How to Use a Color Consultant

In the event that you were constructing a new house or remodeling an old one, you would probably rely upon a bevy of professionals to find the job done correctly, from contractors and architects to interior designers and artisans. But do you think to employ a color adviser? These pros, who help you choose a colour scheme that makes the mood you crave, can be vital in making your habitat feel like home. In addition they possess a finger on the pulse of happening colors and future tendencies.

Here is the way to find, partner together and gain from a colour consultant, start to finish.

Roost Interior Design

Find reliable sources. Color consultants don’t always have formal instruction, although some have completed a certification program. Most possess a background in the visual arts, graphic or interior design, or paint production. Browse the directory of professionals on or your local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Some house stores and paint retailers, especially higher-end ones, have colour consultants on staff. When you have a small number of titles, contact them to assess which one seems to suit your needs and personality best, and ask for references.

Dear Daisy Cottage

Determine your colour preferences before fulfilling the adviser. Even when you’re unsure exactly which hues you ought to have on your property, odds are you have formed some opinions concerning colors which attract and repel you. This information provides the colour adviser a great starting point and enables her or him get an notion of your general color personality (bold, silent, bright, neutral). Begin by listing your favorite and least favorite colors, then make a third list for those that fall in the middle floor.

Next, compile illustrations. Produce a ideabook of your favorite inspiration photos; have a look in your cupboard; visit your local home center and pull on paint chips. Sort your samples to the exact same 3 piles as your listing: like, dislike, neutral.

Even when you’re 100 percent sure about the colours you do and don’t wish to live with, a consultant can help you blend your favorite colors in unexpected ways, or juxtapose them so they match one another to maximum benefit.

Birdseye Design

Set up an initial consultation. The adviser will probably wish to see your house for a walk-through. He or she’ll make notes on details like furniture placement, floor strategy, design and other components that affect color options, in addition to talking with you regarding your goals and needs. Since natural sun will have a substantial effect on the way your colors read, look at scheduling the appointment for a period of day when the lighting is at its best.

Following the assembly, the adviser will put together a palette that is projected, with thoughts about placement, finishes and other factors. She or he’ll suggest specific paint colors — even a few to be custom mixed — and choices for other surfaces.

Budget ample time and money. To funding costs for your occupation, ask the adviser to get an estimate of the hours required for your project, then give yourself a cushion of 10 to 15 percent greater in case complications arise. Rates vary widely based on location and other things, but generally speaking, colour consultants earn anywhere from $75 to $200 per hour. Some work on a flat-fee basis.

Be open to suggestion. Your appointment will proceed more smoothly if you place your trust in the pro you have hired. Convinced that bright tangerine will not work on your guest toilet? Not so fast. In the event the adviser encourages you to try a specific colour, follow the guidance, even when you’re on the fence. Odds are you’ll wind up loving it (and if you don’t, paint colours are a snap to change).

At exactly the exact same time, if the adviser is enthused about a color you can’t abide, don’t hesitate to stand your ground and find a compromise. After all, you are the one who has to live with this.

More:
17 Matters Color Consultants Want You to Know
How to Work With a Professional Organizer
How to Use a Kitchen Designer
How to Use a Landscape Pro

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