Question:

Why do experts say never pick a paint color in a vacuum when contractors have to paint before you move in?

Answer:

Never pick paint color in a vacuum or always paint last is common color advice but that doesn’t mean it’s the “right” way to approach this kind of color challenge. There are other solutions for those who, for any number of reasons, have to get a fresh coat of paint on the walls before move in day. Color choices have to be made in preliminary stages in all sorts of situations and moving into a new home is no exception. The problem with the vague advice of ‘always paint last’ is that it falsely fosters a sense of a long-term, guaranteed solution. The logic goes something like this: “If I wait for more of my decor to be in place and then choose a color, I won’t have to paint again for several years”.

The question is how long should you wait?

If you have definite plans and budget set aside to make purchases, then wait until everything is in place. If your plans are more tentative and you are only thinking about what you would like to purchase “someday”, then you need to color for your now.

It is important to color for your now.

Your color choices should be based on what you have when you move and any decorating plans you know will be completed in the near term. Additionally, even the best quality wall paint has an expiration date in that it can suffer wear and tear of every-day life and repainting is necessary to properly maintain the home. Embracing the idea that as time goes by you will want – or need – to repaint is more realistic than putting your life on hold until you are able to implement every last stitch of decorating dreams.

Full spectrum paint is one of the best color strategies when you want to immediately enjoy living in your new home and need to paint before furniture and accessories are acquired. Whether it is a color of white or something with more hue, you need flexibility. For most people that means choosing a color they consider to be “neutral”. It is thrilling to learn that you can get even more flexibility from the way full spectrum paint colors are built, or mixed in the can.

I can explain why full spectrum paint colors are the perfect solution and how they work.

There is a unique bundle of wavelengths of natural light beaming in from windows and doors and bouncing around the room from light fixtures, the artificial light. Those sources of light define the amount and quality of light in a space. The unique and varied quality of light is the only thing you know for sure besides the non-transient elements like flooring and cabinets. You can custom fit a space with wall colors based on that unique bundle of wavelengths of light, the permanent elements, and an expectation that the paint color will be neutral.

Full spectrum paint colors have a unique and varied bundle of wavelengths too but instead of beaming wavelengths, they are reflected wavelengths. Partnering the unique bundle of beaming light wavelengths with a robust bundle of reflected paint color wavelengths floods the space with a full, and subtly diverse range of color and light. This enables the wall color to easily coordinate as new items are introduced to the space.

Full spectrum colors are mixed using an amount of colorant from each spectral hue and the intent is to mimic the full spectral qualities of natural daylight. Most important to note is the method of full spectrum color mixing means no black is used in the formulas. Black absorbs light wavelengths and does not contribute to reflecting light back into the space.

Colors mixed using regular, traditional methods can create atmospheres that are adaptable too. However, the odds of that happening with a paint color that is not mixed full spectrum are considerably less. Regular paint colors use an average of 3 to 4 colorants which means their reflective qualities and abilities are predictably less robust and full when compared to colors that use a balanced mix of more colorants.

Regular paint brands rely heavily on black colorant because it is the faster — and cheaper — way to change a color. Paint manufacturers choose to mix their colors with black colorant because it is inexpensive and adding even a small quantity of black aids with hiding ability. Hiding ability is mistakenly associated with quality paint ingredients. Black colorant is cheap and using it in their colors is how they create an illusion of higher quality, high-hiding paints.

Full spectrum paint colors have better odds of creating an atmosphere that will gracefully morph and adapt as you settle in to a new space and add decor. To learn how you can buy full spectrum paint colors like you see here, visit Ellen’s website, Ellen Kennon.

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