How to Choose the Right Paint Colors

Paint colors are one of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to decorating your home. There are many styles of paint colors to choose from, and each one can make a big impact on the look and feel of your home. You’ll want to get an idea about what style you’re going for before making any decisions. Colors must work well with other elements in your decor. If you’re not sure where to start, this blog post will help you wrap your head around the extensive task of choosing paints.

What Do You Want Your Home To Say?

In the latest edition of Interiors, Jeff Andrews, known for making sophisticated, clean-lined interior designs, says, “Now more than ever we are all wanting our surroundings to reflect a sense of peace, comfort, and energy, as well as beauty.” Sounds simple enough, right?

The truth is, there are so many ways to approach coloring a liveable space, and so many elements to take into consideration, such as the size and layout of your home, the natural light, and the existing decor. You must consider:

• The tone you want to set in your home
• The purpose of each room
• How to balance exterior and interior themes

This is the first step in choosing how to decorate. Knowing what mood or feeling you are going for will help guide your decision-making process, especially when it comes time to choose paint colors. It’s often recommended that this should be done before any other decisions about decorating are made.

The Effects of Color

Color is powerful. It has the ability to influence moods, emotions, and even behavior. But the effects of color depend on their context. If you’ve watched a scary movie, you know: red means scary! Yet, there’s nothing scary about a rose in a garden. When choosing colors, it’s important to consider the effect they will have on your unique space.

This table should give you an idea about the different impacts of colors:

• Red = Excitement, Passion
• Green = Growth, Wealth

• Yellow = Happiness, Energy
• Blue = Peacefulness, Calmness
• Purple = Luxury, Creativity
• White = Purity, Cleanliness
• Black = Sophistication, Mystery

Knowing which feelings or moods you’d like to set in your home will help guide the choices that are made. For example: Do you want a warm and cozy setting? What about a vibrant space for entertaining friends?

Using Colors

A list of your favorite colors may not go well together in a single space. Color theory is a complex topic that can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are plenty of helpful guides out there for first-time interior designers. Here’s a glance at some of the ways colors can be used together.

– Monochromatic schemes are made up of tints, tones, and shades within the same color family. This often creates a subtle look with lots of texture.

– Analogous colors lie next to one another on the color wheel. These are often chosen because they look harmonious with one another.

– Complementary colors lie opposite each other on the color wheel, for example: yellow and purple or blue and orange. This pairing is best used sparingly, as it can create a jarring appearance if too many complementaries are included.

Exteriors: Creative Finish and Texture Can Elevate Traditional Colors

A building’s charm is not simply its color. Using color in tandem with your home’s material will create a memorable look.

One of the most powerful techniques for this approach is exposing brick through the process of whitewashing. Romabio, a renowned manufacturer of mineral-based paints, describes the effect of lime washed brick as having, “a charming Old World feel with a freshly painted look.” Limewash paint is applied to a surface and then hosed away in sections to reveal the natural color of the material. This technique is popular for homes that have brick exteriors and can be used in combination with bright colors to create a unique look.

Final Note

There’s a lot to consider when deciding how to paint your home. Taking the time to explore techniques that intrigue you, such as mixing colors or limewashing, will help you approach your project with confidence and know-how. Your favorite color may be subjective, but the mood you want to set in your home doesn’t have to be.