I put a lot of faith and confidence into what the virtual paint programs can show us. Most everyone here knows I'm not talking about color accuracy in the virtual painters. To the point of ad nausem, I keep repeating that the color you see on your monitor isn't anything like in-real-life color. What the virtual programs can do for us is help us see color relationships -- and to a great extent help us manage proportion of color. Granted we are not able to view with accuracy specific paint colors, but we can successfully see and experience different colors at the basic level of hue. Hue and color do not mean the same thing, btw. They are not interchangeable terms and this case of virtuals is a perfect example of why it's important to understand HOW the term hue differs from the term color. Hue is the term we use to describe the general characteristic of a color. Like, red, blue, green, yellow, etc. Hue is just one part of color. The term color is more descriptive and considers all the *parts* that make up a color. The term color is inclusive of the more complex details that make one color unique from all other colors. Things like bright or grayed, and light and dark. Thru a virtual we can see how some version of a blue works with some version of a red. We can get a feel for how that color relationship will look and feel in a three-dimensional room. Even if the virtual can't show us the fine nuances that make Ralph Lauren's Club Navy the color Club Navy or show us that Hunting Coat has a cool, blue undertone, we can still get a sense of how the two hues of blue and red look together used in a particular way and in a specific context. (Context meaning you virtually paint a digital picture of your own room or one of the generic rooms from the paint programs.) If your virtual is showing you something that looks good and feels right, I'm not clear why you shouldn't trust your own instincts and what you're seeing in the virtual. There are several products on the market that will deliver a saturated red or blue in two coats - three coats at most. Aura from Ben Moore is one example. In this day and age, it shouldn't take any longer or cost that much more to paint a room or wall red than it does to paint it beige. Provided top paint brands and grades of paint are chosen for the project. Using cheap paint is a mistake. Same with painting over the colors when the time comes.

Yeah I heard about WI teachers and other state workers today on the news. Not sure what you think, but if taking a deduction helped keep my state from going belly up, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But that's just me, I look at the big picture and figure that doing the right thing now might hurt me a little bit financially, but in the long run it might just keep me from having no job at all. Less money for chocolate now is so much better than the possibility of no money for chocolate later. Dianalo, just do your taxes early, then don't worry and be happy. My cousins 25th anniversary was on 9-11-01. She was so excited about it, but called me saying she was so mixed about celebrating after what happened that fateful day. I told her there was nothing wrong with celebrating their love, in fact that day needed all the love it could get. We do the same thing with Christmas although my hubby always sneaks and gets me a little something. Like this year a web cam for my computer because our daughter had just left for S.Korea for a year so we can Skype. I guess I bought one for him too. LOL Funny how I didn't remember buying it. Yes, back to the room....I'd suggest grabbing a level after you make a few dots because you'll want the actual trim to be installed level.

dekr8, I have not taken the plunge yet. I am contemplating the suggestions here and I think I am leaning toward a deeper ble/terra cotta combination. I have been on the lookout for bedding, hoping that maybe I would be inspired but have only seen navy blue comforters. I am thinking I might wait to start the project until summer and hope that as back-to-college sales begin I might see more choices in twin size bedding. In addition, DH and I are talking about buying him new furniture. I'd love to hear everyone's opinion about wood color. I love oak for a boys room because it is pretty sturdy but I wonder about the color against a terra cotta. Any thoughts on furniture color?

Order the free samples, and if you are considering room darkening/blackout, order those too. They are different colors. I ordered cellular shades. They had a couple of shades of bright white/blue white, which were actually too blue/gray for my bright white paint (BM white). Sometimes my paint looks blue and sometimes yellow. So you really need the samples of the exact actual fabrics, preferably not in a book, so you can hold them up to the window and let the light shine through. Order all sample shades from white to cream, and try a couple of subtle patterns. They are all different and you may prefer a greige variation rather than a cream variation. My white roller shades were actually cream. The cellular shades had a lot more white color options. I think it's risky to try to match the white exactly. There are times when it won't match. You need the samples to decide what is acceptable with regard to variation. I have a white patterned cellular shade in the bedroom which is not the same color as the white paint, but it looks like it is close and it goes fine with the paint. Sometimes a subtle texture/pattern can make the pairing for forgiving. Another thing to consider is will the fabric discolor over time.