Color Consultant Jobs
What do you know about colors? Have you ever tried to choose a color to paint a room? Can you really tell the difference between Smurf Blue and Utah Sky or Sunburst and Spicy Orange or Glacier White and Snow Dust? Every color manufacturer has thousands of colors to choose from. How do you even know where to begin? A color consultant can help you choose the best colors for you.
Color consultants are color experts. They work with clients to help them choose the best colors for their home or business. Colors will have a direct effect on how you feel, think, and act. It’s important to consider what colors you want around you on a daily basis – especially when that expensive paint job will last for years!
Colors are basically another form of communication. Every color affects you differently. The colors you see every day have a direct impact on your mood, experience, buying habits, creativity, and so much more. The psychology of colors is big business, but it also plays a role in your home and requires careful consideration. You can’t just go into the paint store and pick any color at random. You need to consider how you’re going to use the room, how that room will make you feel, and how colors will affect you.
Color consultants understand how people respond to color, but they also understand how people want to feel in their home. They can transform boring white walls into brilliant, creativity inspiring offices or warm and friendly dining rooms. It’s all about mixing and matching colors with people.
Typically, a color consultant will schedule a meeting with a client first by phone and then at their home or work space. They will discuss how the space will be used and then will determine what colors will make the client happy, engaged, creative, hungry, etc. Based on the home’s layout they will formulate a color plan that they can present to their client.
Color consultants can choose timeless colors, modern colors, or unique colors. It’s all about what the client wants. They help to pick colors for accent walls, trim, carpets, finishes, and exteriors. They must consider contrasting and complimentary colors that help the home flow and be in balance. Ideally their color choices will inspire the client.
To become a color consultant you must be a color expert. This means understanding the the power of colors, color trends, psychology, design theory, and visual effects. Unfortunately, if you’re color blind, color consulting might not be the right niche for you.
Most professional color consultants have a background in interior design, visual arts, or design. Although no formal training is necessary, years of experience studying color, layouts, and design is important. There is specific training available and many color consultants will earn a color consultant certification from a color company or association. If you choose to be a color consultant and interior designer, you may be required to have a degree and a license too.
The majority of color consultants find jobs with paint stores or color consultant firms. Color consultants are paid per project or hourly. Hourly rates can range between $15 and $200 per hour. Annual salaries can be $40,000 to $149,000 per year. Pay depends on employer, clientele, location, experience, and other factors.
Take a look around you right now. How do the colors that you see make you feel? If you have an eye for color, then you should pursue a job as a color consultant.
Quick Facts About Color Consultants
Job Title: Color Consultant
Office: Homes and Businesses
Description: Help clients select the best color combinations for their home or business
Certifications/Education: Color Consultant Certification
Necessary Skills: Understand the psychology of colors, Able to choose colors, Design background
Potential Employers: Color Consultant Firms, Paint Shops
Pay: $15 to $200 per hour