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Choosing Paint Colors and other Kitchen Ideas

Painting is one of the easiest ways to make a dramatic difference in a room, even in a kitchen, which often has less wall space. Paint is inexpensive, can be applied over a weekend, and can really spruce up a tired space without the hassle and cost of a kitchen remodel. How do you choose the perfect kitchen color? Read on for some tips and ideas.

Determine Your Kitchen's Personality

Before you start the often arduous task of going through a paint book, step back, take a deep breath, and then take a look at your kitchen. Ask yourself some questions? Is it traditional, modern, country, etc.? What color is your kitchen now and why is it no longer working for you? Is it because you crave more excitement in your kitchen ideas or do you want to tone it down and make the space more relaxing? Are you tired of playing it safe and want to choose a bold, trendy color or do you prefer to remain neutral? Lots of questions! Not to worry, once you determine what personality you want your kitchen to have, whether it will energize you and make a bold statement or calm you down after a long day, you can get out the color wheel, and let the fun begin.

What to do on your First Visit to the Paint Store

Ideally, you should not purchase anything on your first visit to the paint store, since your initial goal should be to obtain ideas. Once you are able to view the color swatch display, put everything out of your mind and just choose colors that appeal to you, even if you know that tangerine won't work in your house-if it speaks to you, pick it up. Make sure you choose a few neutrals that could work, cool and warm colors, so that you can take the samples home and start the process of elimination. Warm colors, such as golds and reds, act as appetite stimulants and best complement food, although cooler colors can help calm and brighten your kitchen.

Once you're back in your kitchen with your color swatches, try and determine why tangerine appeals to you. Is it the vibrant, cheerful nature of the color that inspired you, or does it make you hungry or inspire you to bake a cake? These inclinations, while they might not lead you to paint your kitchen tangerine, could tell you what you're really looking for in your kitchen color.

Now, start holding your swatches against your flooring, cabinets and countertops, making sure to evaluate the colors in different lights at different times of the day. Then, narrow down your possibilities to 2 to 4 options. It's best to purchase samples and either paint them directly on the wall or paint them onto 8 by 10-inch canvasses found at craft stores so you can hold each sample up in various places and next to more of your kitchen fixtures. Then, choose a color and start painting.

Since kitchens typically have less wall space, a bold color won't overwhelm the room, so take a chance and choose that red or copper color and put it on the wall. Remember, it's only paint. If it doesn't work out, simply repaint. But if it does, you'll thank yourself for your brave color choice. It's all about testing, and more importantly, having fun. Don't forget to take before and after kitchen pictures so that you can fully appreciate your work.