Testing Interior Paint Colors at HGTV Urban Oasis 2015
Hung up on paint? Get expert tips for picking the perfect interior colors from interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn and discover the bold choices used at HGTV Urban Oasis 2015 .
By:
Dana Dalrymple
All White, Just Right
Although your first instinct may be to browse the walls of endless colorful paint swatches at the paint store, consider your furniture and accent pieces. If you have bold accents in your space, an all white or neutral room successfully showcases these accents and allows them to take center stage.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Guiding Light
Artificial light will cause colors to read yellow or even blue, so be careful when choosing colors for rooms with a lot of artificial light.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
From Every Angle
Evaluate how bouncing light from adjacent spaces effects the appearance of a paint color in a space.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Coordinate Fabrics
Cut extra swatches of fabrics you plan to incorporate into your space and take them to the paint store for easy comparison.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Prime First
If you are drastically changing your wall color, you'll need to prime your walls. Primer not only covers up colors and stains, it also adds a layer to allow the top coat of paint to better adhere.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Test Sizes
For a fraction of the cost, purchase sample pints of paint, take them home and test them out. Sample pints make it easier to judge how a space will look in a certain color better than a swatch alone. Better to be safe than sorry.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Paint a Section
Mark off a 12x25 inch section for a sizeable area to evaluate.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Must-Have Natural Light
Test paint near windows to gauge how a color appears with ample natural light. Different light sources change the tone of a paint color.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Color Change
Different rooms provide different lighting, so take a step back and register how colors read from different rooms.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Paint Before You Stain
Always paint before staining, because colors influence the appearance of a stain.
"There is a lot of layering involed in staining," says interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn. "I put all of the colors in place and then test the stains."
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Bold Approach
Dark stains provide a bold statement in a room, but many shy away from richer stains for fear they will make a space feel dark and drab. Take into account the amount of natural light entering a space which can lighten the appearance of a stain.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
