The art of choosing Paint Colors:
Updated: Aug 18, 2021
A good and economical way to upgrade the look of a home is applying color to its walls.
When choosing colors for your home is important to take into consideration different factors:
· How much natural light the interior receive.
· Are there large Windows? How many?
· Are the ceilings high or low ceilings?
· Are there any architectural features that deserve to be the focus of attention (columns, mantel,fireplace, archs, etc)
· Are there any kids and,or pets?
· Is the home contemporary, traditional, transitional?
· What color/type are the floors (Wood, carpet, laminate, ceramic, tile)
· What is the look you want to achieve? (cozy, modern, minimalist, cool, zen, etc)
· What is the style of furniture you own or will purchase.
· What colors are you drawn to (favorite colors)
After answering all these questions, we can head to the Paint store or call a profesional to help us choosing some samples.
Samples are very important because they will give you an idea of how the color will look. I always recommend to buy a quart of paint and apply the color to a large piece of cardboard or a section of the Wall ( about 36” x 24”), then isolate the color with newspaper or brown paper around will help you appreciate the color better without the influence of any other color on the Wall.
Painting different places on the Wall is also important because the color will vary with the light and from room to room.
I know for experience that some colors are very tricky (blue is one of them) so make sure that you live with the samples on the walls on different times of the day and also you want see how the color will show in different places before you commit to it. You do not want to live with a color you dont like!
Some colors are very neutral and they go well with almost everything, examples of these colors are taupes, greys and some light greens.
You can be more adventurous and add more color with bright greens, blues, oranges and turquoises, more drama with dark greens and deep purples or more serene with some light greys, creams, whites, and light blues (be careful when you choose a light blue color, some of them tend to look like a baby boy room)
Accent walls are another way to créate a contrast and add some drama and excitiment to a room.
Another good method I’ve use in some clients homes is carrying the same color in different tones, good examples are the Liveable Green and Softened Green from Sherwin Williams, these colors play well from each other and they will go with many other colors or with coordinated colors in their palette.
The truth is do not be afraid to play with colors and add them to your home, professionals are there to help you avoid mistakes. Computer programs are also a good way to help us have an idea of how the color will look in the room; places like the paint department at Home Depot or websites like Benjamin Moore have these programs to play with them!
It is also good to know that paint comes in different finishes (matte or flat, eggshell, semi gloss and gloss) water base and oil base. I usually only use water base because is easy to apply and clean. I will go for a matte finish in areas like living room, bedrooms, hallways; an eggshell finish for kitchens and bathrooms and semi gloss for cabinets and wood trims.
The theme of color in Interior Design is very extensive, Im trying to be precise and give you some helpful tips I’ve learned through the years.
Happy painting!
· References:
www.interiordec.about.com/od/color
Pinterest.
· Books and articles:
House Beautiful, Colors for your Home.
Farrow and Ball, How to Decorate.
Interior Design by John F. Pile (Chapter ten. Color)