Whenever moving, one basic rule of packing that I have always followed:
Load the largest, inflexible items first and then fit the smaller, more malleable items around them.
Inspiration Piece(s)
Our first basic rule of selecting colors for interior painting is:
Do not pick paint color in a vacuum; rather identify an inspiration piece to evoke your main color selection.
Why? You have piece(s) that you love and intend to keep – such as a rug, pillow, throw, furniture, or artwork. That is your inflexible (and sometime large) item to “paint around.” Let this serve as your inspiration for choosing your anchor color.
Your anchor color can serve as a foundation to add other colors that have complementary undertones.
Color Psychology – Undertones and Room Function
Undertones can be cool, neutral, or warm. In choosing an undertone, consider the function of the room. A communal room – such as a kitchen or family room – is more suited to warm colors to promote engagement. Private spaces – such as a study or bedroom – are better for cooler, calming colors.
Color can influence mood. So, it is worth being aware of color psychology.
Lighting Matters
Lighting can be misleading. The fluorescent lights in a store differ from the incandescent or LED lights in your home. So, it is not unusual that a paint color appears different in-store compared to at-home.
During the day, lighting in a room can change as the sun moves. Look at your color swatch or painted wall sample at various times of the day to assure you are still satisfied with your choice.
To summarize, your first level guides are:
- Inspiration piece
- Color psychology – undertones & functionality
- Lighting
Additional guidelines
Open floor plans or rooms separated by open doorways or arches should be cohesive. Rooms separated by doors can be painted more independently.
One way to unify rooms would be to repeat connecting elements such as floors, railings, trim, or doors. After a transparent stain, a popular color selected for baseboard trim is white. Some undertones for white can range from bluish gray to yellowish peach.
There are many shades of white. Be sure to find one to your liking that matches the vibe of your home. Discrete rooms separated by doors can stand alone. However, you may not want to be too discordant.
Other factors to consider include room size and wall height. You may want to make a small room feel less claustrophobic with windows, mirrors, and light colors. A room with ceilings more than 9 feet could deploy darker colors to make the room feel less cavernous.
Besides choosing paint colors, you will also have to decide on the finish – such as matte, gloss, or semi-gloss.
Architectural flourishes or accent pieces are nice touches to some or unnecessary embellishments to others. Incorporate moldings, wainscoting, mantels, built-in benches, patterned ceilings, detailed wallpaper, or other design elements into your color scheme. To summarize, additional factors to guide your color choices are:
- Room separators
- Spatial dimensions
- Connecting accents
- 50 shades of white
- Architectural elements
- Specialty patterns or details
One great thing about interior painting is that it is not too hard to change. It is more difficult to change things like countertops, cabinetry, furniture, or heirloom pieces. That is why it is best to start there for inspiration.
Having said that, it takes time and money to complete a paint job. Most projects are disruptive. So, avoid needing a do-over because your colors clash instead of complement.
Colors can amplify emotions. Reds or yellows stimulate while blues and greens calm. There are certain design cues such as the 60-30-10 rule. This is described as [covering] your room with 60% of a dominant color, 30% of a secondary color, and 10% of an accent shade.
It may be best to leave this type of design to professionals or experienced individuals. You can express your creativity using an accent wall in a contrasting color to switch the focal point in a room.
Picking colors can be straightforward but sometimes the paradox of choice leads to indecision. If you are feeling overwhelmed, color consultation is among the services we provide at Kevin Roberts Painting. We have been serving Westchester homeowners since 1986. Are you ready to join other satisfied customers that we have worked with for almost 40 years?
Call us at 914-741-2791 to discuss your project. To find out more about us, read our reviews or book an appointment.
