DETERMINE THE COMPASS direction that your room is facing so you can determine the impact of natural light. If the room is South facing then you can use deeper, saturated tones. Prime your wall with KILZ primer and then use a flat satin paint to give the room depth.

A room facing the North may need more lightness, especially on overcast days. White in a North facing room will tend to take on a gray tone. Use a "warm" color such as reds and golds. You can also dramatize a North facing window with a darker shade, but it needs to work well with the window frame trim and window coverings.

Always, always try the color in small sections around the room and do not commit to the color until you have seen it at all times during the day and night. I always advise my clients that as the sun is moving outdoors the color is prone to dramatic changes. The night light color should work the best. After you have lived with color on your walls you may not care for white or Navajo walls ever again! I find many clients are "afraid" to try color! It is so cozy and wonderful feeling once you go down that path.

I always recommend choosing family room colors in deep cozy shades like a cocoa brown. Kitchens works well with yellows, reds or greens. Some designers prefer to match up kitchen colors with foods like butter yellow or deep wine.

It is believed to paint bathrooms in pastels and soothing colors, but I have seen dramatic colors works just as well due to all the white fixtures, tile, sinks and floors (usually in a neutral tile). For ceilings it is preferred to use a lighter shade than the walls instead of the stark whites. For really high ceilings in Las Vegas I recommend using a color slightly darker than the walls to "cozy" up the room. You can always have fun experimenting to see what you prefer best. Remember, it is only paint and any mistakes can be remedied rather easily and inexpensively, depending on the cost of the paint.

Consy is a colorist in Las Vegas and the Seattle area. Check her website at www.insideoutfs.com.