A survey and results of what truly influences us when making that all-important decision of "what color should I paint these walls?" - home improvement television, swatches, professionals...??

1. Home Improvement Television:
Its Influence on Residential Interior Wall Color
Tamara K. Van Tuyl
INDS749.OL MA Final Project
Master of Arts in Interior Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
Dr. Helena Moussatche
August 22,2010
Note: there is an audio component to this presentation

2. INTRODUCTION
INFLUENCE
COLOR
TELEVISION
INTERIORS
MEDIA
Television and home improvement television network logos. TV image retrieved from http://www.consumer-electronics-review.net; TLC logo
retrieved from http://technorati.com/entertainment/tv; HGTV logo retrieved from http://jasonhillaustin.com/2009; This Old House logo retrieved
from http://www.magazine.org/news; DIY Network logo retrieved from http://cablepalooza.com/networks2.cfm;

3. Research Questions
POPULARITY
=
INFLUENCE
Home improvement television
Paint color selection influences
Personal preferences
HOW DOES ALL THIS TIE TOGETHER?
…OR, DOES IT?
Figure sitting in question; retrieved from http://jehanara.wordpress.com/2009/06/.

4. Research Questions
COLOR INFLUENCES
CULTURE
EXPERIENCES
MEDIA
PROFESSIONALS
Color preference is subjective and
complicated.
Color influence comes from many things
historical and current, and from many
experiences and events.
Paint fan decks; retrieved from http://thebenjaminmoorestore.com/store

5. Research Questions
• Color psychology, theory, and meanings
• Color in medicine
• Color and place
• Personal Influences
• Color and design industry media
• Television media
Figure sitting in question; retrieved from http://jehanara.wordpress.com/2009/06/.

6. Color history Psychology Theory Meanings
Color is variable among all individuals. It is
subjective and personalized in nature.
• Max Lüscher, “Lüscher Test”
• Patrick Syme, “Nomenclature of Colors”
• Lars Sivik, Color-word associations
• Ceilings, walls, floors = sky, foliage, earth
Prism in nature; retrieved and adapted from http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2007/10/24/prism.
Gage, J. (1999). Color and meaning: Art, Science, Symbols. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Rompilla, E. (2005). Color for Interior Design. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

7. Existing Research
• Differences among cultures
• Wall color changes in a room positively
influenced student performance and self-worth
• Wall color changes in healthcare settings
proved to lower anxiety levels
• Experiences shape preferences
“Bratty kid that I was, I couldn’t imagine how this
worldly exposure to colors, cultures, regions, and
realms would shape my personal aesthetic point
of view.” - Barry Dixon, Interior Designer
Globe; retrieved from http://www.clker.com/clipart-2172.html;
Barry Dixon quote: Coleman, B.D., (2008). Barry Dixon Interiors. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith.

8. Literature
• Few empirical resources located regarding
home improvement television and paint color
• Good empirical resources from field of
Environmental Psychology
• Non-academic resources led to research
methodology: participatory experience
• Print media resources show cross-promotion of
themes and focuses of television programs
• Research on home improvement television
drivers: risk, thrift, taste.
Books and literature; retrieved from http://www.wayfaring.info.

9. Literature – Inspiration to Research
INCLUSIVE FACTORS FOR RESEARCH
• Personal color preferences
• Personal color influences
• Experiences with color and places
• Understanding color and emotion
• Discover new areas for future research
Book featured in article about gender and early childhood color influences.
Book: Pink Brain Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grown Into Troublesome Gaps – and What We Can Do About It, by L. Eliot, Ph.D., 2009;
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: New York, USA.

10. Paint Manufacturer Literature
INFLUENCE
COLOR
TELEVISION
INTERIOR
MEDIA
Sherwin Williams 2011 Color Forecast, from top right, clockwise: Purely Refined, Restless Nomad, Bold Invention, Gentle Medley
Retrieved from http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/paint_colors/explore/paint_color_trends/2011/

11. Paint color & TV: is there a link?
•50+ home improvement programs on 6+ networks
•Residential interior finishes affect almost every
occupant in every home
•Paint color is affordable, accessible, and simple
•Need to understand deeper design applicability of
TV programming to interior design and décor.
Chain links; retrieved from http://www.ok.gov/homeland

12. Methodology: Participatory Experience
•Researcher become non-industry professional
consumer looking for influences for paint colors.
•Resources: books, magazines, websites.
•Findings, from least helpful to most helpful:
•Personal opinions, no images
•Promotion of personalities, little on paint color
•TV program-titled books, quick and simple
references, tips, and tricks.
•Paint manufacturer articles and resources
discussing all things “color.”
STIR magazine, professional publication by Sherwin-Williams;
Retrieved fromhttp://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/services/architects_designers/

13. Methodology: Survey
Inquiries within the survey
•Basic demographics
•Experience with paint color selection
•Colors used and preferred
•Satisfactory and unsatisfactory experience
•Cultural influences
•Experience with an industry professional
•Forms of media used for paint color influence
•Ranking of successful and unsuccessful media
used for paint color selection.
•TV program theme and focus preferences
Figure taking survey
Retrieved from http://www.phha.mlanet.org/blog/

14. Outcomes and Findings
Despite popularity, television is the LEAST influential
of media sources for paint color selection help.
Question: Of the following
media sources that you might
use for influence, which do
you find is the most
successful in helping achieve
a satisfactory color?
Question: Of the following
media sources that you might
use for influence, which do
you find is the least
successful in helping achieve
a satisfactory color?
Figures 1 and 2: Comparison of most influential (top)to least influential (lower) media sources regarding paint color selection.
Adapted from results from Summary Report of “Color Selection: How Do YOU Choose?”by T. K. Van Tuyl, 2010.

15. Outcomes and Findings
Magazines are the most preferred option of media sources to
consult for paint color options.
Question: When thinking about selecting a paint color, which of these
media sources do you refer to for any influence? Select all that apply.
Figure 3: Preference, from greatest to least, in media sources for influence of paint color.
Adapted from results from Summary Report of “Color Selection: How Do YOU Choose?”by T. K. Van Tuyl, 2010.

16. Outcomes and Findings
Clearly stated: Television programs not
helpful with paint color selections
Question: Of
television programs
that discuss paint
color, which of the
following focuses do
you find most
influential and
helpful to you for
your own projects?
Figure 4: Influences regarding focus of television media program.
Adapted from results from Summary Report of “Color Selection: How Do YOU Choose?”by T. K. Van Tuyl, 2010.

17. Outcomes and Findings
Light Neutrals are favorites, and rated highest as satisfactory
and unsatisfactory paint color experiences.
UNSATISFACTORY Possibilities:
•Broadest range of colors
•Difficulty finding exact shade
•May take multiple efforts
SATISFACTORY Possibilities:
•Broad range of colors
•Serve as complimentary or
background to larger, more
permanent and costly elements
•“Safe”, as research suggests
WHY FAVORITE?
“Provided a “positive emotion
(calm, happy, restful, energy)”
Living Room from movie set, “The Holiday”
Retrieved from http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2008/11/step-down-living-rooms.html

18. Limitations
•Time and cost
•Lack of available data from
TV networks
•Limited academic resources
on the specific topic
•Lack of time and cost to
perform personal, in-depth
study via interview method
•Lack of control of recipient
response rate
Collaboration and evaluation
Retrieved from http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/services/architects_designers.

19. Future Exploration
Contributions
Because personal preference is just that – personal preference – there is a vast
array of directions and aspects to consider for research and evaluation.
•Personal preferences and influences
•Other residential interior elements
•Design industry:
•Client consultation
•Resources for client
•Resources for profession
•Paint industry:
•marketing
•innovation
•Media industry:
•marketing
•production
•Publication
Mosaic floor, inspiration
Retrieved from http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/services/architects_designers.

20. References from literature
Coleman, B.D., (2008). Barry Dixon Interiors. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith.
L. Eliot, Ph.D., (2009). Pink Brain Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grown Into
Troublesome Gaps – and What We Can Do About It, by; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: New
York, USA.
Gage, J. (1999). Color and meaning: Art, Science, Symbols. Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press.
Rompilla, E. (2005). Color for Interior Design. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Rosenberg, B.C. (2008). Property and home-makeover television: Risk, thrift, and taste.
Journal of Media & Cultural Studies 22 (4), 505-513.
L. Sandler, Code Pink, Mother Jones 34, no5, 2009

21. References from images and figures
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/services/architects_designers
http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2008/11/step-down-living-rooms.html
http://www.phha.mlanet.org/blog
http://www.ok.gov/homeland
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/paint_colors/explore/paint_color_trends/2011
http://www.wayfaring.info
http://www.clker.com/clipart-2172.html
http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2007/10/24/prism
http://jehanara.wordpress.com/2009/06
http://jehanara.wordpress.com/2009/06
http://www.consumer-electronics-review.net
http://technorati.com/entertainment/tv
http://jasonhillaustin.com/2009
http://www.magazine.org/news
http://cablepalooza.com/networks2.cfm
http://thebenjaminmoorestore.com/store