If there’s anything that can make or break a room, it’s the paint color — everything from narrowing down the perfect hue from hundreds of shades to, you know, the actual painting is a process. To help make the whole thing a little less overwhelming, we enlisted the help of Sarah Cole, the marketing director at Farrow + Ball for some much-needed guidance. The English paint and wallpaper manufacturer is one of the most trusted names in the biz, so you know these tips are legit. Before heading to Lowe’s, read her need-to-know advice.
Where to Start
“The key to choosing the perfect color for your home is to choose a color you love, and test it in the room where it will be used,” Cole tells us. “Think about the shape of the room, the architecture and the style you are trying to create. We always advise testing your color by painting a sample spot onto a piece of paper and putting it in different places in the room and at different times of the day so you can see how the changing light affects the color.”
Colors Affect Mood
“Cool grays with a blue undertone will create a very urban look while yellow-based neutrals create a pretty, country feel,” Cole says. “Calm blues and greens can create a relaxed environment, while rich darks will create a much more dramatic space.” Think about what you want the room to project before narrowing down the shades.
Tips for Living Rooms
Since the living room is where families spend most of their time, the color should be one that everyone truly loves. Forget the trends or bold color you see people using in magazines and think about what reflects your family. “Choose one that really fits your decorating style and makes the room one you will happily spend time in,” Cole advises. In other words, stop overthinking it.
Tips for the Bedroom
To give your boudoir a relaxing vibe, Cole recommends choosing a soothing color like watery blues and greens. Some of her favorite shades from Farrow + Ball are Teresa’s Green, Pavilion Blue and Pale Powder.
Tips for the Bathroom
Since bathrooms tend to be a smaller space, they’re great places to experiment with bolder colors. “Create a real impact and turn the bathroom into a cocooning space,” she says. Some colors she recommends are Brinjal, Hague Blue or Mole’s Breath.
Experiment Without Painting the Whole Room
Small touches of color can have big effects. Cole says a fun way to play with color is to paint a piece of furniture, like a dresser, in a rich color for a room that has mostly neutrals. If you’re an expert DIYer, you can even try using masking tape to paint stripes or patterns on furniture. Get inspired with these 16 dresser projects!
Got any of your own tips on picking the right color for the right room? Tell ’em to us in the comments below!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.