Picking a paint color is one of the toughest design decisions because walls are like a blank canvas that set the tone of your living space. Color has the ability to transform the look of a room, making it seem larger or smaller, and can be the perfect backdrop for your furniture and decor.
Choosing the right paint color for any room in your home doesn't have to be a difficult decision. Here are some tips and points to consider when painting the walls in your home.
Choosing the right paint color for any room in your home doesn't have to be a difficult decision. Here are some tips and points to consider when painting the walls in your home.
Basic Color Tips
- Before you consider any specific color, think about the mood that you want to set in the room you're painting. Are you looking for a space that is energizing and uplifting or calming and peaceful? This will greatly impact your color choice.
- Choose colors that reflect your personality. You want your home to be a space that reflects your unique lifestyle and preferences.
- In general, light colors make rooms seem larger and more airy, while dark colors give a room a more intimate appearance due to their warm hues.
- Try to limit the number of colors in a room. By choosing no more than three or four colors per room, you'll keep the space from feeling busy and cluttered.
- Take the color of the flooring, furnishings, and decor into consideration before choosing a color. Do they all go together well?
- Not all paint colors look good on a large scale, and paint swatches are usually small. Try painting a potential paint choice on a large poster board so you can get an idea of how it looks on a larger plain without having to paint over it if you decide you don't like it.
- The temperature of a color impacts how you experience it. Cooler hues promote feelings of calm, while warmer hues are great for gathering spaces because they tend to give off an energetic vibe.
- Accent colors on the ceiling, trim, and woodwork can make architectural details stand out or blend in depending on their color.
- As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter in color than walls feel more expansive, while ceilings that are darker feel lower.
- Don't be afraid to experiment. Paint is fairly inexpensive and can be changed or covered, so have fun with your ideas!
Blue
Blue is typically considered a calming color that promotes relaxation, and is well suited for bedrooms and bathrooms. Some blues can come across as too stark and cool, so if you choose a light blue as the main color in a room, make sure to balance it with other warm hues throughout the space.
Warmer blues can be great for areas where a lot of socializing occurs, like living rooms or family rooms. Try choosing a soft shade of turquoise or periwinkle for these spaces.
Warmer blues can be great for areas where a lot of socializing occurs, like living rooms or family rooms. Try choosing a soft shade of turquoise or periwinkle for these spaces.
Neutrals
Neutrals such as black, gray, white, and brown are very flexible and make a great backdrop for colorful furniture and decor. Adding color to neutrals via decorative accents makes a room feel lively, while keeping only neutral colors in a room tends to make it feel calm.
Red
As the most intense color, red can really pump up the energy level of a room. It's a wonderful color choice for a living room or dining room because people generally gather together in these areas.
It's also a good pick for an entryway if you want to make a bold first impression. Red is often considered too stimulating for a bedroom, but if you're only planning to be in the room while it is dark outside, the color can seem elegant and intimate.
It's also a good pick for an entryway if you want to make a bold first impression. Red is often considered too stimulating for a bedroom, but if you're only planning to be in the room while it is dark outside, the color can seem elegant and intimate.
Orange
Orange is the perfect color for an exercise room because it brings forth feelings of excitement and can increase energy levels. It may be a bit bright for a bedroom or living room, but is perfect in any space that needs an infusion of energy.
Purple
When seen in dark shades, purple evokes a sense of drama and sophistication, while lighter shades bring a restful quality to a room. Bedrooms and bathrooms that are painted purple can bring forth feelings of luxury or peace depending on the shade and tone.
Yellow
Yellow is known as a happy, joyful color. Because of its cheeriness, it's great in kitchens, offices, and dining rooms and can even make hallways, entries, and other small spaces feel inviting and expansive.
Green
Green is a great color for almost any room in a home because it combines the joy of yellow and the serenity of blue. Green can cool down a room and promote rest and relaxation while also providing enough warmth to stimulate gathering spaces like living rooms.
