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Choosing a Color
To get the hang of the tools and build your confidence, practice a bit on a primed scrap of drywall or a section of wall about 6 ft. wide. You’ll see how well your color choices blend. Don’t worry; you can always repaint the wall once you’ve finished practicing. Remember that the effect should be free and random, so don’t fuss over a small area. Work large areas at a time and enjoy the process. Just follow the instructions in our photo slideshow to get great-looking results.
How Do I Choose Attractive Color Combinations?
Unless you’ve got a great eye for color, choosing combinations can be tricky. Bring home latex paint swatches from the paint store to see how the colors look in your room. The kit manufacturers suggest you choose your colors from the same swatch. You can mix a light shade with a dark for high contrast, or two closer shades for a more consistent tone. I found that experimenting with colors on different swatches but within the same color family gave the richest results.
Begin the color selection process by considering the fabrics, prints, carpeting, area rugs and furniture you’re working with. Find paint swatches that coordinate with these and give the colors a test. Before I painted the room, I purchased quart cans of chosen colors and tested them on a section of wall. If you don’t trust your judgment, ask your paint store professional for suggestions.
We provided the samples on this page to help you see the effect of certain colors when they’re blended. (The room shown was painted using the colors in sample No. 1 and the Tuscany roller cover.) Nos. 2 and 4 were also done with the Tuscany; the Fresco cover was used for No. 3. Note: The paint we used isn’t available nationwide, so if you like our choices, match them from the magazine to your own color swatches.
Color Samples
| 1 |  | 2 |  |
| 3 |  | 4 |  |
To get similar results, match these samples to color swatches you find at local paint stores.
Buyer’s Guide
The Wall Magic Kit is available at most home centers and paint supply retailers. For more information on the Wall Magic Kit, call Wagner Spray Tech Corp. at (800) 328-8251 or visit its Web site at www.wagnerspraytech.com.
A company called The Woolie also makes a dual roller kit ($20). Contact the company at (888) 596-6543 for dealer locations or check out its Web site at www.woolie.com.
McCloskey Paints also sells several decorative painting kits. Contact McCloskey at (800) 345-4530.
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