Mythic Color Expert, Olga Adler, is getting us ready for spring with the hottest new color of the season, literally.  Orange, the popular accent color, is continuing to pop up all over in small accents around the house.  If your customers are ready to take the leap into mega color, Olga particularly likes Mythic’s colors Sweet Sunrise and Orange Nasturtium to add a punch to any room.

		Orange Nasturtium 103-6
		Sweet Sunrise 099-6

She suggests using this color in an accent table, which can easily be repurposed and freshened up with a nice coat of orange paint.  Throw pills and accent rugs are other great ways to work the color into the room.  You can see from the image below how Olga incorporated the look into a dining room with brilliant results!

It can be fun watching paint dry!

What you do between coats is up to you but let’s face it just watching paint dry is boring. What do you do to pass the time?

First thing I do before starting any project is to get some music going. This can help to take your mind off the task at hand and relax. You may find it easier to tackle those areas like trim when your mind is lost in a song. Turning that overwhelming project into a party is a great way to pass time. Paint parties are a great way to punish your friends or family while helping you finish faster. Keep in mind to make sure they actually know how to paint before starting. Making it a party can bring fun back to painting while giving you a way to catch up with old friends.   Creating goals to accomplish throughout the day is another way to pass the time. By creating (realistic) goals it will help to move the project along and keep you on task. Tell yourself in two hours I want to have the first coat finished. You may be surprised how quickly you finish and are moving on to the next goal. If you have multiple room projects they can be very overwhelming. Just breathe and paint only areas or rooms that you feel can be finished in a day. Waking up to a half painted wall is never fun. Moving items to the center or completely from the room will dramatically speed things along. This can also give you something to do while the room is drying and  sets up the next room to be painted.  Finally step back and admire your handy work.  Stepping back for a moment or taking a short break will help you to see items that you might have missed.  Whatever you do to pass the time while painting just have fun and take it one coat at a time.

Today as I walked through the backyard I couldn’t’ help but notice all the brilliant colors and beauty there was to observe and appreciate.  Natural vibrant magenta, soft pinks, warm yellows, and lush greens… flowers and plants of all sizes and shapes completely carpeting the entire area and the constant aroma of lilacs lying atop of every breeze.  An instant smile suddenly appeared on my face and in my body that sat with me for quite awhile…  I was reminded, as organically as one can be, just how integral our sensory environment is to our moods, attitudes, thought processes and personal productivity, albeit on a subconscious level.

Having said that – some of the colors we love and enjoy looking at don’t always translate as positively on a grand scale – so you might want to consider the following questions before you make any specific decisions about the color combinations you choose for your home and how they surround you.

How do you want to feel in the room you’re in?  What is the result you’re looking to accomplish? What is the intended function of the space?  These are the first questions to ask of yourself and/or your spouse/partner.  Then, take a few minutes to jot down the specific mental/emotional aspects of the space and how you want it to effect you and that of your partner/spouse.

Before you do anything regarding color and design – evaluate your space. Be completely clear about the function or functions of the space, or the one thing or several things you need the space for.  How do you want to feel and others to feel when occupying the space and what do you want your guests to recall about how they felt when they were in your home?

Check in with yourself.  If you find yourself gravitating to a certain color or conversely, repelled by one – notice those patterns and ask yourself why – (while this may seem corny) it isn’t. It’s rather a simple and very revealing process regarding our own psyche and what affects us.

Once you’ve discovered what motivates you and how you’re affected, you can make better choices to support your personality. Ultimately you will create an optimal and fundamentally supportive space that also reflects who YOU are, and therefore, you will be at your best in all aspects of your life!

About Lauren:

Lauren S. Henry,Color Expert and Sensory Design Specialist, is an east coast transplant and graduate of Syracuse University. She taught K-6 in the Maryland/Northern Virginia School Systems between 2000 – 2004 and found a way to combine her passions for art, kids, psychology and writing, as well as her desire to make a difference in the world. She founded an innovative new business, With a Brush of Love.

Through With a Brush of Love, Lauren utilizes a wide variety of techniques to transform the lives of children diagnosed with autism and other special needs through their surroundings. The goal can be to pacify those who are overly agitated or aggressive, stimulate the withdrawn, or improve focus and concentration. Ultimately, it’s possible to dramatically increase one’s ability to succeed in all areas, scholastically, socially and most importantly, within the home.  For more information, visit www.brushoflove.com.