Home Improvements
Clever Ways To Refresh Your Address
By
Sep 8, 2005, 17:02

(NAPSI)-There's an issue hotly debated in America's homes and it's not politics, money or in-laws -it's about paint. According to a new survey, more than half of couples redecorating a room disagree about paint color.

"In my experience, the one thing men and women consistently disagree about is the color of the walls," said Lee Snijders, host of HGTV's "Design on a Dime." "Someone's color choice reflects their taste and personality and is often the most difficult decision in home improvement projects."

A recent survey polled members of the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS) to uncover expert insights on what really happens when homeowners revamp their homes. The survey showed that half of their clients will redesign a room because they've moved into a new home. Forty-eight percent change simply because they are "bored" with their space or consider it "outdated."

According to Snijders, choosing the room's color palette is key because color helps determine the right choices for other design elements, such as furniture and flooring. The Kilz® Roller Report uncovered that the green family is the most in-demand color of 2005, with sage green being the most popular among clients. Other top colors were golds (Tuscan and butter) and reds (rust and terra-cotta).

Known as a "rule breaker" in the design industry, Snijders has several unconventional recommendations when using color to refresh the look of a room:

• GO DARK: Darker colors make rooms look larger. A dark, flat paint brings depth to a small room and light colors make a room feel more airy-not larger.

• A TOUCH OF COLOR: Be sure to tint your primer with a shade lighter than your dark topcoat color first to ensure a perfect finish. This also saves time and money because you'll need less topcoat when changing wall colors. Snijders recommends a general-purpose, water-based primer, such as Kilz Premium, for best results.

• EDIBLE WALLS: Paint kitchens the color of food to entice your guests to eat. Consider eggplant, caramel, reds and Tuscan tones.

• DESIGN CENTS: Painting a new color is the most inexpensive way to refresh a room and you can do it yourself. For a five-minute transformation, try accessorizing with plants, hanging new artwork or including an area rug.

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