Colors have the ability to evoke emotions and change our attitudes. They can inspire and motivate us to try something new and bold. They can alter our moods and appetites; even make a room feel small and cramped, or large and spacious.

If you plan to redecorate a few rooms this year, the right color choices can make all the difference in the feeling you’re trying to achieve. Better yet, it’s one of the simplest and most affordable decor changes you can make. Not sure which colors to choose? Here is one of the best color palette for home interiors, according to the Pantone Color Institute:

In Praise of Gray

Current trends have featured grays for a few years and we see grays as a key color for paint, home textiles, and interiors. And second only to blue as the most popular color for menswear. Above all, grays serve as the perfect neutral base to work with all other colors.

Often described as a color of scarce emotion, Gray is actually full of meaningful nuances. It is an eclectic but objective color from its coldest hues close to white to its deepest charcoal tones close to black. Gray is like a canvas, which allows you to paint to your heart’s content. It is also the non-perceptible color of nature suggestive of misty fogs, extreme landscapes, and unreachable horizons.

Do you love the idea of gray but worry about the coldness of most gray colors? Try out our new Lifeline Ultra-7 in Eucalyptus or Rustic Gray colors, they are absolutely stylish! Get free exterior wood finish samples here.

If you love your browns more than grays, but still want a hint of that rustic look, try these trendiest new colors in our Lifeline Interior stain collection.

From colors to textures, we’ve got the scoop on which color trends are going strong and we would like you to know about them. We design eye-catching colors in many diverse tones that have the power to transform the entire ambience of your exteriors and interiors.

If you’d like some guidance for a more substantial home restoration, or you’re interested in trying a new color this year, please reach out today 1-800-548-3554. Just pick your colors and order FREE samples to try it on your wood. Custom colors are available upon request. 

It’s time to evoke emotions!

COLOR CHOICES FOR LOG OR TIMBER INTERIORS

When it comes to log and timber homes, grays and browns are the biggest trending colors, as they offer the widest neutral tones. Gray has been the hot shade for the past several years in homes, from walls to floors.

True to its “neutral” title, gray really goes with almost any color. The key to a great match lies in coordinating the tones. Gray doesn’t have to appear in your palette as a color of the wall – it can also be found in a fireplace exterior, flooring, or on countertops. When you add gray to any room, be sure to consider other shades of gray that might already be there.

“To find the best shade, you need to consider which direction your room faces, what time of day you will be in there, the prevailing weather (even the hemisphere makes a difference), and last of all, the actual shade you like,” says Kate Watson-Smyth, who wrote the book on decorating with gray, Shades of Grey.

Our Lifeline Interior color collection can complement or contrast any paint you chose for your drywalls. Our interior grays combined with natural warm tones of wood will add a beautiful style to any room in your home. But grays aren’t the only option, and some people prefer other colors. That is why our standard library of color has the most colors available on the market, as well as virtually unlimited custom colors.

Butternut

Caramel

Midnight

Autumn Gold

Azure

Oak

Almond

Dark Honey

Newport

Cedar

Garnet

Cinnabar

Wheat

Chestnut

Natural

Bordeaux

Smoke

Black Walnut

Eucalyptus

Sequoia

Espresso

Hazelnut

Rustic Gray

Charcoal

Bronze

Sand

Umber

Walnut

Driftwood

Spruce

Evergreen

Stone Gray

Gentry Gray

Jade

Beachwood

Forest

Barn Gray

Fern

Classic Brown

Pickled White

Clear 110

Butternut 154

Light Honey 112

Dark Honey 122

Light Natural 120

Dark Natural 130

Hazelnut 170

Cinnamon 174

Walnut 165

Driftwood 161

Stone Gray 163

Gentry Gray 142

Pickled White 150

Seagull 152

If you’re concerned that gray would be too cold for your space, beige colors or soft whites could be the answer. The easiest way to make a room feel bigger is by opting for lighter stains, particularly with gloss or satin finishes that create the appearance of even more space by relfecting light.

Keeping With The Trends

PCS designs eye-catching colors in many diverse tones that have the power to transform the entire ambience of a home. And the best part – you don’t have to mix anything – just order free samples to try, and then pick your colors.

And if you are looking to upgrade the wall paint in your house, The Property Brothers have some thoughts for you when it comes to paint colors.

On a “Condo Dreams” episode of HGTV’s Property Brothers: Buying and Selling, Drew and Jonathan Scott are not pleased when they see two colors gracing the walls in the client home – red and yellow.

“Yellow walls don’t really sell these days,” Jonathan quipped on the show, implying that Roseanne could likely fetch a better selling price if she repainted her walls a different hue. Perhaps an even worse offender than yellow, however, is red. At one point in the episode Jonathan warns that they have to “get rid of that angry ’90s red wall.” Read more about paint color choices.

Would you like to know what colors will be trending in the future? Better Homes and Gardens announces new color trends from the major paint companies. 

No matter what color palette you choose, we can make custom color stains and finishes for you. Call 1-800-548-3554 or email techservice@permachink.com

Photos by Honest Abe Log Homes

The inside of a home is where you do most of your living. As such, it’s important to take time to select the right interior stains and finishes for your log and timber home. You will achieve an interior that is visually pleasing and performs well for years when a proper stain is chosen.

Two Traits

When it comes to interior finishes, there are two phenomena that homeowners tend to overlook.

1. Surprising surface area. Interior walls and ceilings dramatically increase the amount of surface area that requires treatment. Generally there is about twice as much stainable surface on the interior than the exterior. You’ll be looking at the results of your interior stain for years to come throughout your entire home, so choose wisely.

2. Choices, choices, and more choices! During a new build, homeowners are faced with hundreds of decision points along the way, often with details unfamiliar to them. It’s common for homeowners to ask the general contractor (GC) for advice. Many GCs typically recommend a “safe” off-white color, but that doesn’t always translate well with the natural logs in a cabin. A GC wants to stay on schedule, but selecting your interior stain takes a little time. You can’t easily undo stain.

What’s Your Color?

When selecting the perfect interior stain for your log home, consider how you use your space and the atmosphere you want to create. Is your home filled with natural light? Do you lean towards cozy dark walls with a lighter ceiling, or do you prefer a bright and airy ambiance with lighter walls? Keep in mind that wood absorbs light, so a darker stain can make a room appear significantly darker than you might expect.

Next, think about the tint base. Do you favor shades of brown, red, gray, or perhaps a bleached look? Wood stain trends come and go, so it’s essential to explore your options and choose a tint that you’ll love for years to come. Remember, it’s easier to darken a light stain than to lighten a dark one.

Distinct Needs

Not all interior wood is the same. Logs and heavy timbers are not like the wood of cabinets, moldings, and furniture. These smaller wood products are usually sprayed with nitrocellulose lacquer to protect them through a hard, shiny finish. Unlike cabinets, tables and trim, larger timbers and logs are more dynamic. If you try and put a similar lacquer on your interior log walls, the finish will crack and peel as these larger pieces of wood naturally contract and expand. A specialized finish for logs will ensure the interior looks the best for years to come.

Some homeowners wonder if the interior can go “au naturel” and keep the wood plain with no stain or topcoat. While interior logs may not be subjected to the same elements as their external counterparts, unfinished logs and timbers will absorb cooking oil and odors and collect dust, handprints, and water stains if not protected. Have you ever run your hand across rough-cut wood? The roughness of the wood is not very pleasant to feel. All those little crags and jags on the surface need to be covered in a light film; one that’s strong enough to be wiped down and protect the wood while remaining flexible enough to not crack as the log expands, shifts, and contracts over time.

Choose a stain that’s designed for the demands of a log home interior. Exterior stains contain higher levels of biocides and preservatives that you don’t need or want inside your home, especially where you’re eating and sleeping. This is also why you want to avoid an oil-based stain. Oil-based products have high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are extremely unhealthy in enclosed spaces.

Smart & Attractive

Start with a stain that gives you the aesthetic and exact level of transparency you desire. Here at Perma-Chink Systems, we recommend using one of our Lifeline Interior stains, which come in a wide array of tones, including clear. After staining, add one or two clear coats of interior finish; Lifeline Acrylic or Sure Shine, a water-based poly finish. Both add enough film to protect your logs and minimize the roughness of logs so they can be easily wiped and cleaned. Lifeline Acrylic and Sure Shine come in gloss or satin. Sure Shine is strong enough to withstand foot traffic, and an excellent alternative to wood floors than smelly and caustic oil-based floor coatings.

These stains also contain the right amount of UV protection to avoid “picture framing.” Picture framing is the shadowy discoloration that remains on the wall when you move a bookshelf or a picture. After all, your stain should let you redecorate your log home whenever you want! Perma-Chink interior stains and finishes will ensure that the inside of your log home is just as breathtaking and gorgeous as the outside.

To order free color samples, visit our online store here or call us to discuss custom colors at 1-800-548-3554.