Top Five Renovation Essentials for a Great Color Scheme

1. For Color Renovation, Choose a Scheme: If your renovation includes new color, you have three basic schemes from which to work your magic. Choose one and stick to it:
• A monochromatic scheme--painting with the same color, but in several different shades or tints. Shades are created by adding different amounts of black to a basic color, tints by adding white.
• An analogous scheme--painting with adjacent colors on the color wheel, for example blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green.
• A complementary scheme--painting the wall colors opposite each other on the color wheel, for instance, soft coral walls with turquoise trim.
2. When Home Improvement Includes Color, Consider Room Size: Dark colors create a cozy, intimate space, and light colors make walls seem to recede for a breezy, airy feel.
3. Keep Flooring In Mind: Think about the color and texture of your flooring when making a color renovation. Hardwoods can be refinished and stained to suit a new scheme, but tile and carpet changes can be expensive and complicated home improvements.
4. Finishes: To do a cover-up renovation on wall imperfections, select a matte or flat finish. But to reflect the most light, go glossy. Specialty finishes like suede, sand, or faux impart an original or opulent texture to walls and can really enhance the mood of a room.
5. Decor, Decor, Decor: Interior decorating concerns an entire scheme, not just paint. When making interior improvements that involve color, choose the most expensive furniture and other decorative pieces first. Then pick your room colors to coordinate.

• Behr, "Inspiration"