RED

Image: Graham & Brown

Red walls are nothing to be afraid of. Not when 2026 offers beautiful shades like Divine Damson (pictured), Graham & Brown’s 2026 color of the year, which they describe as “luxurious yet comforting.” If that’s a bit too dramatic for you, check out Benjamin Moore’s Dinner Party, “a deep, understated red that can be used in everyday spaces…” For something that leans a little browner, Glidden’s color of the year, Warm Mahogany, is “a rich, grounded red that’s bold enough to draw immediate attention and reserved enough to make a timeless statement.” None are ‘flag red’ but any of the three would be stunning in the right location.

WHITE

Image: Protek Painting Services

Crisp and clean, white was a classic long before the modern farmhouse trend swept the country. It can stand alone, but also plays well with others, whether you pair it with its opposite like the beautiful white and black home above (a recent ProTek project) or use it with subtler shades.

While “white” may seem like an easy choice, be warned: when it comes to paint, “white” options are in the thousands. Here’s a thought: Pantone’s color of the year, “Cloud Dancer.” Pantone promises that their white “is a shade that can adapt, harmonize, and create contrast, bringing a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments….” You can have color-matched in your preferred paint at places like Lowe’s or Home Depot.

BLUE

Image: Benjamin Moore

According to BobVila.com, “blue is well-known as America’s favorite color…”  No arguments here, especially when it comes in so many beautiful shades. (Yes, we’re also counting all the teals and grays that lean blue.) While blue may not be the first color that springs to mind for a kitchen, according to Benjamin Moore, “Blue kitchen cabinets offer a charming blend of sophistication and renewal, adding a fresh vibrancy to the space.”  Something to think about the next time your kitchen needs a refresh.

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Image: HomeDesignLover.com

Of course, your patriotic color scheme doesn’t have to be limited to paint. There are many ways to include USA’s theme colors in your home. You can make it a seasonal thing with items that come and go—pillows, throws, themed art objects, etc.—or a year-round choice. After all, red, white and blue look good together no matter what month it is. Need a little inspo? Check out these 20 Living Rooms with Blue, Red and White Accents.

Remember, when you’re ready to paint your home, contact us. We’ll make sure the finished project looks picture-perfect, no matter which color you choose.

The post PATRIOTIC COLORS FOR YOUR HOME, 2026 EDITION appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

Here’s a thought: Before you pony up for a complete gut job, take a hot minute to consider if paint is all you need. Paint can be a transformational, budget-friendly update that is both faster and easier than a remodel (especially if we do the painting for you). Paint can make your place look…

UPDATED

Image: Benjamin Moore

Here’s one example: it’s easier to bring your kitchen into this century than you might think. Those dark wood cabinets that were all the rage in the nineties will look completely different painted in a beautiful color. That stark, all-white kitchen might just need a little bit of color to make it more inviting. Would you go with something subtle like Benjamin Moore’s Steep Cliff Gray (pictured above), or amp up the drama with a bold contrasting color?

BRIGHTER

Image: Behr

Now that we’ve survived the umpteen shades of grey era, isn’t it time to bring a little more color into our homes? It doesn’t have to hurt your eyes; a calm-but-interesting color combo like Behr’s Dainty Lace and Urban Nature (pictured) is lighter and brighter without being obnoxious about it.

P.S. Did you notice that the closet doors in the image do not match either the trim or walls, making the closet look like a custom built-in?

COZIER

Image: ProTek

Light and bright is not always the answer; dark can be elegant, inviting and cozy. A moody color can make a room feel like a hug. But before you go to the dark side, consider the amount of light in the room. In the one pictured above—a recent ProTek project—the dark walls are balanced by the big window, light floors and built-in cabinet. Even if you’re going for a cave or speakeasy vibe, you’ll want to make sure you can see where you’re going so you don’t trip over the furniture.

FRESHER

Image: ProTek

Sometimes your current color is already perfect, it’s just showing signs of age. Colors fade; nicks happen. A fresh coat of the existing color can make a surprising amount of difference. If your walls are still good, a new coat or color on your trim might be just what you need.

MORE ‘YOU’

Image: Sherwin Williams

Just because your walls are a “perfectly good color” doesn’t mean it’s perfect for you. If it doesn’t make your heart sing, paint over it. The paint police will not come to take you away. Pictured: Fresh Eucalyptus from Sherwin Williams.

When it comes to home decorating, paint is your friend and so are we. If your home needs a fresh coat or color, for whatever reason, contact us for a consultation. We’ll harness the power of paint and put it to work for you.

If you’re not ready for a remodel but you’re really hankering to break something, try a rage room where you can smash things to your heart’s content (and someone else handles the cleanup).

The post THE POWER OF PAINT appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE PAINT STORE

Image: Cottonbro Studio, Pexels

Take a long hard look at the room you want to paint. Is it on the north or south side of your home? North-facing rooms tend to get cooler color of light, so colors with a warm undertone generally look better. The opposite applies to south-facing rooms. Speaking of light, does your room get a lot of the natural kind or do you rely on artificial lighting? That will also affect the way a color looks.

Now you’re ready to dive into the world of color. Once you’ve found some you like, it’s time to …   

GO HOME AND GO BIG

Image: Angi.com

Don’t even think about making a final decision on a wall color from a tiny square on a paint color card. That’s a good place to start, but once you’ve narrowed it down to a few favorites, you’ll need something bigger. Many paint companies have apps that allow you to upload a photo of your room and virtually paint it. That’s a great way to narrow the field but remember that the color on the screen may not be an exact match to the color in real life.

You can buy stick-on color samples (like giant Post-it notes) that are about a foot square. You can move them around without leaving marks on your wall, but the texture won’t be the same as your wall, and texture matters. The best option? Buy a sample or quart of your top contenders and paint a big ol’ area of each of your walls—like two-to-four feet tall and wide big. Then, once you’ve got some color on your wall …

TAKE YOUR TIME

Image: Natalie Vaitkevich, Pexels

First, give your sample area(s) time to dry. You might need two coats depending on the current color. Then live with it for at least a couple of days. Why? Your mood can affect the way you see the color. Other members of the household may have opinions that could sway yours. You could change your mind. Remember, paint in haste, repent in leisure. While you’re pondering your choice …

LIGHT IT UP

Image: Pixabay

Study your color options at different times of day and in different lights. Daylight vs. artificial. Morning vs afternoon. It can make a huge difference. The color that makes your heart sing in the morning may become a “what was I thinking?” shade by evening. Finally …

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

Image: Blogspot

Are there other colors in adjacent rooms that can be seen from this one? Will your new color play well with the one “next door” or will it clash? If contrast is what you want, that’s perfectly fine. Just make sure you know how much contrast you’re getting to avoid a shocking surprise.

Don’t worry, you’ve got this. It’s just paint, after all. When you’ve made a decision and you’re ready to take the plunge, contact us to take your chosen color from dream to done.

The post HOW TO AVOID BUYER’S REMORSE WHEN CHOOSING A PAINT COLOR appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

THE COLOR

Image:  Sherwin-Williams (Raisin)

Just because you decide to go neutral doesn’t mean you have to go grey or beige or even greige. Many colors can act as neutrals, including pinks, blues and greens. They don’t necessarily have to be light colors, either. The neutral family includes darker shades, which can heighten the impact of your furnishings and decor. Check out this range of popular shades and ‘expert picks’ from Sherwin-Williams.

THE TEMPERATURE

Image:  Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

This has nothing to do with how hot or cold it is in your house and everything to do with the color’s undertones:  is it warm or cool? The easiest way to tell is to hold your paint chip next to a piece of white paper or the purest white paint sample you can find. If your home is decorated in mostly warm colors, you’ll want your walls to complement rather than fight with that. Ditto for cool tones. 

THE LIGHT

Image:  Jesse Bridgewater from Pixabay

The light in your room, that is. If you hold up a tiny little paint card one evening with the overhead light on and decide to go for it, you may be shocked at how that color looks in the light of day. Instead, get a big stick-on sample (available from many companies) or paint a piece of posterboard and look at it throughout the day. Move it around the room occasionally. Turn the lights on, then off. How does that affect the color? Observe your sample for a full day or longer and you’ll have a better idea of how your space will really feel in its new color.

THE FINISH

Image:   Benjamin Moore

The level of shine makes a big difference in how a color looks in a room. The effect of a high-gloss finish is quite different from a flat one. That can work to your advantage, especially if you fall in love with a color. Boston designer DesireeBurns, quoted in Architectural Digest, often uses the same neutral throughout an entire home for consistency, using different finishes for contrast. “Try painting your molding and millwork in high gloss with eggshell walls,” she says, calling it “a divine combination.”

When you’re ready to go neutral—or bold, for that matter—request a consultation and we’ll make your color dreams a reality.

The post 4 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING A NEUTRAL PAINT COLOR appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

CONSIDER YOUR LIGHTING

Image:  Chastity Cortijo 

You want to be able to see your clothes, linens, or whatever you store in your closet—if only to avoid a fashion faux pas when you realize one of your black shoes is actually navy. While you may want to upgrade your closet light to something brighter or more fabulous (a chandelier, perhaps?), if that’s not an option then lighter colors may be better than dark, dramatic ones. For more ideas about closet lighting see this post from NextLuxury.com  and notes on paint finishes below.

COORDINATE WITH THE ROOM COLOR

Image:  NicModern.com

If you’re bored with builder white but not sure what to replace it with, look at the color of the room or hall where your closet is located and use the same color or one that coordinates with it. If the room is dark, maybe go a little lighter in the closet. If the room has wallpaper or an accent wall, choose a hue that ties into the pattern. If that all seems a little too tame, pick any color you love that will make you smile every time you open the door. Or go a little wild and…

ADD FLAIR WITH WALLPAPER

Image:  House of Hipsters

It’s not paint, but it is a great way to add personality to an otherwise boring space—and the perfect place to practice your wallpapering skills. Kyla from HouseofHipsters.com, whose coat closet is pictured above, calls it a “jewelry box surprise” whenever she opens the door. For a bigger closet you might choose to just one wall as an accent. For more about Kyla’s closet, plus tips on how to wallpaper your own, visit House of Hipsters.

ACCENT YOUR BUILT-INS

Image:  Hilltown House

Who says your closet shelves and dividers have to be the same color as the walls? This is a great place to add a color that makes you happy and up your style game at the same time. For an elegant monochromatic color scheme with panache, try using a darker shade of the wall color.

CONSIDER YOUR PAINT FINISH

Image:  Painting Drive

Once you’ve chosen a color, be sure to think about the paint’s finish or sheen. In other words, how shiny the finished product will be. Flat finishes are, well, flat. A satin finish resists scuff marks, so it’s probably a better choice—especially for often-used closets. Semi-gloss is more reflective than satin, so it will help lighten up dark closets, and high-gloss offers maximum brightness.

Whatever color and finish you choose, if you decide you’d rather not DIY, contact us and we’ll have your closets looking fabulous in no time.

The post UPGRADE YOUR CLOSET WITH PAINT appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

BENJAMIN MOORE: OCTOBER MIST

Described as “evoking the silver-green stem of a flower,” October Mist is a “gently shaded sage” that provides a backdrop for “encouraging individual expression through color.” (And you thought it was just a pretty pale green, didn’t you?)

BETTER HOMES & GARDENS: LAUREL LEAF

BH&G’s slightly darker hue is also inspired by the plant world. They describe their dusty green as mimicking “the rejuvenating appeal of eucalyptus leaves” and tell us it “reflects a renewed desire to incorporate elements of nature into our homes.”

SHERWIN WILLIAMS: EVERGREEN FOG

If the first two don’t do it for you, how about this misty green? Described as “soothing, subtle, and a perfect shade to freshen up any space,” Evergreen Fog adds a hint of gray into the mix for a color that gives a nod to history but fits beautifully in a modern home.

PPG: OLIVE SPRIG

If you think you don’t like green, Olive Sprig may be the perfect choice for you. PPG describes it as “a midtone, neutral, lush green with an organic green undertone.” They suggest pairing it with soft rose tones. How pretty would that be?

GLIDDEN: GUACAMOLE

This is not your mama’s guacamole green. Glidden tells us, “This spirited yet soothing green brings an organic energy to any space, which is needed because we all know you’ve probably killed at least three plants this year.” True that.

BEHR: BREEZEWAY

Behr headed to the beach for a different nature-inspired hue, expressing peace and tranquility with this “relaxed and uplifting” shade of sea glass green. It reminds us of classic southern homes and, we’re told, “naturally harmonizes with shades of white, gray and natural wood tones for effortless style in any room.” Even in your breezeway.

When you’re ready to go green—or any other color of the rainbow—contact us to request a consultation. We’ll take care of the prep, paint and cleanup so the whole process is easy for you.

The post GO GREEN: 2022 COLORS OF THE YEAR appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

1.  Trim should always be white.

Not necessarily. Sure, white trim provides a nice, crisp edge—but what if that’s not what you want? Painting your trim a color can highlight architectural features (like the built-ins in the image above).

2.  Ceilings should always be white.

Nope. Painting the ceiling of a tall room a darker color than the walls—like charcoal or black—can add drama. Or try white walls with a brightly colored ceiling to show your playful side.

3.  You can’t paint walls and trim and ceiling the same color.

Says who? If you want something else to take center stage, matching your walls, trim, and built-ins will provide an even color palette that makes a perfect background for your favorite painting or snazzy sofa.

4.  Small rooms should be painted white or light colors.

Not really. Dark colors create a perception of depth as the walls appear to recede, which actually may make a small room bigger. Plus, if you’ve fallen in love with a wild, dark color  it might be better limited to a small space than taking over a big part of your house.

5.  Open-plan spaces should have the same color walls throughout.

They can, but they don’t have to. Just make sure the colors play well together and steer clear of more than one color on a continuous wall to avoid a choppy look.

Whether you decide to break the rules or paint by the book, here’s one thing you should always consider: Hire a professional to do the painting. We will do the prep, painting and cleanup and you’ll love the results. Request a consultation today.

The post 5 Painting “Rules” You Can (and Maybe Should) Break appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

1. Mustard Yellow

This color may not be for everyone but it truly is a great option for bringing in a new season! Think sun after a long winter! Additionally, this color will bring warmth and light into your home all year.

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2. Muted Green

The color green is essentially a symbol for the spring season because it hints at all the growth we see around us after winter frosts and leaf-less tress. What better way to ring in the arrival of spring than with an earthy and optimistic paint color!

________

3. Dusty Pink

We know pastels are an obvious choice for anything spring-related. But we love this shade of pink because it’s a relative of a classic pastel, but it has more depth and dimension. Plus, it can serve as a neutral shade for that favorite space in your home.

________

Looking for help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post Spring Paint Colors You’ll Love Year-Round appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

1. Think Pastel

2. Go Modern—in Black & White

3. Bold Navy

4. A Beige (Not Boring!) Background

Hopefully, this got your creative juices flowing and inspired you to make your laundry area a more fun place to be this spring. Happy cleaning!

Looking for help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post Spring Clean: Laundry Room Paint Inspiration appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

Pairing fresh paint with a textured surface already existing in your home can be the perfect combination. Think paneled walls, brick, tile, etc. that can provide additional balance or weight to the space.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few paint and texture combinations that we love:

1. Beige + Paneled Walls

2. White + Brick

3. Gray + A Pocket Door

4. Black + Window Trim

5. Dark Green + Built-In Shelving

Looking for help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post 5 Color + Texture Combos We Love appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.