Changing the color of your interior walls is an excellent way to increase the resale value and appeal of your home. It is a cost-effective way to add style, personality, and warmth to any room. In fact, it is so cost-effective, that some choose to paint their walls quite frequently in order to change the mood of a room, paint a room according to the season, or just to express their personalities.
So what colors should you use to repaint your walls? Well, that is completely a matter of taste, but there are a few things to remember that may make it a little easier for you to choose the perfect colors for your taste.
When choosing a paint color for the inside of your home, take your furniture, floors, etc. into consideration. The goal is o choose colors that compliment the colors of your furniture, appliances, floors, accessories, and other established colors within your home. The use of contrasting colors can also be utilized to your advantage. You can use colors that contrast large pieces of furniture, artwork, etc. to emphasize these objects.
Paint color can also be used to draw attention to architectural features, such as arches, trim, doorways, and any other unique aspects of your home that you may want to incorporate more fully. Furthermore, well-chosen color combination can also cover up or hide certain design flaws or unattractive aspects of your home’s design.
- Complementary Colors – Colors that are located opposite one another will add contrast and drama to a room. Choose combinations, such as yellow and violet or pink and green for such as look.
- Mono-chromatic Colors – Shades of the same color, such as plum, violet, and lavender add interest while staying with one color scheme. Use colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel.
- Similar Hues – Colors that are next to one another on the color wheel (called analogous colors), such as yellow and orange and blue and purple offer a more subtle contrast than the opposite colors.
In addition to using the color wheel, here are some commonly accepted color facts to help guide you in choosing your paint colors:
- Light and pastel colors generally make a room seem larger and more open.
- Dark and vibrant colors give a room an intimate and cozy feel, but also make a room seem smaller.
- Cool colors – blues, greens, and soft purples – give a room a relaxed and calm ambience.
- Warm colors – yellows, reds, and oranges – give a room a sunny and cheerful appearance.
- Regional differences affect paint color choices, particularly exterior paint colors. For instance, New England homes favor blues, grays, and greens, whereas Southwestern homes are best painted a sienna or beige color.
