Paint is a quick and inexpensive way to update an interior. Keep the home fresh, vibrant, and contemporary by making paint changes every three to five years. It's not just the color that needs to change, but the way in which it is used. Create strong, contemporary statements by using paint in bold and unusual ways.
Color + Black + White
Incorporate a favorite color with a basic black and white color scheme. Paint an accent wall with the color---vibrant red, tangerine, deep purple-violet---and keep the rest of the walls white. Use variations of the color throughout the room and the rest of the home. Implement a set of paint chips or a fan deck to locate the variations. For example, choose a solid, vibrant red in the dining room and a muted or muddied red (rust), a pastel red (pinks), and an orange-red (salmon, coral) as accents (furniture, tables settings, accessories) in the room. Use the rust as the accent in the living room and the salmon or coral in the bedroom.
Create A Modern Mural
This idea may require an artist that can paint a mural and is versed in enlarging existing patterns to fit walls. Locate an appealing contemporary or Asian-style floral wallpaper, and choose a flower in the pattern or portion of the wallpaper pattern to enlarge. Use the enlarged pattern as an accent wall in a dining room or bedroom. Update the wallpaper colors by using a pearlized neutral, a charcoal grey in place of black, or muted colors instead of bold, pop-off-the-page colors.
Reuse Wallpaper
Instead of removing old wallpaper, paint over it in a neutral vanilla or light taupe using a wash of paint, allowing the pattern to still be viewed through the paint. Create a wash by combining four parts water to one part paint (i.e., one cup of paint to four cups of water) in a separate container. Test the wash in a hidden corner before painting the whole wall and change the "recipe" as needed. This creates an aged, textured look that can create an elegant backdrop for a modern French Provincial theme or an updated shabby look. Not all wallpapers will work with this idea, so stick to more formal patterns (stripes, medallions, fleur-de-lis) and stay away from cute or small, detailed patterns.
Matte Versus Gloss
Create visual interest by using a color in both matte and glossy finish. Striped effects from floor to ceiling are created by using alternate paint finishes in the same color (matte red, gloss red, matte red, gloss red). Glossy finishes reflect light and are more noticeable. Try creating an accent wall by using the gloss finish on it and the matte finish on all the other walls.
