You took days and finally you found “the perfect color”. Spent hours preparing the room, and even more hours putting on the color…and now you hate it! It is not the color you had in mind, how do you live with this horrible mistake? You have options many in fact and most are easier than re-painting the room.

Before you start working with any other option, please remember test everything, practice until you get the exact look and color you want. I can’t stress this enough. Make the sample boards large so that you can try several options. Remember if you do several tries and still do not like the outcome repaint the board and start again. Don’t be afraid to walk away for a day and start over, sometimes it takes that for the new inspiration to take shape.

The most often heard complaint is that the color is too dark. This can be a very easy fix, I usually suggest going over the wall with a lighter color wash. Sometimes I use only white paint, but not just white paint; it must be combined with an extender product (be sure to check on the product label to see the ratio of paint to extender usually 1 paint to 4 parts extender). This extends the drying time and most importantly it gives the illusion of color, because it creates a translucent look.

Do the opposite if too light add a wash over the wall that is darker; darken the paint by adding a touch of darker paint black, brown, or gray, and add the extender same process as working with the white. Then apply either one with a cloth, roller, large brush, or sponge. Less is more it will be much thinner than the original paint so apply a thin coat.

You can also use a large sea sponge using more than one color; never more than 3 colors. Sponge the new colors over the existing paint. Again practice and also use the extender in all the colors you use. With this technique you will apply the colors over each other, less is more if you get too carried away you get a muddy look…practice, practice and practice some more. The results will be worth the extra time spent getting the exact look you want.

When playing with color, you can add a little brown or black (key here is practice and adding very small amounts especially black). You can add other colors like grays, yellows, even blue to change the color to something closer to what you wanted. Don’t be afraid to experiment to find the best one. Use only a tablespoon of paint each time and write down the combinations and approximately how much you put in, you will want that info when you find the perfect combination.

Go to the craft stores and purchase the small 2 oz containers of paint very inexpensive and easy to use when mixing and matching.

You do not have to mask off the molding or the ceiling use the large piece of card board or one of the metal products the professional painters use to protect the adjacent wall. You can find them at any paint or hardware store.

Look at this as an opportunity to expand your color mixing skills and working outside the box, happy fixing.

For more helpful tips and complete directions for many Interior Design Projects check out this amazing 300 page full colored instructional training on virtually any design project. It also has great bonus material, please follow me to http://www.InteriorPaintDesignIdeas.com

1. Brown, Blue, and Cream
You can use this color scheme in any room of your home. Just keep in mind, when using these colors, that you want the colors to stay balanced, especially when you’re applying the dark brown. So, for instance, if you have a dark brown couch, you may want to lighten it up with cream or light blue pillows. Or if your couch is cream colored, you would choose brown and blue pillows to add interest instead. If you can find patterns that include all three colors, you can add even more visual interest to the décor.

2. Shades of Brown and Cream
Whether you’re looking to create a peaceful retreat in your bedroom or bathroom, try using shades of brown and cream. There’s a wide variety of shades across this spectrum that you can choose from, anything from dark chocolate brown to an off white or light cream color. Although this color combination closely resembles a monochromatic theme, you can easily add more interest. Simply pair a lighter shade with a darker shade, and that will make the room appear much more lively.

3. Blue and Orange
Blue and orange are complementary colors, as the colors lie across from each other on the color wheel. The key to using this particular color scheme is to keep the colors muted. You don’t want to be using bright oranges and blues. By adding white or even brown to the mix, you can easily work these colors into a contemporary-styled room.

4. Black and White
You can use this classic color combination for practically any room you like. The great thing about black and white is that it can be used in a variety of ways. Depending on the pieces you use, it can be modern as well as traditional. You can add even more style to this color scheme with an accent color such as red or green. This is one of the easier color combinations to work with, as there is no shortage of black-and-white home accessories to choose from.

5. Pink and Green
For your bedroom, living room, or sun room, try another complementary color scheme: pink and green. Add a neutral color into the pink and green mix, or you may end up with too much color in the room. You also want to keep the colors the same shade. Mint green and neon pink, for instance, aren’t going to work well together.

If you’re not sure where to start coming up with color combinations for your home, then consider these five suggestions. When decorating your home, any of these combinations should give you some inspiration. You can create a unique look to your home by using any of these suggestions as a base and then adding your own style to them.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has 4 decades of experience in the furniture and interior design industry. He is the owner and manager of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, dining room, bedroom and wood office furniture. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a wood bookcases for your home office or a study area or a dining table for your dining room then they have everything you need.

What Is the Color Wheel?
The first person to start using the color wheel was Sir Isaac Newton, who came up with this after performing an experiment with a prism. What he discovered was that pure white light had a wide spectrum of reflective colors. Since then, people have been using this spectrum of colors (otherwise known as the color wheel) for classifying colors and help in decorating.

The Classification of Colors Using the Color Wheel
The colors on the color while are basically classified into three different categories.
1. First, you have the primary colors, which are red, yellow, and blue.
2. Next you have the secondary colors, which are orange, green, and violet. These colors are created by mixing the primary colors.
3. The colors red-orange, yellow-orange, blue-green, and yellow-green make up the tertiary colors. Basically, all these colors are formed by combining the primary colors with the secondary colors that are next to them.

Monochromatic Color Scheme Explained
A monochromatic color scheme will look exactly as it sounds. Essentially, you pick one color and use only that color for the entire room. To achieve the monochromatic color scheme, you want to pick varying shades of that color, from light to dark. You can include the color white in the scheme as well, in order to help break up the color.

Analogous Color Scheme Explained
With an analogous scheme, you include anywhere from two to six different colors a room. You want to use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Consider the color red, for example. You might choose orange or purple as the accent colors, being that they are the colors next to red on the wheel. It’s a good idea to choose your main color first. Then you can look at accent color options.

Complementary Color Scheme Explained
When looking for a decorating scheme, people will often go with a complementary color scheme. When you decide on your main color, you then go directly across that color on the wheel to find your complementary color. If your main color is yellow, then the complementary color would be in the purple family. The family of pinks would complement the color green. Remember, you can always play with this a little and mix the family of colors; thus, green would go with pink, but it would also go with red.

Triad Color Scheme Explained
Homeowners also often choose to go with a triad color scheme. Here you use the three colors that form a triangle together on the color wheel. One example of a triad would be the colors orange, green, and purple. Here you have a couple of options. You can choose to make one of these colors your main color and use the other two as accent colors, or you can choose two main colors and then accent with the third.

No matter what color scheme you choose for your home, remember that both white and black are neutrals. Thus, they can be added to any colors without changing the color scheme too much. By playing around with the color wheel and some of these color scheme suggestions, you will be able to come up with some great options for the rooms in your home.

About the Writer…
For over four decades Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior decorating needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Are you searching for a nightstands for your master bedroom or a wood dining table for your dining room then they probably have everything you need.

Add White or a Neutral Color to the Room
If you pair the color with white or another neutral, you can avoid having a room that looks like it’s too matched or boring. Of course, you don’t want the neutral color to be the main focus in the room but rather an accent. In a blue monochromatic scheme, for instance, although the walls and furniture are blue, you might add in a blue and white area rug. What might also work is to paint the trim in the room white.

Choose the Color of the Room Wisely
When planning out a monochromatic color scheme for a room, you need to be sure that your really put some thought into the color choice. After all, you are not going to end up being very happy with the finished look of the room if you choose a color you’re not crazy about. So be sure to pick a color that you like to look at! Those of you who are new to the monochromatic look may also want to avoid bold colors for your color choice, such as red and orange. You need to remember that once you choose a monochromatic look, it’s going to be much harder to change the décor of the room, since everything in the room is going to be in some shade of that same color. Be sure that you think carefully about your color choice and try not to rush into a hasty decision you may later regret.

Mix Up the Shades of the Color
Once you’ve chosen your color, the best way to find different shades of that color is to visit a paint store and gather up some color swatches. Then you’ll be able to clearly see the different shade of the color that you have to work with. An important key to a monochromatic color scheme is making sure you’re not painting the walls the exact same shade as the furniture. Likewise, you don’t want your floor to be the exact same shade as the walls. By mixing up the shades of color, the room will have more character and interest. You might also use accessories like pillows, curtains, baskets, and candles to your advantage by choosing completely different shades from the rest of the room.

A monochromatic color scheme is not always the easiest to pull off in a room. You really have to be willing to put some planning into the décor, making sure that everything flows well and you have the perfect balance of color.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry for 4 decades. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. Are you searching for oak tv stand for your family room or a wood dresser for your bedroom then they probably have everything you need.