Block
Party
One of the biggest trends
in painting right now is Color Blocking.
Color Blocking is a simple, inexpensive way to add interest to both a
single wall and an entire room.
Color Blocking is just what it sounds like – painting different blocks of
color on a wall. You can use any
combination of rectangles and/or squares in different sizes and colors, or
different shades of one color.
Getting the blocks visually balanced is a challenge, so it’s important to
sketch out the design on paper first.
Try several combinations.
When you have settled on a design, transfer it to the wall with a light
pencil outline. Then fill in the
blocks with paint. It’s that
easy. Here are some helpful tips
for your next block party:
- For sophisticated, understated
style choose colors from the same color family.
- For something more playful like
kids’ rooms, try complementary colors like yellow
and violet. You’ll get a
balanced look if you pick colors with the same value
(colors in the same
position on the color card). Don’t forget, colors will appear
more intense when applied to big wall areas, so plan accordingly. Then block
on!
Brush with
Greatness
The color wheel can be used to make
any project go from good to great.
The color wheel gives you an instant, easy way to match up colors for a
great combination for your next project.
Start with a dominant color, maybe something from the latest trends, and
build from there. For a
monochromatic color scheme, choose a single color, then vary its value (for
example, dark blue and light blue).
An adjacent color scheme uses two or more colors that are next to each
other on the wheel. Remember to
keep one color dominant and use the other(s) for accents. A complementary color scheme has the
greatest contrast. Just choose two
colors that are directly opposite each other on the wheel, like red and
green. Remember, one color still
needs to be dominant. For a double
split complementary scheme, use two pairs of complementary colors, for a total
of four. A simple split
complementary color scheme uses one main color, plus accents of two more colors
located next to the colors opposite the main color on the wheel. A triadic color scheme uses three colors
that are equal distance from each other on the wheel. Whichever way you go, let the color
wheel and your personal taste guide you.