Decorating and Design - How to choose a color for a guy?

Hello,

I was just wondering is anyone had any suggestions... My boyfriend has a house & he wants me to help him decide on colors to paint the rooms, mainly the livingroom is what we're starting on first. Now I love to decorate & choose colors etc, but I've never done it for a guys house & I want to find colors he likes & that i would like for later, lol So nothing to guyish where a girl wouldn't want to live in, but not girly. Any suggestions?? Thanks

Pittsburgh Paints has a software program you can buy (around $10) that lets you upload digital photos of your home and then manipulate the colors of the walls and trim until you figure out what you want. It's available online (though I can't remember the URL) or at any Pittsburgh dealer.

avoid pink.

seriously, that's about the only advice i can give you, or need to give you! since you love to decorate, you probably don't need help doing so. and since you know him, and his personality, and you can see his furnishings & stuff, ask him what colors he wants to be surrounded in & have at it.

what about his fave color?

but if you think that his fave color will result in a not so good color combination with the house, then I suggest to stick with simple colors. White would be too plain. If you like colors of blue or green, then choose the shade of the colors carefully wherein it wouldn't seem so bright or so plain.

Home Depot's Behr line offers a really nice display when it comes to putting complimentary colors together on one card. Kinda takes some of the guess work out of equation for those of us who aren't as talented in this area. Can't think of the exact card, but a few of the colors were Gobbie Desert, Oyster, Smoke Blue?, and Harvest Brown. The West wing of our house has the two boys bedrooms, and bath. I painted all three ceilings Oyster, one bedroom Harvest and the other Gobbie, and the bath is Smoke Blue. So this wing is somewhat manly, but the earthtones make it pleasing to all. And the combinations compliment each other well. So if you're thinking multiple colors, check out Home Depot's offerings.

Too funny! I just painted our living/dining room and used Behr Gobi Desert for 2 walls and Behr Sage Green for the other 4 walls (L-shaped design). I love these colours, anyway, but picked them because they're colours that my husband and 3 sons will appreciate.

I think you need to take his furniture into consideration first, the size of the room(s) and the natural lighting in the room. Definitely bring the paint chips into the light, preferably to the actual home to see how the colours look in the room and even tape the chips to the wall and see how they look in the daytime and at night (artificial lighting).

Pick up a bunch of paint chips in a range of colours and show him your ideas beforehand. Get him involved in it :)

In addition to doing some research on color combos, you can do some detective work to find out what colors he likes. Pop some corn and watch some HGTV decorating shows. Visit some open houses, furniture showrooms, etc. Look at some decorating magazines together. Ask, "What do you think about that color combo?"

Look about you. What colors are already there in rugs, upholstery, art work, accessories, carpet, tile, draperies, etc? What colors are in his casual wardrobe hanging in the closet? Make notes. Pick up paint chips and bring them home. Do not purchase any paint until you have decided on a color scheme that both of you agree upon.

Remember each color has been variations of hues and underlying tones. Many begin with an area rug or a painting and pick a color scheme from there. A multi-color upholstery or other fabric may be a guide. Choosing three colors is a great way to begin. A background color for the walls, which can be borrowed from upholstery, rug, or painting, must be chosen. A mid-tone can be chosen for floor covering, furniture, etc. Brighter colors can serve for accents, accessories, etc. Repeating colors throughout a room and throughout the home will provide continuity. Varying which color from you color scheme to dominate in each room can be done.

Have you decided on a theme? Contemporary, casual, country, etc.? Some colors tend to be associated with certain styles and themes.

These are just simple guidelines for beginning. With some thought and research, you can be successful in color selection. You can also explore color and learn more at the Behr Paint site at www.behr.com