personal preference art : Know your color? Take the quiz
Painting walls, cabinets and ceilings can be a chore, but choosing a color doesn't have to be one. Experts agree that potential redecorators should not rely solely on trends, but look to their personalities and favorite things for interesting colors, whether they be ecru or eggplant.
Many people leave their walls white because they're afraid of picking the "wrong" color, says Josette Buisson, Toronto-based artistic director of Pittsburgh Paints.
"It's white by default, it's white because they're not sure," Buisson says.
She says there are no correct answers to color. "Decorating is an opinion, you're not wrong or right."
Color is an extension of one's personality, so Buisson has developed a personality quiz for Pittsburgh Paints that helps people choose a color palette with which to decorate.
Would a cup of coffee, an orange or a piece of cake taste best to you? And what would feel best: a walk in fresh grass, a swim in the ocean or a stroll on the beach?
Questions such as these are used to help determine what people enjoy most, and are then applied to what color palette would best suit their preferences. The personality test is part of the company's Voice of Color program, which also includes software that allows consumers to "paint" digital pictures of their homes. Find the complete quiz at www.voiceofcolor.com
Although choosing a color seems intuitive, Buisson says people sometimes don't realize that they already know what they like.
Meddling neighbors, friends and mothers-in-law too often talk people out of decorating in colors they truly enjoy, says Seattle-based color consultant Leatrice Eiseman.
"Develop enough confidence in yourself to go with what your own comfort level is, regardless of what others may contribute," says Eiseman.
Eiseman, who heads the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, has been in the color business for about 35 years, moving between fashion, interior design and color consulting. She has worked as a consultant for everyone from Motorola to Best Buy, and literally written the books on color, including "Colors for your Every Mood: Discover your True Decorating Colors."
She says women started demanding more color choices in the late 1980s when they realized that teal, mauve and grey were not one trend fits all. So Eiseman started developing color palettes, letting people's personalities lead them to the perfect hues.
Christine Haught, Sewickley-based interior designer, says she asks clients plenty of personal preference questions while determining what colors to use in their home.
"Are they more conservative? Do they choose art with a certain color palette or story?" she says. "These are all clues to what colors appeal to them."
Haught says people's most common questions are based on how appropriate a color is for the given room, or how bold or deep a hue they can reasonably use. She advises clients to trust their personal preferences, paint and to live with the color for a while to see how they like it.
Haught once based an apartment around an orchid, and is now creating an entire color palette based on a client's plate from Tuscany.
She says people should take time when choosing a color, and remember that it can always be changed. After all, personal preferences and tastes change.
"A successful palette is like living in your own heaven," she says. "My own home has been evolving over decades, is finally to my liking, and works well in the setting."
By Sarika Jagtiani
Many people leave their walls white because they're afraid of picking the "wrong" color, says Josette Buisson, Toronto-based artistic director of Pittsburgh Paints.
"It's white by default, it's white because they're not sure," Buisson says.
She says there are no correct answers to color. "Decorating is an opinion, you're not wrong or right."
Color is an extension of one's personality, so Buisson has developed a personality quiz for Pittsburgh Paints that helps people choose a color palette with which to decorate.
Would a cup of coffee, an orange or a piece of cake taste best to you? And what would feel best: a walk in fresh grass, a swim in the ocean or a stroll on the beach?
Questions such as these are used to help determine what people enjoy most, and are then applied to what color palette would best suit their preferences. The personality test is part of the company's Voice of Color program, which also includes software that allows consumers to "paint" digital pictures of their homes. Find the complete quiz at www.voiceofcolor.com
Although choosing a color seems intuitive, Buisson says people sometimes don't realize that they already know what they like.
Meddling neighbors, friends and mothers-in-law too often talk people out of decorating in colors they truly enjoy, says Seattle-based color consultant Leatrice Eiseman.
"Develop enough confidence in yourself to go with what your own comfort level is, regardless of what others may contribute," says Eiseman.
Eiseman, who heads the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, has been in the color business for about 35 years, moving between fashion, interior design and color consulting. She has worked as a consultant for everyone from Motorola to Best Buy, and literally written the books on color, including "Colors for your Every Mood: Discover your True Decorating Colors."
She says women started demanding more color choices in the late 1980s when they realized that teal, mauve and grey were not one trend fits all. So Eiseman started developing color palettes, letting people's personalities lead them to the perfect hues.
Christine Haught, Sewickley-based interior designer, says she asks clients plenty of personal preference questions while determining what colors to use in their home.
"Are they more conservative? Do they choose art with a certain color palette or story?" she says. "These are all clues to what colors appeal to them."
Haught says people's most common questions are based on how appropriate a color is for the given room, or how bold or deep a hue they can reasonably use. She advises clients to trust their personal preferences, paint and to live with the color for a while to see how they like it.
Haught once based an apartment around an orchid, and is now creating an entire color palette based on a client's plate from Tuscany.
She says people should take time when choosing a color, and remember that it can always be changed. After all, personal preferences and tastes change.
"A successful palette is like living in your own heaven," she says. "My own home has been evolving over decades, is finally to my liking, and works well in the setting."
By Sarika Jagtiani
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