Wall Colors

Creative Crafter Paul

True Grumbler
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Posts
53
Loc
Corvallis, OR
We have decided to paint the interior of our frame shop and are having a debate as to what color would show the art the best. Do we go dark or light. My idea is to paint the walls black. Then the framing will really pop off the walls.
Am I wrong?

Paul
 
I can see gold, silver, colors really looking nice on a black wall but all those black frames are going to just disapear!
Besides I think it would be depressing to work in a shop with black walls---just my opinion!


Elsa
 
A deep color accent wall, I agree with Paul and have burgundy, is great for gold framed artwork and a variety of others. The other walls are 3 different shades of neutrals. This has worked well for us. I'll post some pics tomorrow.
 
We have it neutral, as per most people's walls at home. So do most framers - I don't wanna be most framers though - I agree with Paul N on rusty reds. We have a couple of support pillars in teraccotta and next time we decorate I think we'll do 80% of the place in it.
 
Pink looks nasty on rust colored walls, and orange looks sick on burgandy. Try Blue. blue goes with alomst anything. Better yet, have different colors on different walls! Have a section that looks traditional, with white, or off white walls. Another section can be the Blue area, that you can use for constantly changing displays. Then you can have a burgandy section for showing off Ethnic art. Burgandy would be nice for a christmas section, if the colors are more to the forest green, and burgandy.

Use your imagination, and use more than one color!
 
Ours have been a dark purple for several years now. We've never really had a problem with things not looking good on it.

We are getting tired of it though - so we are thinking that 3 different colors - a neutral, a warm and a cool color. Maybe colors like people might pick for their homes.
 
My favorite wall color is a Sherwin Williams color called Slippery Rock. I would describe it as a medium pale grayish chocolate brown. It's one of those colors that looks different as the light changes. It's very comfortable to be around, and art looks great on it.
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Rick
 
How many walls do you have? Try a different color on each wall.

We have 12 different colors in our store and customers love it.

"Can't get a grasp on what your picture looks like on a red wall, come over here and see. What you also have an orange wall? Come over here and see what it looks like.
 
One of the most impressive (but large) gallery/frame shop spaces I ever walked into was done in deep forest green, same as the carpet...

The place had been an Oak Furniture store that up and moved in the middle of the night.... and left everything...

The owner sold off the funiture, and changed it into a frame shop and gallery.

Another was a airy look of powder blues and reds that had been ragged on and off... then a off white glaze.. you really could not see where the wall was untill you physically touched it... everything looked like it was floating. Very etheral and cool.
 
I was going to add my 2 cents, and Tim already did it! If your space can flow colors together well--I'd recommend it, but it does depend on how your space is laid out.

I tend to change wall colors often, at least 1/3 of the gallery each year.

I usually have a couple of walls with "trendy" colors on them--right now I have a wall of bright lime/apple green and we have shown tropical art very well on it, and for the past couple of months---just black and white artwork.

I also have an orange wall in an area that goes from copper, to a yummy peach and then a bright orange. I've been surprised at how many things have worked on that particular wall because that is a hard (but hot trendy) color.

In another differnt section we have robin's egg blue and chocolate brown. Very popular interior colors right now and very easy to display and sell from.

I'll be painting out the taupe walls this spring into a chocolate color, most likely.

Loved the deep forest green; had that for 5 years, and it was stunning for artwork. 5 years
was enough though.
 
Not to be a contrarian, but I would shy away from too much color.

When all else fails, go out into the market place and look to see what the really successful retailers are using

The malls are a great place to start where you will see many great "cutting edge" stores-stores that are owned by companies with gazillions of dollars to spend on what consumers want; what consumers respond to

Too many of us simply think we know better than some of these really gifted design-oriented people who's jobs really do rely upon them getting it right

Go with the pros everytime

Isn't that what we ask our consumers to do when it comes to framing? We ought to take our own "advice"
 
Bob, there are those times they come-up with an Edsel.... :D

American Honda wanted a "red" for thier Goldwing way back in the early 80s.

They threw out a set of 100 chips and said pick a few.... 68% of the chips that came back were the Brandywine that they used as the biggest seller for over 14 years... then some designer said...Oooo passe'.

Sales have declined since. My prediction is, bring back the Brandywine and watch people switch from that Mexico made Harley to the Marysville, OH made Goldwing...

I went through the mall yesterday and WAS taking notes... the trend is powder baby blue... same color we have been bored with for 18 years...

Went to the paint store...other than the same old Navahoe White.. deep colors are the strongest sellers at both Miller, Sherwinn and Rodda paint.
 
As with anything that has to do with fashion and decorating, styles are different in different areas of the country.

Just because someone here says that you should use red or powde blue, you better do your own research as well. Go to your local Home Depot and ask them what the top selling colors of Behr Paint are then ask about another brand such as Dutch Boy or Ralph Lauren. Then look and see what the common colors are, that is what people in your area are using.

As Bob said, don't do too much and as Barb said, only if your space flows well. Sure when I say we have 12 colors it sounds like we have a rainbow as our walls but if done correctly it works.
 
Baer-I took a stroll thrugh our property yesterday. It's always fun to see who's coming back and who didn't make the cut.

But, gotta tell you didn't see a single Baby Blue store

I'll look again, but maybe it was so "blending" that I didn't notice it. I'll report after lunch and pay special attention to those that recently remodeled

Which begs the question: If a grumpy old, seasoned retailer like me doesn't notice things like wall colors, do you think conumers spend that much effort, either?
 
Macy's, my neighbor, has some of the reddest walls I have ever seen in their entrance. I would call it rich but maroon or brick would be "rich". This red is just bright!

Across the way is Candy Craze. They and Bath and Body Works are almost totally void of color, except the product. But next to them is Journey's Shoes whose color theme is color stained woods. Their store is full of rich amber, gray, and deep greens, all stained wood.

The color certainly set the mood for the space. I think you need to first decide what feel you want. I'm painting next week myself as I just signed a temporary lease in this location. I have tons or really bold dark stained wood trim and tan floors. I'm thinking about a real deep maroon and amber maybe.
 
900 sq ft gallery/frame order space
Benjamin Moore "China White" Pearl Finish 3 walls
Benjamin Moore "Lafayette Green (dark)" Pearl Finish Back curved wall. Bamboo floors/ grey carpet. 16' x 4' curved beige/grey/speckled granite sales counter. 18 ft open design ceilings - unpainted.
Since 12/12/2003
 
Anyone for real light oak slat walls? No painting, hang the pics in the slats, no holes, no muss, no fuss. Looks kinda warm too. Been told to paint 'em red or tear 'em out and paint the walls. Told "them" to go jump
 
I like your style Mike.

I think I know the kind of wall you have. I like it.

Worked a Fast Frame that we had those walls. Change every picture in the place in under 20 minutes and that is with stopping for coffee.. :D
 
Our walls are orange slat. I love this stuff as Mike & Baer said its a breeze to change.
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Not so sure about the rusty reds after all this.

Maybe I should listen to my own advice when advising customers on mat colours, which is DON'T COMPETE with what you want to see.

Nice mirrors Dave, on reflection!
 
Dave, am I seeing correctly...Slatwall painted to look like an orange brick wall??
 
Yes it is a brick slat wall, the paint has sand mixed in to give it texture. Some of the bricks are sponged darker to give a more variegated appearance.
 
Dave: Hmmmmm. giving me some thoughts here. Yeah we can change everything in about an hour, which we do on a regular basis
 
The brick slat wall is made by Windmill. I Got it for around $35 a sheet. I bought some extra and have sold it off to customers.
 
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