Color My World

From true-blue skies to pearl-hued beaches to deep green carpets of turf, Florida is awash in beautiful, colorful tones. Colors can soothe us, bring us peace, excite us or help us harmonize our homes and change a room’s perspective. All it takes is a few gallons of paint.
Color trends in homes have changed over the years, from subtle neutrals of taupe and tan to dramatic, bold strokes of red. Now nostalgic homebuyers are going back to the future with darker tones for walls and accents.
And it doesn’t get much darker than black. As Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, famously said about his closet, “It’s dark in there.” Which isn’t a bad thing, especially if black doors or windows are softened by accent walls painted a soft neutral color.
“When I see black, I think Tudor. I think Old England and country inns,” says Andrew Downward, master painter and star of HGTV’s Divine Design.
But whatever shade excites you – or relaxes you, as the
case may be – Downward says the most important thing for homeowners to remember is this: Don’t be afraid of color. “If it’s not your personal palette, then it’s not right for you.”
Sometimes, choosing the right color for your living space is as easy doing what Johnny did: Just look inside your closet. “If you take a look at the clothes you wear, the types of styles you’re drawn to, you’re likely going to have a good place to start,” Downward says.
Harmony with color and balancing your preferences with those of other family members (or decorating a child’s room, for example) takes some work. Downward says neutral colors, especially in open concept areas, such as living and family rooms, work best in the home.
“I’m a big believer that when you walk into a room and the back of your house is green and has flowers in the garden or in view, then you should certainly draw on that inspiration,” adds Downward. “Use what’s around you and be in tune with nature.”
He adds that any room closed off from view of guests or family deserves a rich, bolder tone. In other words, he says, “go crazy.”