60% of the space should take on a lighter tone to accentuate other pieces without clashing.
30% of the space should reflect a medium tone to show accent and rhythm in contrast.
10% of the space should be darkest and show a variety or striking accent to the design.
With this rule in mind, look at the colors that are in the photo. These examples come from the color charts at Sherwin-Williams Paints. The following paint colors are listed clockwise from the light blue to the off white block. The Blue block by itself is named (Splashy SW6942) for you as a sample.This color would be an excellent color for a medium tone as this would make the space look smaller by visual reduction.
Colors taken from the Photo:
First row
Synergy SW6938
Country Squire SW6475
Outrageous Green SW6922
Larchmere SW6752
Second row
Splashy SW6942
Raindrop SW6485
Biscay SW6940
High Reflective White SW7757
Each color can be used within this room, but using the colors correctly is important. When looking at the overall photo, take the darkest and the lightest color and find a medium value. In this case, I took the color Larchmere SW6752 and made a decision to paint 60% of the space with this tone. This has a soft aqua tone that is not too bright in value, which causes eye strain, and it is not too dull in chroma.
For 30% of the space I chose a medium tone that is reflected throughout the photo. By using Outrageous Green SW6922, I brought an accent that will give character to the space. This color does not need to be large in samples but frequent within the space. This green is perfect when the designer is trying to bring in the color and the reflective value of the tone.Finally, I wanted to bring in a dark color as an accent to the space. The color Country Squire SW6475 has just enough of a shade to it, but still reflects the green sea-life that lives in the ocean. The colors are stunning with the art, and the furnishings will not be difficult to find. This is a bold design, but if it is executed properly, the design will not suffer from the color choices.
As a variation, if the homeowner is nervous or absolutely does not like the outrageous green, a less dramatic color can be substituted to reflect a safe yet decorative theme. With this idea, I chose a safe color that reflects in the photo as well, but not as bold. This color is Composed SW6472.
There are times when the homeowner cannot commit to change, but if you ease your design with some rational communication, you may talk him or her into a trial run. If you can do this, the homeowner usually likes it when they see it live instead of on paper.
