Picking the right color for your space

Having trouble picking the perfect color for your space?

Picking the paint colors that will define your space for years to come can seem like a daunting task. Here are a few handy hints to help you pick the perfect color:

1. Find Inspiration
You can come up with ideas by creating a portfolio of what appeals to you: a favorite painting, the color of the flowers and trees outside your house, or an amazing landscape scene that you photographed in Mexico.
First, take into consideration your inspirational image's common denominators in terms of color. Do you like a variety of colors or particular shades and tints of a specific color? Do you like them bold or muted? Digging deep in the well of inspiration plays an important role in selecting and whittling down your choices.

2. Define the Mood
Secondly, is there a mood or theme that you would like to achieve in a particular space? Do you want a restful feel in the bedroom, or an energizing feel to the family room? The mood will lay the groundwork on the desired visual impact of a chosen paint color palette.

3. Use Key Elements in Your Home
Last but not least, take stock of all the key elements in your house. Do you have carpeting, hardwood floors, modern or antique furniture? The color of the flooring is an important consideration when you choose colors because it anchors the room and can impact the color on the wall due to reflections.
Furnishings also play an important role in determining the perfect color scheme for your house. Since these are usually the most expensive and not easily replaced items in the house, they tend to suggest a coordinating color scheme that ties everything together. An invaluable heirloom dining table, for example, will never be discarded because it doesn't match the wall color of the dining room.

Choosing paint colors is a very personal decision. Whether your selections are based on inspiration, a particular mood, or key elements in your home, using these tools you'll be sure to find perfect colors. Check out these amazing tools to help you pick colors;

"Choosing Your Perfect Color": Filled with illustrations and helpful tips, this flipbook is an excellent step-by-step guide to selecting paint colors for any room.

Design seeds blog - This blog has thousands of color charts matched to your favorite items, beautiful scenery and excellent color pairings. Take a look to give you a better idea of what inspires you.

Color Calculator - This site allows you to select a color you like and find out it's complementary colors, analogous colors, split complementary colors and will teach you which colors will work well together in a space.

Fun Facts About Painting

1. The color purple became associated with royalty because at one time only aristocrats could afford the expensive pigment. During Roman times, it took 4 million crushed mollusk shells to create one pound of purple pigment.

2. The White House is white because of the original lime-based whitewash that was used to protect its porous stone surface. It gets painted every year.

3. The Greek philosopher Plato is credited with the discovery that you can mix two different paint colors together to produce a third color.

4. The first interior painting was done roughly 40,000 years ago in what is now France by prehistoric cave dwellers, who employed stencils in some of the work and even “spray-painted” by blowing paint through hollow bird bones.

5.Various paint colors can help the body heal itself. For example, red can often help depressed people regain vigor, while green has been shown to relieve stress.

6. In the Middle Ages, manuscripts were “illuminated” with paint made from ground semi-precious stones and egg yolks.

7. By the time the Sydney Harbor Bridge has been painted end to end the process must be started again.

8. Among the Aztecs, red pigmented paint was regarded as more valuable than gold.

9. The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted the same color since it was completed in 1937. The name of the color is International Orange.

10. Many Native American tribes used black paint to signify life and yellow paint to signify death.

11. It took Michelangelo only four years to paint the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the 1500s, but it took 20 years to restore it in the late 1900s.

12.The “color wheel” is older than the United States. It was developed by Sir Issac Newton in 1706.

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Choosing the right paint sheen

How to Pick the Perfect Paint Sheen

Picking paint is no picnic. First you need to observe the space, consider the light in the room, consider the room's purpose, pick a color and then there's that final factor of what sheen your paint surface should have. It's exhausting just typing about it! Here are a few helpful things to keep in mind when picking the sheen that is right for your space.

Sheen is a measure of how much light reflects back from the paint, basically, how shiny it is. Although sheen is controlled by quantity of the paint's pigments and additives, what's important to your choices is that certain sheens look better and clean easier on certain surfaces.

Sheens
Most paints fall into one of four sheen categories - flat, satin, semigloss and gloss. Manufacturers may choose descriptive names such as matte or eggshell, so avoid surprises by checking actual samples when comparing paints. Sheen affects not only the appearance of a painted surface, but also its durability. The higher the sheen, the harder the paint. But don't assume all glossy paints display the same reflectivity. Sheens are not standardized from brand to brand. One company's satin may be glossier than another brand's. Here's how the sheen of a paint can affect your choices.

Flat paints are pretty much non reflective, with a matte finish that's good for hiding imperfections -- bumps, dents, patches, and nail heads. These paints show marks and scuffs, however, and the soft surface stains easily. Newer scrubbable flat paints are tougher and easier to clean.

Satin paints display a light luster with a soft texture. They are more durable than flat paints and can be used for trim that won't get much abuse, especially when you want to set the trim apart from a flat-painted wall.

Semigloss paint has a higher gloss and tougher skin than satin paint, so it stands up to use and cleans more readily. However, a semigloss paint has just enough shine to begin to show imperfections in the surface.

Gloss paints are the hardest -- and hardiest -- of all. This sheen is sometimes considered enamel and can take abuse and some rough scrubbing. Its high gloss makes imperfections clearly visible.
The sheen of a paint may also alter the perception of its color. For example, the same tint of white may look whiter in a glossy enamel than in a flat wall paint. That's because more of the color is reflected, even though the color itself is the same. To make sure you have the paint sheen you want, take home samples and paint them on test boards.

Traditionally, different paint sheens have been favored for various surfaces.

Paint for ceilings
Ceilings don't suffer the abrasion other surfaces endure, but cooking vapors, airborne grease, smoke, pollution, and plain old dirt gradually make a ceiling dingy and dull. A flat or semigloss sheen is a good choice for ceilings because it hides imperfections well. Paints formulated specifically for ceilings are thicker so they are less spatter prone, are non-yellowing, and dry faster.

Paint for walls
Many home builders apply flat paints to walls to help disguise less-than-perfect drywall finishing. But flat paint quickly shows wear. Attempts to clean away dirty marks often result in creating a larger smudge. A satin finish is more forgiving, with substantially upgraded durability and without excessive shine. Paint made for bathrooms and kitchens contains extra mildewcides and is moisture and peel resistant. Ask your dealer about child's-room paints. Formulated for hard use, they can be perfect in other demanding locations, such as kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, and hallways. And for a kitchen, you can even apply a semigloss or gloss finish on the walls to make them easier to wipe clean.

Paint for trim
Doors, windows, and moldings typically take a higher sheen than walls because they get more physical contact and need a tougher surface. Besides, a glossy surface accentuates the woodwork and makes it stand out from the walls. That contrast between trim and walls adds interest to your design scheme. Choose trim paint that's at least one step glossier than the walls.

For any further questions or to request a quote for your next paint job,

call Painters Plus at 416 909 0904

Caring for your beautiful new paint job

Care and maintenance for your painted walls.

Painted walls are a fantastic way to personalize a space and give an element of polish to your home. When paint is applied correctly by the professional painting team at Painters Plus, you can be sure that your painted walls will enjoy long-lasting vibrancy. However, as we all know, life happens and it can cause some problems when it happens on your paint! Painters Plus recommend the below tips to ensure the proper care of your painted walls so that you can enjoy our work for years to come!

1. Keep on top of stains

When a child's sticky fingers leave prints on your walls, the time to address the mess is now! Use a damp rag and gently clean the area on the wall that has succumbed to any smudges. Do not rub too hard or use harsh cleaning products as they can wear the finish from the wall.

2. Clean regularly 

Maintain a freshly painted look on your walls by keeping them free of dust and spots. Plus, preventive maintenance means less time spent scrubbing later.
Vacuum walls with a soft brush attachment. Then wipe them down with a cloth-covered broom or mop (spray with a dusting agent for best results) or use an electrostatic dusting wipe. Avoid using an excessive amount of water.

3. Avoid damages to your walls
Applying a clear rubber buffer to your furniture, or adding a landing pad for your door knob can prevent scratches and dents caused by general day to day wear and tear. For parts of your wall that already have an obvious dent, try levelling it out as best as you can and then gently apply a patch of paint. We suggest that you keep any leftover paint and label it for which room it was used in. or keep the paint chips and label them accordingly for future reference.

4. Address mildew
Be sure that if you find mildew on your walls that you address the issue and not feel tempted to simply paint over it. Ensuring that a professional is responsible for painting your walls in the first place will avoid damages and can help prevent wear and tear.

If you require something tougher than water to remove stains then try out an all-purpose detergent solution:

Recipe for All-Purpose Detergent Solution

• Stir 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent into a quart of warm water.
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar.
• Let solution sit on stain for 10 minutes before blotting.

The Psychology of Colors - Finding the color to compliment you

Psychology of colors and colors in a space
The colors we use to design our homes can have a direct influence upon our psyche and our feelings toward the space. When choosing the right color to surround yourself with, take into account the types of colors that you respond well too as well as colors that will complement the space.

Red color      

Red is an optimistic, vital color of activity, heat, movement, struggle, of passionate life. It is the most expressive, extraverted color associated with fullness of life, courage, sacrifice, love, strong emotions and acts of passion. Red also encourages appetite and is therefore well suited to a dining room.

Orange color                                                                                                                       

Orange is a bright, warm color that is less aggressive than red. Orange reflects warmth, generosity, it is light and playful, as it sits between calm yellow and passionate red orange helps to stabilize emotion and boost optimism. As it is also a seldom used color it can evoke feelings of caution and therefore is best used in its paler tones to ensure that serenity is not disturbed.

Yellow color                                                                                                                     

Yellow is the color of sun, light and optimism, which stimulates activity and boosts energy. Yellow promotes concentration, and symbolizes creativity and wisdom.

Green color                                                                                                            

Green is the color of tranquility and health. Green reminds us of nature and vitality which associates with positive feelings of well-being. It is also the color of peace and helps to soothe and relax us. Green also has been proven to lower blood pressure and assist with the prevention of migraines and headaches.

Blue color

Blue is known as the most productive color and is therefore popular in offices and bedrooms. Blue makes us think of skies and oceans which promotes calmness and the ability to focus on the task at hand. Many businesses choose blue as their logo color as it is non-intrusive and will not pull focus on business documents.

Violet color   

Violets a purples are traditionally associated with royalty and thus with a sense of accomplishment and power. Lighter tones of violet exude a soothing and supportive atmosphere without being too intrusive. It is an excellent living room color as it helps you to relax and unwind.

White Color

White is the color of clarity and is a mixture of all three waves of natural colors: yellow, red and blue. As a result, to white we respond positively. It symbolizes clarity, innocence and purity, as well as a new beginning, rebirth. White walls help to make a space seem larger and also gives a sense of cleanliness. White walls also provide the perfect canvas for decoration (e.g. picture frames or art works).

Please see infographic below for more details:

And find out your soul color on Buzzfeed!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/maritsapatrinos/what-color-is-your-soul?utm_term=.up0Y63gQE#.bd26O7Qbz