One of the simplest, yet most important, aspects of home decor is the color of your walls. Color sets the mood for a room, makes it feel smaller or larger, and adds continuity to the rest of your home. So how do you choose the right color for your home? We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you get started.
Consider the Mood
Even if you have a favorite color you’d like to incorporate in your remodel, it may not be right for the room you’re painting. Make sure you consider what mood you’re looking for in a room before you decide on the color. Cool colors tend to have a more relaxing effect, whereas warm and vibrant colors have a more upbeat feel. If you want a bedroom that conveys tranquility, you might choose to save your favorite color red for a different room.
Check Your Lighting
Lighting will have a big impact on what the color you choose looks like once you get it up on the walls. It’s recommended that you use three swatches when you’re deciding on color: the color you think you’d like, a color one shade lighter, and a color one shade darker. Place all three of these in two different places in the room in question – near a window and also near a darker corner. Looking at both of these places at varying times of the day will give you a better idea of which shade will work the best with the natural lighting in the room you’re painting.
Incorporate Bold Colors
Bold colors can be a big commitment, but they add excitement and character to your home. If you’re not sure about a color, test it out in a small area on the wall, in a hallway, or in a small room. If you’ve decided to paint the whole room in a bright hue, remember that neutral accent pieces and furniture can help tone the color down a bit. If you just can’t commit to bright walls, you can always opt for a more neutral wall color, and save that bold color for accent pieces like throw pillows or lamps. This way, if the color you love goes out of style, you can easily swap it out for a new shade.
Think Big Picture
It’s easy to get tunnel vision when you’re only redecorating one room, but it’s important to make sure that the new color you choose for your home doesn’t clash with adjacent rooms. It can be a little bit jarring to have a bright orange room that opens into a neon pink room, for example. Think of keeping a continuous flow going throughout your entire home. This could mean choosing two or three wall colors for the house, and then characterizing different rooms with different accent pieces, or it could mean painting all of the rooms in your home with varying shades of the same color. Whatever your choice, make sure you consider continuity.
Mix Up Your Finishes
A muted color palate does not equal a boring home. Simpler color schemes allow for more creativity in furnishing and accenting. A good way to spice up monochromatic color schemes is to choose different types of finish. If your wall is an eggshell finish, use a satin finish on your trim and baseboards. Even though the colors are the same, the different finish will change the hue of the color, adding a little excitement to the room while maintaining continuity.