Do you enjoy bold, bright hues? Or are soft pastels more to your taste? Your personality is reflected by colors in your home. What are you saying with the painting colors on your walls?
Not only reflecting who we are, colors used in our house can affect our thoughts and moods. While some colors impact people in a variety of ways, others bring out the same feelings. So, decide wisely when picking painting colors for your home.
The most beautiful homes aren’t decorated with all the latest trends. Fads and trends come and go; you’d need to redecorate every year to keep up. Choose colors that reflect what you love. However, it can be overwhelming. There are so many gorgeous colors! It may be less intimidating if you understand how color affects the shape and size of a room and emotions of people.
Setting the Mood
When guests are in your home, how do you want them to feel? Different hues draw out different emotions. Decide what atmosphere you want, then choose your décor. Do you want your living room to be serene and relaxing? Or will it be an area for competitive board games and lively conversation? Learn about the effect of painting colors before you pick up a brush or roller.
Choosing Colors
The simplest way to choose a color scheme is with fabrics and textile for curtains, rugs, furniture, and even artwork. Choose them first, then the wall color. Textiles are limited, so it’s easier to find painting colors to match and not the other way around.
Once you find fabric, limit accent colors to no more than three. A room will look cluttered and small when there’s too much going on. The main color should be 60% of the room, the secondary color is 30%, and the accent color is just 10% of the room’s décor. For example, if the majority of your furniture, curtains, and rug is blue, choose two other colors from the fabric pattern. The secondary color might be a soft green and the accent color in yellow. You may want three of your walls in blue and one accent wall in green with throw pillows in yellow print. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
The Effects of Color
Many people understand that light colors make small rooms feel bright and expansive and dark painting colors make it feel cozy and intimate. But there’s so much more to it!
- Red – this color is intense and raises the room’s energy. Red stimulates appetite and conversation. It’s perfect for a dining room or kitchen and can make a strong first impression for an entryway but may be too much for a bedroom.
- Yellow and Orange – yellow is a joyful color and reflects happiness. Orange evokes excitement. Perfect for small spaces like bathrooms and hallways; but in large amounts, these colors can bring out feelings of anger and frustration.
- Blue – this color is calming and relaxing. This an ideal color for bedrooms, offices, and quiet areas. Be aware, however, that pastel blues can feel cold and dark blues can invoke sad feelings. Stick with soft mid-range blues or grey blues.
- Green – very refreshing, this color combines the quietness of blue with the cheerfulness of yellow. Perfect for almost any room, it promotes togetherness.
- Purple – when dark, it’s sophisticated, dramatic, and reflects creativity and luxury. Lighter tones are considered feminine, but blend well with greens, blues, beige, etc.
In your search for painting colors, the above stated information is a good starting point. However, color is very personal, so select those you love. If you need help finding just the right color and someone to apply it, contact Sunbow Painters today!