So, you’ve decided to paint a room in your home. That’s great! A little color refresh can go a long way. You might have ideas already about the color, too. But a visit to your local paint or home improvement store wasn’t as fruitful as you thought. An exciting trip to buy paint turned into color overload and you are more confused than ever. What’s a do-it-yourselfer to do?
Choosing the right color is often the most difficult part of the process. Selecting a nice green for the bedroom, for example, is not as simple as you might think. There are lime greens, grayish greens, minty fresh hues, not to mention the forest green and emerald varieties, and all the shades in between. It’s enough to make you pass on the painting idea altogether. Don’t give up the painting dream. There is help!
Here are three tips to help simplify the process.
Consider the Room’s Function
The room’s function will often help select the appropriate color. Consider the activities – is it a place for the gathering of many, or a spot for solitude and down time? Does this area see high traffic, like a kitchen, foyer, or mud room? Or is it less traveled, like a home office or guest room? Think about how you wish to feel while spending time in this room. The right color can soothe, invigorate, and inspire. On the other hand, the wrong color can leave you feeling agitated and unsettled.
Bedrooms, for instance, are often where we prefer soothing colors. Lend a relaxing, comforting atmosphere by choosing restful tones to create a haven in which to relax. Gentle blues and greens are often a good choice, providing the perfect backdrop for draperies, bed linens, and other accessories.
The living room is often the place where family and friends gather, so you might prefer quiet hues such as a silvery gray, sandy beige, or creamy white as the host for those good memories. But then again, perhaps you’re looking for a color that makes a friendly yet bold statement, such as a rich crimson or a deep and striking violet.
Kitchens offer another opportunity to express your style with a splash of color. So many things happen in the kitchen too, so why not choose a color that makes you smile? A cheerful sunshine-y yellow or crisp navy blue might be the perfect complement to your cabinets and furniture.
Small bathrooms and powder rooms offer a myriad of fun possibilities, from clean whites and sky blues to the deeper tones of terra cotta or tropical hues. These shades can suit larger bathrooms as well, depending on its level of traffic and your desired theme. Whether purely functional, spa-like, or somewhere in between, your bathroom color can add a bit of personality to your home.
A secondary consideration in this regard is to assess the amount of light, natural and artificial, in the room. Windows, doors, and skylights play a part in how a color will look in a room. Does the room get early morning sun, mid or late day rays, or a little of each? The color’s true hue may be affected by some of these factors.
Grab Color Ideas from Other Sources
Color inspiration is not just limited to in store displays and paint swatches. Narrow down your choices by using other sources, such as pillows, draperies, artwork, and the like. Often these items have colorful print combinations from which to draw your palette. The blending of colors in these pieces can help you picture how the hues will come together in a room.
Nature is another great source for inspiring indoor color. Consider all of nature’s gorgeous hues, from earth to sky. Soil, rocks, and grass often offer us darker tones from which to build a palette. Trees and plants, oceans and other bodies of water share medium hues, while clouds and sky bring inspiration from the lighter spectrum.
It’s often recommended that we employ darker shades for flooring or area rugs, medium shades for walls, and light tones for ceilings. This of course, is simply a suggestion, but it can help select a pleasing look for any room. If you need help envisioning this concept, check out these Better Homes and Gardens color schemes to see how natural colors might suit your style.
Finally, Choose a Palette
Once you’ve done some research, finalize your color palette. Even if the walls are the only thing undergoing a change, don’t forget to consider any trim and crown moulding, as well as accessories such as furniture and bedding that will remain in the room. Your painting project will look polished and fresh with wall color and accessories that complement each other.
If this sounds overwhelming, don’t despair! There’s plenty of inspiration available, such as these Palette Design Tips at The Spruce or from the Find Your Color page courtesy of the helpful folks at Benjamin Moore. The experts at Real Simple are ready to assist you too, and weigh in with this slide show that illustrates great color combinations for your home. Still can’t picture the color on the wall? Glidden’s Room Visualizer can help you see what the color looks like on a bigger area.
Don’t forget to visit your local paint retailer for advice too; they often have designers or color specialists on staff to help you find the right shades. Help is available, so take advantage of it. A little input never hurts, especially if you’re on color overload.
The Benefits of Fresh Color
“Mere color can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.” Oscar Wilde
Fresh color brightens our days, bringing life and personality to our spaces. It’s a reflection of our unique style, and can create a warm and friendly haven for family and guests. So, don’t rush; take your time during the color selection process. You’ll most likely live with this color for a while, so make sure you’re happy with it. Think of it as a creative investment. The addition of color is a great way to boost the value for one of your most important assets, your home.
First Image: Pexels
Second Image: Pixabay