Decorating With Color

One of the least expensive, yet most dramatic techniques for changing the look and feel of a room is to change the color of the walls. No other single element can have quite the same impact. A judicious choice of color can transform an ordinary room into one that is perfectly spectacular. The right color can evoke feelings of warmth, calmness, excitement and happiness. Color can also make a room look larger, smaller, warmer or cooler; color has the uncanny knack of conveying any feeling you are trying to express.

When choosing a color for a room, it is important to take into consideration the size of the room, how low or high the ceiling, the amount of natural light comes into the room and the mood you want the room to reflect.

Whereas for a bedroom you should choose a color that evokes a serene and peaceful atmosphere, for a bathroom or kitchen you may want a cheerier atmosphere and a brighter color. Using color properly can make every room in the house unique and inviting.

But with so many color choices in interior paint, picking just the right one is somewhat daunting. Here are some basic tips from paint experts and interior designers to get you started in the right direction.

Most experts agree that the best place to start in picking wall color is with colors you probably already have in the room: fabrics, floor coverings, area rugs, furniture, and wallpaper.

White

White is the most popular color because of its versatility and ability to make small rooms appear larger. It gives a clean, fresh look to any space and allows versatility for any color scheme in a room. White can also make a room seem cooler, especially in hot climates. Off-white does everything that white does but adds a little more warmth to a room. White is available in many tones with hints of pink, yellow, and blue. Don't make the mistake of assuming all whites are the same.

Beige

The color beige brings a warm feeling to walls while having the same versatility as white. Beige is very popular in warm climates because of its ability to open up a room while making it feel cozy. You can spice up a beige room by adding an accent wall in brown or pink tones for additional color and depth.

Brown

Browns are the color of sophistication and sensuality. Brown is popular in varying shades for its warmth and is used quiet often in masculine rooms such as a den or a study. Too much brown can make a room seem small and dark so carpeting, furniture and window dressings should be lighter and in complementing colors. Soft browns look good in almost any room.

If a print fabric is the main focus in the elements of your room, choose a shade of the background color of the print. Or better yet, select two or three colors found in other elements, buy a pint of paint in each color, and swath a large area (at least two feet square) of the wall. Let the color dry (wet paint looks different than dry paint) then choose the shade that appeals the most to you.

Yellow

Yellow brings visions of sunshine, daisies and summer and feels energizing and cheerful. It is an enlivening color. Yellow is most popular for bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms and is usually accented with white for a fresh appearance.

Red

Surprisingly red is a very popular paint color but is best used as an accent wall or in small doses. Red evokes high energy and excitement and is great for dining rooms or living rooms where you want people to feel open and vibrant. Shades of red in particular are popular in dining rooms as they are thought to promote conversation and appetite. This hub tells you more about decorating with red rugs.

Blue

Just the name blue makes you think of peaceful waters and calm sky filled with puffy white clouds. Blue is a calming color that is great for bathrooms, bedrooms and even living rooms if done in the right shade. Blue can also feel warm when mixed with beige and brown shades and feel very relaxing.

Pink

Pink is very popular for little girl's rooms and gives a sense of innocence and youth. Soft pink can be very soothing especially when mixed with white accents and trim. Pink is used mostly in bedrooms but can actually be a good color for bathrooms too.

Purples and Lavenders

Purples are thought of as romantic and spiritual colors. Because they work to complement so many other colors, they are almost considered a neutral.

Green

Green is both warm and cool depending on the tone and reflects nature and good health.

Sage

Sage is always trendy especially in kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms. As a member of the green family, sage is restful to the eye and calming to the soul. This color can easily be the main color in a room without any trace of overdoing it. Don't be afraid to use more than one color in any one room. Nifty mixing and matching of colors can create a look that is one-of-a-kind.

Black

Black and gray, are accent colors. Black in particular works to anchor other colors or add texture.

An interesting paint idea to help make a smallish room with a low ceiling feel more open is to:-

Try using two different paint colors on adjacent walls-one a cool color (blues, greens, violets) and one a warm color (oranges, reds, pinks). The warm walls will pull in to the room, while the cool walls will push out-making the square room seem less boxy. White or gray trim will tie the two colors together nicely.

Matte and flat finishes hide flaws. So if your walls are not perfect or you have old plaster then this is the way to go.

On the other hand if you have a perfect surface and want to highlight it; a glossy finish better reflects light.

Whatever color you choose for your walls, remember, it is only paint.

If you find you have made a bad choice, painting do-overs are fairly easy and inexpensive.

Don't stress - be wild and imaginative with color; the worst that can happen is you have to paint over.