COLOR: First you need to choose a color scheme. Matching colors can be tricky, maybe you already have some ideas of colors you would like to use. If you have no idea where to start, get some help from a home improvement store. They have people who can help get you started by giving you some colors that compliment each other very well. Look at magazines for color ideas and visit friends and family members homes who have painted and added color to their rooms. If you find ideas you like, take picture or write them down so that you will remember them later.

SAME: One technique to paint a room would be to use the same color on every wall. This has been the most common technique in the past. If you decide to use this technique you should use light colors. If a room is painted all one color, and the color is dark, it can make the room appear and feel smaller. You want your room to look and feel as big and spacious as possible.

3 AND ONE: This technique is becoming more popular. You pick a base color that you want to use in a room. For example, say you want a black, grey, and white room. You would paint three of your walls a light shade of grey and the fourth wall a darker shade of grey. Then you could accent and decorate the room with black and white accessories. This causes the darker wall to pop out.

HALF: Another technique would be the halving technique. This is where you use one color at the top and a different color at the bottom. You could use two totally different colors or you could use different shades of the same color. This technique is very appealing using white at the bottom of the wall with any other accent color at the top. Another option would be to use wood along the bottom of the walls to add texture and dimension to the room and just paint the top of the wall.

OPPOSITE: Finally, this is a technique where you will paint opposite walls the same color. For example, the two walls across from each other would both be the same shade of red, and the other two walls in the room would be the same shade of beige. With this technique you could use a light color and a dark color, or two light colors. Try not to use two dark colors, as it could give the room a smaller look and feel.

Use one or more of these techniques in your home and you'll feel the warmth of life fill your rooms.