The right paint colors can revamp and rejuvenate your living space, creating the atmosphere you envision. Whether you’re trying to create a cozy bedroom, a vibrant kitchen, or a calming living room, it’s possible to achieve it with the perfect palette.
In this guide, we’ll be sharing ten expert tips to help you navigate the world of paint colors with confidence.
10 Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Paint Colors
Analyzing the Room’s Lighting
Most people don’t realize that lighting plays a crucial role in how paint colors appear in a room. Different light sources can dramatically alter the perception of colors, which is why you need to consider both natural and artificial lighting when selecting your paint color.
As natural light changes throughout the day, paint colors may appear with a different hue. For instance, morning sunlight tends to be cooler and bluer, while evening light is warmer and more golden. This variation can make paint colors appear different at various times.
With this in mind, it’s important to understand that rooms with north-facing windows receive cooler, more consistent light, which you may want to balance out with warmer paint colors. On the other hand. south-facing rooms get warmer light, which can be balanced out with cooler paint tones.
Using Color to Influence Perception of Space
Light colors tend to make rooms feel larger and more open. When you paint walls in soft whites or pale blues, you can visually expand smaller spaces. These airy tones reflect more light, giving the illusion of more space.
On the other hand, dark colors make rooms feel cozier and more intimate. Deep blues and rich burgundies can also add warmth to oversized spaces. They create a sense of enclosure that’s perfect for large living rooms or spacious bedrooms.
Use Color Theory
Color theory helps you to get a better idea of how different colors interact and the atmosphere they create when you pair them up. For example, complementary colors, which are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, are great for creating a significant contrast.
If you want to create a more tranquil vibe, go for analogous colors, which are colors that are positioned next to each other on the color wheel. These colors are known to go well together, giving a harmonious feel.
Assessing Your Current Decor
Be sure to consider each room’s furniture, rugs, and artwork. Note the dominant colors and undertones present in these items. Look for common threads or color families that appear throughout your decor.
Use these existing colors as a starting point, and choose wall colors that enhance and highlight your favorite pieces. If you want to create a cohesive look, choose paint from the same color family as your furnishings.
Bedroom Colors for Relaxation
To create a calming and tranquil vibe in your bedrooms, go with soft, cool tones. Light blues and greens can promote better rest and sleep, while neutral, warm grays and taupes promote a sense of calmness. When it comes to bedrooms, you’re best off avoiding bright and energizing reds and oranges.
Energizing Kitchen Paint Ideas
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so it goes well with lively, vibrant colors. Choose yellow shades for a cheerful and energetic vibe or pale greens and sky blues for a fresher, clean feel. Neutral tones like warm whites or light grays never fail to provide a timeless backdrop for colorful appliances or decor.
Living Room Color Schemes
Living rooms often serve multiple purposes, so earthy tones like beige, brown, and olive green can be used to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Bold accent walls can add drama, while deep blues and greens make great statement colors when paired with neutral furniture.
For a bright, airy feel, light grays or soft whites are great at opening up the space and providing a neutral backdrop for colorful art or accessories.
Planning for Future Changes
If you know you’ll be making some changes to your furniture or home decor; it pays to think ahead and consider how these additions might affect your color scheme.
Neutral walls act as a flexible and versatile canvas, which gives you more freedom to change your furniture or decor. If you’re set on a bolder wall color, then be sure to plan your future purchases around the hue you’ve chosen.
Choose the Right Finish
Besides just thinking about the paint color, keep in mind that the paint finish will also impact the overall look of your home. Go for matte finishes if you need to hide imperfections on the wall surface. Satin finishes give off a slight sheen and are easy to clean, so they’re great for living rooms and hallways.
Use Paint Store Resources
Many paint stores provide free color chips and brochures that you can take home so you can see how they look on your wall and in your own lighting conditions.
Some stores even offer color-matching services, where they analyze a sample and create a custom paint color to match. This is useful for touching up existing paint or coordinating with specific decor items.
Give Your Home the Makeover It Deserves
The paint colors you choose will help to create the atmosphere you want in your home. In fact, you can even use certain paint colors to influence the perception of the space of a given room. As professional painters, we’re here to bring your vision to life. Call us today, and let us help you create your very own beautiful and vibrant space.
