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In each of our Southern Paint store locations, you'll find thousands of beautiful, rich, colors to choose from. Our color centers are filled with almost every shade under the sun and if we don't have that one color you're looking for, we'll custom color match it for you. With over 50 years of color matching experiance, Southern Paint's color specialist can match almost any color imaginable. Below you'll find some color education to help discover your own unique color personaliy. Also look for samples of some hot new colors including collections from Pottery Barn and Benjamin Moore. Go ahead, explore the possibilities...GET INSPIRED! |
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Understanding Color!
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Color Terms |
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Hue-Another name for color. Hue refers to the color family, such as red, blue, or yellow.
Shade-A color or hue that is mixed with black or gray.
Tint-A color or hue that is mixed with white.
Value-The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
Intensity-Or chroma, refers to a color's purity or brightness and conversely, its dullness. The purer, or less gray, the more intensity. Bright yellows or cherry reds have high intensity.
Temperature-We perceive color in two basic temperatures, warm and cool. Generally, reds, yellows, and oranges are warm colors and blues, greens, and violets are considerend cool.
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Years of research tell us that color effects us both physically and mentally. Each color communicates differently with our emotions ranging from tranquility to rage. When selecting colors, ask yourself what mood you're looking for. Below, you'll find tips to help you create that mood.
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| Warm Colors |
Red
This powerful color increases blood pressure and heart rate. It often produces feelings of intimacy, energy, passion and sexuality. It also stimulates the appetite and is often used in restaurants and is an excellent choice for dining rooms in the home. |
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Orange
Like red, orange warms a room but in a less dramatic and passionate way. The mood and attitude of orange is more friendly than fiery; more welcoming than seductive. Orange works well in living rooms and family rooms and is also a good choice for children's bedrooms. |
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Yellow
Yellow grabs attention and catches the eye like no other color, hence the use of yellow highlighters in offices. In poorly lit foyers and hallways, yellow shows the way. In their bedrooms, elderly people report that yellow lifts their mood. But bright yellow can be too strong and may actually cause anxiety in infants, young children and the elderly. |
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| Cool Colors |
Blue
Soothing blue is an ideal bedroom color choice for adults and children. But that same blue that lulls us to sleep also suppresses our appetites, possibly because there are very few naturally blue foods. Put blue to bed, but try and keep it out of the dining room. |
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Green
As the dominant color in nature, we are at home with green anywhere in the house. Light greens work well in baths and living rooms; mid-range greens are a great accent for kitchens and dining rooms. The calming effect of green makes it popular in hospitals, schools and work environments. |
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Violet
Despite the favorable response violet elicits in children, many adults dislike purples, with rosier shades of violet being somewhat more appealing. Children's bedrooms and play areas may be good places to experiment with this color family. |
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Color & Light |
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Color looks different under different light sources. If you've ever been picked colors in a paint store and did not test them under you light conditions, you've probably experianced this. The technical term for this is metamerism, the occurance of colors seemingly changing when viewed under different light sources. We highly recommend viewing colors in the actual space before purchasing your paint. Below are some examples of howw different colors can appear under different light conditions. |
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Notice below, the exact same space, with the exact same colors. The only difference is the LIGHT! |
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Direct Sunlight |
Indirect Sunlight |
Artificial Light |
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Considered the ideal light source, natural sunlight maintains a neutral balance between both the warm (yellow case) and cool (blue cast) ends of the light spectrum. Northern light is the coolest, while light from a southern exposure is the strongest. Here, direct sunlight provides the “truest” rendition of the colors in this room. |
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Natural sunlight is not consistent. It changes from sunrise, to noon, to late afternoon and dusk. The intense golden rays and subsequent distinct shadows of a sunny, late afternoon have a profound effect on the colors in this room. |
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The color rendition appears warm under incandescent and halogen lights, where reds and yellows are enhanced and blues and greens are culled. Under the cool cast of fluorescent lights, blues and greens are enhanced, while reds and yellows are muted. |
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Color Schemes Using The Color Wheel |
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Monochromatic-Color schemes that use tints and shades of the same color.
- The effects of a monochromatic color scheme can be subtle and subdued when using soft color, or dramatic and daring when opting for a rich hue.
  
Monochromatic Color Scheme
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Complementary-Includes two different colors that are opposite eachother on the color wheel.
- Opposites attract, so it's not suprising that complementary colors are pleasing to the eye. Complementary colors enhance eachothers temperature, adding interest and energy to the decor.
- Many sports teams use complementary color schemes.
- Orange/Blue-Florida Gators
- Yellow/Purple-LA Lakers
Looking at the color wheel above, yellow and purple are directly across from eachother, making them complementary.
 
Complementary Color Scheme |
Analogous-Uses consecutive colors on the color wheel. Create a pleasing palette by using one color more prominently than the other two.
  
Analogous Color Scheme |
Triad-Includes any three colors equally spaced on the color wheel.
 
Triad Color Scheme |
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How Colors Affect Other Colors |
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Colors that surround a given color affect how we perceive that color. An off-white wall can appear pink when paired with a vibrant red carpet. Compllementary colors, such as red and green, enhance eachothers color quality. Two squares of the identical shade of gray will appear to differ from one another when one is placed against a white background and the other against a black. Be sure to consider not only your surroundings, but also your furnishings. Each color bounces off eachother affecting the final look and feel of the space. |
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Color Samples
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| Why Use Color Samples Before You Paint? 
Interior designers and professional painters do a "brush out" when deciding on color. They apply paint to a small section of the wall or several walls to see how the color looks in the actual environment.
By sampling a color at home, you will get the most accurate sense of how the color will actually look in the room. Sampling paint colors is a great idea to help you:
- Experiment with several different colors before deciding on a color scheme for a room.
- Decide between several shades and tints of a particular color.
- Compare how different undertones of a color (vibrant yellow, gray-yellow, green-yellow, etc.) affect the feel of the room.
- Determine how a particular color in a room will flow with the colors in adjoining rooms.
- Determine how a particular color works with other colors in the room (such as a deeply hued rug).
- Experience how a particular color is enhanced by lighting conditions
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Benjamin Moore Virtual Fan Deck |
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| The Virtual Fan Deck is a fun, easy, and exciting way to view paint colors before buying. This feature allows you to browse numerous Benjamin Moore Color Collections and view Benjamin Moore Colors. This tool gives you the opportunity to see which paint color is best for you. |
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Click above to be directed to Benjamin Moore's Virtual Fan Deck |
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Coronado Webdeck
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| We are pleased to introduce you to a unique approach to Color Designing and Color Planning, using the Coronado Color Impressions System. Room color styling will be a snap, with professionally inspired color combinations that allow you to create your own personal color style! Imagine each of our 1320 colors, professionally styled for you so that you can color co-ordinate any room or or mood you desire. One of the most difficult things to do when choosing a color is to co-ordinate other colors together to create a mood or style. Our Special web deck feature will take the guesswork out of choosing the right colors to put together. You can print out as many individual color palettes you wish and bring them to your nearest Coronado paint dealer for professional color service and color mixing. Click on the color deck to get started! |
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Pottery Barn |
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 People often request the names of the Benjamin Moore paint colors featured in the Pottery Barn catalog or ask which wall color best complements a specific piece of furniture. We have teamed up with the designers at Pottery Barn to offer you an exclusive collection of colors that are timeless and versatile, and easily coordinate with one another. |
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Click on images to see larger |
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