Heard of The Color Library? A few months ago, Boysen unveiled a new and exciting concept store, The Color Library. It’s a collection of 1,320 paint colors arranged on shelves ready for visitors to browse. If you haven’t been yet, you definitely should! It’s a novel way to experience color and paint (and just a few steps away from the also recently opened IKEA).
As it is a “library,” the paint color samples are called “Colorbooks.” Today, we’re going to learn about them and how they can help you take home the perfect paint color for your project.
What are Colorbooks
The Colorbooks represent each of the 1,320 paint colors in The Color Library collection. Think of it as a paint swatch—only this time the paint isn’t on paper.
The Colorbooks are made of thick-cut MDF boards that have been properly prepped and primed to make sure the color painted comes out correctly. You can pull them out of the shelves, hold them in your hands, and examine them closely so you can admire the beautiful paint color.
Each Colorbook is coated in one color with Boysen Permacoat in a semi-gloss finish. You can learn more about this paint product here including where in your home it’s best used, such as interior concrete walls. The paint color’s name, color code, and other important details to note are found on the label of the Colorbook printed on the front, back, and spine.
How the Colorbooks are Arranged on the Shelves
One look at The Color Library and you know the Colorbooks take center stage thanks to the huge shelves that dominate the store. There are five in total and Boysen artists have thoughtfully arranged the Colorbooks on these shelves. Just like how books in a bookstore are arranged by genre, Colorbooks are arranged by color groups to make it easy for you to find what you’re looking for.
The largest shelf, located on the leftmost wall when you enter the store, contains neutrals—whites, off-whites, creams, beiges, and browns. Great for those who like the Scandinavian style or #TeamPuti look.
The four other shelves contain the brighter, more colorful hues available arranged according to brightness and color. For example, the shelf next to the neutrals one on the adjacent wall houses the reds, oranges, and yellows. The one next to that has the greens and blues. Simple!
How to Read the Label on the Colorbooks
As mentioned, the label on each of the Colorbooks contains important info. Let’s break it down to three key things:
1. Color Name and Code
These are printed on the front and back of the Colorbook. Take note of these if you’re planning to use the color for a project. The Color Library can mix the paint color for you in 200 mL and 1L containers. If you need more of it, you can show the color name and code to a Boysen Mix and Match station (list of locations here) and get the paint color mixed in larger amounts.
2. Possible Disclaimers
There may or may not be a disclaimer regarding the hue painted onto the Colorbook. What does this mean? Sometimes, certain colors such as bright yellows and deep reds require a colored primer. Regular white-hued primers just won’t do the trick! This information is essential if you’re planning to use a paint color that needs a colored primer. It makes sure that the finished, painted wall looks exactly how it’s shown on the Colorbook.
3. Shelf Location
Turn the Colorbook on its side and on the spine you’ll find numbers that act as a sort of Dewey Decimal System for The Color Library. The roman number at the top indicates which shelf a particular Colorbook belongs to. The letter on the left side indicates the Colorbook’s row, and the number on the right indicates its column placement. This makes it easier for our color consultants to return books in their proper places.
Seeing if a Boysen Paint Color is in The Color Library
Not all of Boysen’s colors are available via Colorbooks. The Color Library may contain 1,320 paint colors but there are thousands more in the Boysen archives. If you’re familiar with the Boysen paint color fan decks, the hues in The Color Library come from the Boysen Color Palette, Boysen Medley, Boysen Series G, Boysen Color Series, and a few from our annual Color Trend colors.
If you’ve taken a particular liking to a Boysen paint color (maybe you stumbled on it in the Boysen app!) and aren’t sure if it’s in The Color Library collection, don’t worry. Aside from asking one of the wonderful Color Consultants, you can also make use of the tablets and screens provided in-store to check. First, choose “The Library” button on the home page. Scroll down the bottom and you’ll find the “Search” option and type away! If the color you chose is among the 1,320 colors of the store, it’ll definitely show up there.
And, that’s everything you need to know about the Colorbooks at The Color Library! Now all that’s left is to visit the store and put your newfound knowledge to good use. See you there! Visit The Color Library at MOA Square, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. For inquiries, email ask@myboysen.com or call the Boysen hotline at (02) 8363-9738.
