Fresh paint is an amazing way to bring a new feel into your home and choosing a color scheme that goes with the vibe you want is key. When picking a color palette for your home, you should consider more than just the wall color, but also your flooring, countertops, appliances, and decor throughout the house. Some people tend to feel overwhelmed when it comes to renovating or decorating their homes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some of our top tips for choosing the best paint colors for your home.
Different Paint Types
Paint comes in variety of sheens and shades; it also comes in either oil or latex. Oil based paints are great for priming real wood moldings and trims, however, it takes longer to dry. Latex paints are the most commonly preferred paint type because they are long lasting and durable, while also being relatively quick to dry. We recommend that you choose latex paint for most household painting and oil paint for wood trim and moldings because it seals stains and knots better.
Color Schemes
If your space has patterned decor like furniture, pillows, a rug, or artwork, you should consider picking a color that you like from that pattern. If you want the space to feel more neutral, you can look at those patterns and select a white, cream, or beige color from the decor to really help your room come together and look finished. It is best to limit your palette to three different colors for each room you are working on.
Decorate Vertically From Dark to Light
Indoor spaces should mimic the outside world – when you are outside, you will notice that the ground below your feet is often dark, straight in front of you is more of a medium color with the trees and buildings, while the sky is typically lighter. Copy this in your home by making your flooring the darkest color in the space, the walls a medium tone, and the ceiling the lightest color of your palette. This is a classic way to make the room look open, inviting, and bigger than it actually is.
60-30-10 Rule
This ratio is often used in design and is very helpful when it comes to making your space feel well-balanced. Divide your colors into components as follows: 60% of a dominant color for your walls, 30% of a secondary color for your upholstery, and 10% of an accent color for your accessories and decor. This gives your room just enough color without making it feel cluttered and overwhelming.
Small Rooms
For smaller rooms that you want to feel bigger, you should stick to whites, creams, pastels, or colors with a cool blue or green tinge. These types of colors create the illusion of more space by reflecting light throughout the room. They also help make the ceiling feel higher, which brings your eyes upwards, making the room feel much larger. Stick to one color for small rooms and keep the trim a similar color. If you want to add some personality to the space, consider painting vertical or horizontal stripes on the walls to make the space feel even larger. High gloss paint sheens are also great for reflecting light and making the room feel bigger than it is.
Soothing Spaces
If you are looking to create a tranquil vibe in a room, such as your bedroom, bathroom, office, or other quiet space, consider a soft, muted palette. Understated tones like pale lavenders, light greys, greens, and soft blues are great for creating a calm, comfortable atmosphere that encourages relaxation.
Elegant Vibes
If you want to create an elegant vibe in your home, you should stick to neutral colors and we’re not just talking white or beige here. By going with varying shades of neutral colors like almond colored walls with some brown paint with red undertones, you can create an elegant, cozy space to enjoy. Adding splashes of color throughout the room with your decor, like rugs, pillows, throws, or artwork, is a fun way to offset the neutral tones and make your space feel luxurious. By sticking with neutral colors on your walls, you have a lot of flexibility to change the accessories in your space and transform the feel of the room whenever you want.
Focal Points
Paint is an easy and inexpensive way to create a focal point in your home. If you have a beautiful fireplace, crown moldings, or other trims that you want to stand out, you should paint them in a color that contrasts with the rest of your walls. Painting focal points bright white when the other walls are colored is a great way to attract your guest’s attention and direct their eyes to whatever feature you are interested in highlighting. Similarly, using a higher sheen of paint on things like molding, trim, doors and any woodwork will create a crisp, clean edge and separation from the wall to the trim. On the opposite end, if you have things like radiators, conduits or anything else you would like to distract people from, be sure to paint them the same color as your walls. Also, going with low-sheen or flat paint colors helps hide any flaws like uneven surfaces or unattractive areas in your home.
Consider Other Features
When choosing the color palette for your home, you should be thinking about more than just your walls. Appliances, countertops, and flooring all play a major role in the feel and vibe of your space. Some designers even say that your flooring is like a fifth wall in each room. Many interior designers will pick their flooring first because it sets the tone for the space. If you have dark wood floors like walnut and cherry, they will give your space an elegant look. On the contrary, if you have lighter wood floors like maple and white, they will make your space feel light and airy. Make sure to consider more than just your walls when picking paint colors for your home.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing paint colors for your home. Take your time with decision and play around with different options to figure out what feels best in your space. After all, it is your home and you should create an environment that you enjoy spending time in. If you are interested in renovating or remodeling your home, don’t hesitate to reach out! We would love to help you create a home to enjoy for years to come.