curtains, and other things  that don’t cost as much and that aren’t as labor-intensive.”
Neutrals also make it easier to decorate for different holidays and seasons.“You can decorate for Halloween because orange goes with a neutral,” Jeff said. “You can decorate for Christmas because reds go with neutrals.”

INTERIOR LOCATIONS

Landscapes and locations often dictate which colors are popular and which ones aren’t. Blues have always been a top seller at Ford & Crew because local homeowners love the lakes, Lara said.
“I feel like people tend to decorate coastal or lakeside,” she said.  “Because of that, blues are always going to be popular in our area.”

FUN HOUSE DOORS

If you still can’t stop the itch to add bursts of color to your home, the pros at Ford & Crew recommend being creative with your front door.
“A pop on a front door is another great way to introduce color,” Lara said. “You don’t always have to stay neutral on a front door. It’s just another great way to get a pop of color.” 
The best part: If you don’t like it, paint over it. 
“It’s not your whole house,” Lara said. “If you paint it and go, ‘I’m not so sure,’ you can always buy another quart of paint. It’s not a real big expense. It’s a fun way to add some life to the exterior of the house.”
In general, painting enhances your space and increases your property’s value. Be creative and thoughtful of light and color, and when in doubt, rely on professionals to help guide your painting decisions.
nathan@thepicayune.com