News North America

When designing a home, color is one of the most powerful tools to add life to a space, says Genevieve Gorder, one of television's best known interior designers.

“Painting is one of the simplest ways to incorporate color into a home, but people often feel intimated by it until they have some guidance. This must be why so much of our country is beige and off-white,” she laughs.

Take a look at this snapshot of answers to the most frequently asked color questions, compliments of the designer:

Q: How do I use color to tie a room together?

A: Use the different elements that make up a color palette in a way that they balance each other. It's a juggling act between neutrals, grounding shades, highlight and accent colors. Having the right balance among these different color components is the best way to tie a room together.

Q: How are accent colors applied?

A: From the palette, they are used for emphasis. These paints are often bold or vivid and are used sparingly. However, if you play with the palette and create balance for this powerhouse tool, you can easily paint a whole room in an accent color.

Q: Any tips for working with bold paint shades?

A: Create a sense of balance throughout the room, as you would with any color. For example, if I put the vivacious Valspar Luscious Green 6010-7 (one of my personal favorites) onto a wall, I would break up those big planes of color with enough highlights (whites and creams) and grounding colors (grays and blacks) so that it isn't overwhelming. Neutrals would be chosen for the contents of the room along with small sprinkles of an accent color, like yellow.

Q: What if, on the first stroke, we feel the color was a mistake?

A: Allow a couple of days to see how the color looks at different times of the day and in different lights, and consider the feeling it creates in the room. If after that you still feel you made a mistake, don't let it deter you. Magnificence comes with risk. A very special color, one that will give you joy in that room for decades, is right there waiting for you to discover it. There's a unique program this season that really takes the fear out of trying something new. From now until October 7, 2013, Valspar Paint is offering a complimentary replacement color to anyone who has a change of heart about their first choice. For all the details and complete offer terms, take a look at loveyourcolor.com.

Articles are provided free of charge. Articles appearing on web sites, must credit www.newsnorthamerica.com. Articles appearing in Print, must credit News North America with (NNA) at beginning of an article or – News North America at the end. Any source/sponsor of the information quoted in the text must also be identified as presented. Images are only to be used with corresponding editorial copy. Usage of News North America articles constitutes your acceptance of these terms and an agreement between you and News North America.

Acclaimed interior designer shares her top color tips