No renovation or revamp is complete without a good color scheme to complement a room’s architectural concept and character. Being able to mix and match the right shades should be every renovator’s #1 skill, but it can be difficult without the masterful eye for detail that comes with experience.
If you find yourself asking vital questions like, “what color should I paint my living room?” – we’re here to help.
Room painting can be a simple DIY project; however, you have to keep in mind that room paint colors have a major impact in any space. With a plethora of shades and hues to choose from, it can be easy to make irreversible (and expensive) mistakes if you aren’t careful.
To get you started, here are some tips on how to choose the right paint color for the perfect home renovation.
1. Start With Your Paint Color Inspiration
List down your favorite colors. Think about the places or things that please your eyes the most – they could be a cafe or a blanket you’ve been using. There is a wide variety of sources available to scour through to help you pick out the color scheme that speaks to you, such as magazines, catalogs, and the internet. Some of the most practical places to find inspiration are retail sites and social media like Instagram.
Pinterest, in particular, is handy for keeping all your ideas in one place; besides being able to pin your favorite pictures and color schemes, you can also create a dedicated board for each room and start pinning anything that appeals to you on your feed.
2. Apply the Psychology of Color
The Psychology of Color is well-known among artists and designers. It is said that choosing the right colors to paint your room depends on what mood you want to establish and the specific purpose the room will serve.
You don’t need to study color theory to have great ideas for what colors to paint your rooms. You can learn the basics straight from the professionals themselves:
- According to the co-founder and editor of the blog, Apartment Therapy, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, dining room paint colors (or those for social rooms like kitchens, family rooms, and living areas) should have a warm tone. Coral pink and daffodil-yellow come to mind. Moreover, he recommended that private rooms, like home offices or bedrooms, should be given cooler hues, such as violet or sky blue.
- Debbie Zimmer, a paint quality specialist, mentioned that:
- Red increases one’s appetite and blood pressure, which makes it suitable for kitchens and dining rooms;
- Blue and green are calming and can set one at ease due to their nature-like quality, so bedrooms are the best place to use said colors;
- Purple tends to be more liked by children than adults;
- Yellow is inviting and accommodating, and, according to Behr (a paint supplier company), it can also stimulate the brain, making it beneficial for work spaces and study rooms;
- Lastly, orange, when it comes to emotional effect, can give two different signals: either a “welcome home” vibe or its opposite, depending on the shade, tone, and tint.
3. Use Neutral Colors
Focus on where you want the attention of the room to be before deciding on the color palette. If you use modern living room interior paint colors (e.g. earthy pinks and vibrant reds) on the walls or bold colors in the bathroom, you have to keep other areas in that room neutral or white to avoid sharp, contrasting colors.
4. Know Your Undertones
Using neutral room paint colors doesn’t mean the space needs to be dull. You can be creative with how you use them; try a striped wall or have a white ceiling with pastel walls for a minimalist look. Whites – both warm (yellow, rust, brown, or pink undertones) and cool (green, gray, or blue undertones) – are generally great for making larger areas more comfortable and opening up the space.
5. Sample Paint Colors Using Testers
Before committing to a color scheme, keep in mind that it’s vital to get it right the first time. While you can always repaint, it’s more practical to stick to one color palette that you’ll enjoy to avoid needing to revamp more than once a year.
This is a crucial step when choosing the right colors to paint your room. Always sample any paints you’re considering, and calculate how much you’ll need to minimize wastage.
Use testers in different colors and shades and paint them on a large wall (except on white), so you can view how they look in the sunlight. Thankfully, most brands have testers available at an affordable price.
If you are still having trouble on how to choose the right paint color for your home, you can trust our design consultants at Jeff Schultz Painting. With 35 years of experience as a professional interior and exterior residential painter in Sarasota, we make it our goal to provide you with the best experience and high quality services to fit your needs. Contact us today, and our staff members will be glad to accommodate your every inquiry and request.
